How to hang curtains
Hanging curtains the right way makes a huge difference to a room. Do it right and your windows will look larger, your ceilings higher, and you’ll allow the perfect amount of light to enter. Do it wrong and you’ll shrink your windows and make your room seem darker and more claustrophobic.
Curtains are hung on either a curtain pole or track and the type of curtains you hang (eyelet, pencil pleat or pinch pleat) will determine how you hang your curtains, the type of hooks you use and where you place them. We will go through how to hang each type of curtain in this guide but, first, it’s important to make sure that you have correctly measured up for your curtains before you hang them. See our How To Measure For Curtains Guide for more advice.

In this guide
How to position a curtain pole or track.
How to hang eyelet curtains.
How to hang pencil pleat curtains.
How to hang pinch pleat curtains.

What you need to hang curtains:
Tape measure.
A step ladder.
Pencil.
Curtain rings.
Curtain hooks or pins.
Iron.
String.
If the curtain pole or track is not in place, you’ll also need:
Curtain rod and hardware.
Drill and drill bit.
Safety glasses.
Level.

How to position a curtain pole or track 
If you need to fix a curtain pole, rod or track to a window, make sure you get the height and width right. Raising the height of the rod draws the eye up and gives the illusion that you have higher ceilings and a bigger room. Position your rod halfway up or two thirds of the way up towards your ceiling, but also use your own discretion and decide what works best for your room, especially if you have moulding.
In terms of width, a rod needs to be about 4-6 inches wider than the outer frame of your window. A rod that’s too narrow can suffocate a window, making it look smaller, so make sure that when the curtains are open, they drape mostly on the walls beside your window, rather than covering the window itself and the light it lets in. Read our guide on How To Put Up Curtain Tracks for more information.

How to hang Eyelet curtains
Eyelet curtains are characterised by their in-built ‘eyes’ or grommets through which the curtain pole is threaded. This makes them the easiest curtain to hang as no hooks or rings are required.


    
    

Step by step on how to hang Eyelet curtains
Always measure from the top of the curtain pole.
Make sure your eyelet curtains have an even number of eyes or grommets. The number of grommets affects the way the curtain is threaded through the rod and, if the curtain has an odd number of holes, it won’t lay properly against the wall.
Make sure your rod is thin enough to slide through the grommets. Most will but a rod with a width up to 1.5 inches should work for most curtains.
Iron your curtains to remove any creases. Check the care label for temperature settings.
Take your curtains and beginning at the end, fold them, bringing the eyelets together.
Make sure you fold the first eyelet away from the window, so the lining isn’t on show.
Take any finials off the rod and weave the curtain onto it, starting from the front. It’s very important to start weaving from the front of the curtain; if you start from the back, the edges won't lay right.
The outermost eyelet should sit on the outside of the bracket (between the bracket and finial) to hold the curtain in place at the end.
Repeat the process with the second panel.
Check your curtains close neatly.
Replace the finials and tighten up the brackets.
Tease your curtains into position by running your fingers through the fabric to create neat folds.
Tying some string at the top, middle and bottom of your curtains and leaving for 24 hours will have your folds looking perfect.
Your eyelet curtains are now ready to use.

How to hang Pencil Pleat curtains
Pencil pleat curtains get their name as the curtain header looks like a row of neatly laid out pencils. Pencil pleat curtains are attached to a pole or track with curtain hooks and are adjusted to fit by pulling on a string at the back.


    
    

Step by step on how to hang Pencil Pleat curtains
Before hanging your pencil pleat curtains, double-check that they are going to fit. This may sound obvious, but a pencil pleat reduces its width by up to a half when it is hung and, once header tape has been pulled, the curtains cannot be returned. Read our How To Measure For Curtains Guide for more information.
Count the number of curtain rings on your curtain pole. Aim for an even number so each curtain has the same quantity of rings. If you have a curtain track instead of a pole, attach an even number of gliders.
Iron your curtains to remove any creases. Check the care label for temperature settings.  
Pencil pleat curtains have heading tape at the back which contains three cords. Tie these three cords into a slip knot on one side (it does not matter which side). Don’t cut them, just tuck them away. Some curtains come with a useful pocket to put tuck the tied cords into.
Hold the unsecured, loose cord side and gently push the curtain so it scrunches up to half the size of your pole or track. Then tie the cords on the second side and tuck them away.
Even out the pleats once both sides have been secured. Pull the curtain until all of the pleats along the heading tape are of the same width and shape.
The heading tape contains three rows of pockets at the top, middle, and bottom. If you want the pole or track to be visible, choose the middle or top. If you don’t want it to be visible, choose the bottom row.
Calculate the number of hooks you need by dividing the number of rings on the pole by two. Starting at the outside edge, slip and loop the hooks evenly across the curtain, being careful to attach the hooks to the pockets and not the cords themselves.
Hooks should have the tail end pointing down, so they can easily hook onto your track or pole.
If you have too many hooks, the curtain will feel stiff and rigid but too few and it will sag in between. A good rule of thumb is one hook in every fourth or sixth pocket.
You’re now ready to attach the curtain to your curtain pole or track. Drape the curtain over your arm and loop the hooks into the curtain rings or onto the track gliders. You may need to use a small step ladder.
Repeat with the second curtain.
Once hung, curtains can be teased into neat, even folds by running your fingers through the fabric. Loosely tie the folds in place with string at the top, middle and bottom of the curtain and leave for 24 hours for a perfectly pleated look.
Your pencil pleat curtains are now ready to be enjoyed. 

How to hang Pinch Pleat curtains
Unlike pencil pleat curtains, pinch pleat curtains have pleats that are sewn into the curtains already and these tend to be set wider apart. This style of curtain also requires a different kind of hook, which is more like a pin.
Iron your curtain to remove any creases. Check the care label for temperature settings.
Count the number of pleats your pinch pleat curtains have. This will tell you how many pins you need and how far apart they need to be. You will also need three extra pins – one for either outside edge and one in the middle.
With the curtain lining facing you, slide the sharp point of the pin hook up and under the stitches at the back of the pleat until the point is hidden and only the hook end is visible.
Insert a pin in every pleat. You want the curtains to hang below the track or pole so make sure that the hook is as close to the top of the curtain as possible whilst still being hidden.
Insert a few pins and check you are happy with the length before continuing.
Add a pin to the outside of each curtain and another one to the inside edge of one curtain. The other inside edge should be left free so that it overlaps the other curtain, ensuring there’s no gap between them.
Support the curtain on your forearm and, starting from the middle and working outwards, attach each hook into the eye at the bottom of its corresponding ring. Make sure the last ring sits between the finial and bracket to secure the curtain in place.
Once hung, curtains can be teased into neat, even folds by running your fingers through the fabric. Loosely tie the folds in place with string at the top, middle and bottom of the curtain and leave for 24 hours for a perfectly pleated look.
Your pinch pleat curtains are now ready to be enjoyed.