How to Install Casual Linen Drapery Panels
Every single window in our home had plantation shutters when we moved in (here’s the before tour, if you’re interested). We currently only have a few left to replace, but it has made a big difference in both the aesthetic, as well as the amount of natural light that floods into our house. We probably should’ve swapped the window treatments in our primary bedroom long before this week, but I’m happy we finally made time for it. I opted for casual, linen drapery panels in this room and figured a tutorial may be helpful (based on how many curtain questions I always receive)! Click through to see how we installed the drapery, some tricks of the trade, and of course to see the finished result…
This is what the window wall looked like before…
This is how it looks today, pictured below. You can catch the entire “textile makeover” in our primary bedroom in this post. It feels so much softer and brighter since swapping the window treatments.
Here is everything we used for the window treatment installation…
SUPPLIES + TOOLS:
- stonewashed linen drapery panels (I used 3 on each side, for a total of 6)
- curtain rod (we used two and put them together to make one long rod, with a center bracket)
- curtain ring clips
- laser level
- laser level floor-to-ceiling pole
- Dewalt drill (for installing the rod)
Step 1 // Set up the laser level. Having a laser level isn’t necessary, but it makes the process a lot easier. We use our level for almost every home improvement or DIY project- it’s a good investment!
We set the laser up and and determined that our ceiling is pretty level. It made for quick work when it came to the adjustment and installation part of the process.
I wanted to use stonewashed linen panels in this space for a casual and relaxed look. Linen is naturally a little wrinkly, so that doesn’t bother me if you’re going for “casual” or “comfortable”. It’s more of a laid back aesthetic. I landed on these panels from Annie Selke, pictured above, and I’ll link a bunch more below…
Step 2 // Clip your rings to the curtain panels. Do you see those three little white lines / threads in between the pole tabs? Those are what you’re actually supposed to clip the curtain ring to (for a more tailored look), but I clipped them to the top of the tab this time… because they seemed to hang nicer, and I needed a tiny bit more length.
You can really clip them to whatever part of the curtain you prefer! I also like to match my curtain rings and clips to my rod or window treatment hardware for a cohesive look. I went with white in our bedroom, in an effort to create a cohesive look with the millwork.
Step 3 // Figure out your rod height and install. If you’re trying to avoid sewing, set up your panels on the rod and figure out the placement prior to installing the rod! Your curtains should hover 1/2″ (or less) above the floor- this will allow natural materials to stretch and settle as they hang. I never measure, but if I slide my fingers or hand under the bottom of the panel, the curtain should barely brush the top of my hand (but not rest upon it). In the below image, Emmett is holding it a little too high, so we lowered the rod.
Once you have the rod in the correct position and aligned with the laser level- install it. In this case, we combined two rods into one… to make an extra long rod that spanned the length of our bedroom wall.
Step 4 // Adjust the panels and rings. Once your rod is up, you can add all of the panels and make any needed adjustments. I usually get on a ladder and re-clip a few rings so that the top of the panels are perfectly level. Then, I’ll move one or two rings on the outside of the bracket, so it looks like they go all the way to the wall. Hopefully the below image helps to show that- which may be easier than explaining that part. I also make sure all of the folds or pleats are in order, and are consistent in size.
Step 5 // Allow your curtains to relax. Curtains never look their best immediately after hanging. Allow them to rest and settle for a few days. The wrinkles should fall out, they’ll lengthen a tiny bit, and they’ll look more natural.
You can also “train them” to fall in the direction you want. If I have a pleat or fold that isn’t behaving, I’ll spray it with fabric spray, then use a clothespin or hair clip to hold it in place for a day or two. You can also try steaming them for a tailored look, depending on your fabric!
I’m really pleased with how these turned out, and it only took us an hour to install them. I’m actually wondering why we didn’t do this sooner. Do you have any of those projects that has been on the to-do list forever?
While these window treatments were budget-friendly and readymade, you can also read about custom window treatments in this post. I’m a fan of mixing and matching both throughout our home for different looks depending on the room they live in.
Do you have any window treatment or drapery questions?! Leave them for me in the comment section below! I hope this was helpful. These were really easy, but made a big impact. What is everyone up to this weekend? We’re hoping to work one day and ski one day- which sounds like the perfect balance to me. Whatever you’re doing, I hope you have a lovely weekend ahead. Happy Friday, friends!