Choosing the right curtains for your interior design specifications can often be one of the trickiest and frustrating parts of the whole design process.  Starting with the simple choices, like what sort of curtain poles to choose to compliment the fabric and colour scheme, right through to the curtains themselves and actually hanging them.

Below I have collated a list of the main points to consider when going through the process of choosing and hanging curtains, and all advice is taken from experts with years of experience in the field.

1. Curtains

There are many things to decide here, such as the material, colour or design, but ultimately it will come down to personal taste and how well that fits into the overall design of the room or building.  Irrespective of what you choose in terms of design or curtain material, consider other things too, such as whether you want to have a valance as a feature and which will cover your curtain tracks? Or have you opted for a decorative curtain pole to make a statement that you would like your visitors to admire and you love living with.

Another thing you may need to consider is whether you want to have curtains with blackout lining – this will block out the light in the early morning when you first wake up in summer, or black out the room on balmy summer evenings when your child can’t get to sleep because its too light! Take the time before choosing the curtains to assess how the sun moves around your home and shines in through the windows at various times during the day and whether this needs to be considered in your choice. If you are watching the television in the afternoon but you can’t see the screen properly when the sun is pouring in because you haven’t chosen the right fabric or used the correct lining you may be frustrated you didn’t think about it at this stage.

Curtain poles, tracks and rods come in many shapes and sizes, to accommodate different types of windows including bay windows, and also come in many different materials.  You can get wood curtain poles, metal curtain poles, and many different colour finishes - burnished brass, black, pewter, gunmetal, copper colours to name a few and many others. The interesting array of decorative finials which attach to the end of the pole can add that sophisticated touch, or the minimal look depending on what you would like to achieve.

It is important to do your research when choosing curtain poles, tracks and rods carefully in order to make the wisest choice.  A factor such as the weight of the curtain fabric needs to be considered.  If you have chosen a particularly thick and heavy material then obviously you need to assess whether the curtain pole, track or rod you are choosing will be able to take the weight. This may include you considering the different pole diameters on offer, from 19mm upwards.

This may be something you have overlooked in your quest to find the perfect curtains for your design, but if you are spending a lot of money on beautifully styled curtains that are held back during the day then what level of privacy do you wish to maintain.  Some homeowners are happy to have an open doorway to the world, or may not have an issue because they are not overlooked, but it is an important factor nevertheless to equate into your design plans.

First of all make sure you have all the relevant tools for the job, in particular the correct drill and bits for attaching the curtain poles to the wall, a spirit level and a set of sturdy step ladders (as opposed to a rickety, unbalanced, chair).

If you are installing the curtains as part of a larger interior design project then you will need to ensure the decorating has been completed – trying to decorate around fitted curtain poles is definitely not recommended!
You also need to consider whether you can hang the curtains yourself or, if need be, call on the assistance of a relative or friend.  This may depend on the size of window and the weight of curtains you are going to be handling.

So there you have it, all the points you need to consider before the task of hanging the curtains take place.  All you need to do now is actually hang the curtains, after making the correct choices, and then sit back for a well earned rest and admire all your handiwork.  Oh yes, and decide which friends to invite round so you can show the curtains off.