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Short answer
Mount the track on the ceiling or well above the frame, and far enough from the wall to clear window handles, grilles and any inward-opening sash. A sheer softens the look of grilles by day, and a dimout gives privacy at night. Keep curtains clear of rusty grilles, and use tiebacks where louvre or casement windows are left open for air.
How do you hang curtains past handles and grilles?
- Ceiling track or a curtain box: the curtain hangs clear of the frame and covers the whole window. See Curtain Box for Condos.
- Projection: the track or pole bracket must hold the curtain far enough from the wall to clear handles, stays and the grille.
- Width: extend the track past the frame so the stacked curtain does not cover the glass.
- Inward-opening sashes: the curtain must clear the sash when it swings open, or be drawn back first.
How do curtains soften the look of grilles?
From inside, a sheer blurs the grille pattern by day while letting light and air through. Ivory, greige or stone sheers soften it more than bright white. At night, a dimout or blackout in front gives privacy and hides the grille completely. See Sheer Curtain Colours and Layered Curtains.
What works with louvre (nako) windows?
- Air and wind: louvres are often left open, so curtains blow. Use tiebacks or holdbacks, and a heavier hem.
- Dust: open louvres let in dust, so choose washable polyester and wash more often.
- Rain: keep curtains a little away from the glass, so rain blown through the louvres does not soak the hem.
- Light gaps: louvre blades let light through at the edges; a wider curtain with returns helps.
How do you protect curtains from rusty grilles?
Rust from old grilles leaves orange-brown marks that are hard to remove. Keep curtains from resting against the grille, use plastic or stainless hooks rather than plain steel, and consider painting rusty grilles. See Types of Curtain Hooks.
Which fabrics suit these windows?
Polyester sheers and dimouts suit open, dusty and breezy windows because they wash easily, dry quickly and resist mould. For west-facing terrace windows, a blackout-lined main curtain cuts heat. See Terrace House Curtains and Heat-Reducing Curtains.
Frequently asked questions
How do you hang curtains over a window grille?
Use a ceiling track, a curtain box or brackets that project far enough to clear the grille and handles.
What curtains go with louvre windows?
Washable polyester curtains with tiebacks, kept a little away from the glass, because louvres are often open to wind, dust and rain.
How do you stop rust marks on curtains?
Keep curtains off the grille, use plastic or stainless hooks, and treat or paint rusty metal.
Can curtains hide window grilles?
A sheer softens them by day; a dimout or blackout hides them completely when drawn.
Curtain maker, upholsterer or designer?
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