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Short answer
Curtains should usually end about 1 cm above the floor: long enough to look tailored and block light, short enough to stay clean and clear of mopping. Puddled curtains, about 5 to 10 cm longer, suit formal rooms; sill-length curtains end about 1 cm above the sill for kitchens. Hang the track about 10 to 15 cm above the frame, or on the ceiling, so the window looks taller.
How long should curtains be?
| Length | Where it ends | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Floor length (float) | About 1 cm above the floor | Most living rooms and bedrooms | Uneven floors; measure at several points |
| Kissing the floor | Just touching the floor | A tailored look in rooms with little traffic | Picks up dust; little margin for error |
| Puddled | About 5 to 10 cm longer than the floor | Formal living and dining rooms | Collects dust; awkward where floors are mopped daily |
| Sill length | About 1 cm above the sill | Kitchens, bathrooms, windows with a deep sill | Can make a window look shorter |
| Below the sill | About 10 to 15 cm below the sill | Windows above a cabinet, desk or bed | Looks unfinished on a tall window |
Floor-length curtains suit most Malaysian homes and condos. They make the window look taller and close the gap at the bottom where light gets in, which matters in a blackout bedroom. See Blackout Curtains.
How high should a curtain track be?
Where the track or pole sits changes how long the curtain looks as much as where it ends.
- Height: fix a wall track or pole about 10 to 15 cm above the window frame, or use a ceiling track. Curtains that run from ceiling to floor make a room look taller.
- Width: extend the track about 15 to 30 cm past the frame on each side, so the open curtains stack against the wall rather than over the glass.
- Curtain box or pelmet: measure the drop from inside the box, and make sure the curtain clears its bottom edge.
See Curtain Track vs Curtain Pole and Curtains for High Ceilings.
Getting the length right
- Measure the drop at both ends and in the middle, and use the shortest. Floors and ceilings are seldom level.
- Say where you measured from: the top of the track, the ceiling, the ring eye or the top of the pole each give a different curtain. See How to Measure for Curtains.
- Allow for skirting, sockets and air-conditioner units in the curtain's path.
- Linen and linen blends can lengthen in humid air and shorten in air-conditioning, so a little more clearance helps. See Why Curtains Shrink.
- Robot vacuums and daily mopping are easier with a floor-length curtain that floats a little above the floor than with one that touches or puddles.
Tip
If you cannot decide between floor and puddled, choose floor length. A curtain that is slightly too short is very noticeable; one that floats 1 cm above the floor just looks neat.
Sheers and double tracks
On a double track, make the sheer at the back the same drop as the main curtain, or 1 to 2 cm shorter so it does not show below it. Both should end at the same line when closed. See Layered Curtains.
When the curtain is the wrong length
- Too long: a curtain maker can take up the hem, or raise the hooks on S-fold and French pleat tape a little.
- Too short: lower the hooks if the tape allows, lower the track, let down a deep hem, or add a contrast band at the bottom.
- Uneven after washing: natural fibres can shrink unevenly; rehang while slightly damp and let the weight settle it.
Frequently asked questions
Should curtains touch the floor?
Usually they should float about 1 cm above it. That looks tailored, keeps the hem clean, and leaves room for uneven floors. Touching or puddled curtains are a style choice for formal rooms.
How far above the window should a curtain track go?
About 10 to 15 cm above the frame, or on the ceiling. Higher makes the window look taller.
Are sill-length curtains old-fashioned?
Not in the right place. They suit kitchens, bathrooms and windows with a desk, cabinet or bed below. On a living room window, floor length usually looks better.
How much longer are puddled curtains?
About 5 to 10 cm longer than the floor, so the hem rests on it in soft folds.
Should the sheer be the same length as the main curtain?
The same, or 1 to 2 cm shorter so it does not show beneath the main curtain.
Curtain maker, upholsterer or designer?
Specifications are public on every collection page. JOTEX dealers can log in for live stock and pricing, and our team can send samples or open a dealer account.