The easy way to measure for designer curtains.
Welcome to our simple guide to measuring your windows for your new designer curtains. You're going to love just how quick and easy it is to measure up. Use this guide to measure for your designer curtains and lined curtains. Refer to our guides for double curtains and for measuring your corner windows and bay and box windows for curved curtains.
Before you get going:
Have you designed how your curtains will fit?
This is where the fun starts! If you’ve already landed on the perfect fit for your windows, then you’re good to go. Otherwise don't stress, we'll walk you through the design options below.
Do you know what surface your curtains will attach to?
Our curtains attach to most surfaces, though it's always best to do your homework. Wall studs and ceiling battens are by far the easiest to attach to.
Have you thought about motorisation?
Wake up to luxury every day once you've installed effortless, motorised curtains in your home. Somfy's custom tracks and premium, wired and battery-powered motors work for any sized window. Just add motorisation to your order to get your dream look.
Wired motors are perfect for new homes or renovations. With a bit of help from your electrician you can plan ahead to make your motor and cabling discreet. For example if you want double, motorised curtains you can hide your wiring in between your tracks.
Motorisation is not available for curtains with multiple openings or free flow tracks.
Order your free samples!
Get touchy feely with our designer fabric samples. It's the best way to choose the perfect curtain fabric for your home.
What you'll need to measure
1 - 2 People
Less than 5 Mins
- Tape measure (metal is best)
- Step ladder
- Pen and some paper
Designing your dream curtains
The fun starts with designing how your curtains will fit, so channel your inner stylist and get creative! This is about finding your dream look and getting custom curtains that fit and function perfectly.
Ceiling mount
Wall Mount
Curtains that hang from your ceiling are called ceiling mount:
- Give a sense of space and draw focus to the height of your room.
- Curtains are best attached to ceiling battens.
- Great option for a straight edge ceiling and to fit inside cornices.
- Opt for a double track to layer curtains (see our measure guide for double curtains).
- Add motorisation for effortless luxury and choose wired or battery motors for your curtains.
- Go for sheer curtains for a soft and floaty look and blockout fabrics to stop light coming in.
- Select lined curtains for incredible thermal insulation and an ultra plush feel.
- Keep it on trend with a left stack or right stack, or pick a centre opening or multiple openings for easy access to your windows and doors.
- Get the luxe look with an S fold or go traditional with pleated curtains.
- Choose from 3 finishes - just off the floor, touching the floor or puddled.
- Pick your perfect hem and for premium linens opt for our 100 mm hem.
- Customise your track flow by choosing a fixed flow or free flow.
- For larger drops, go for a longer wand or no wand at all.
- Opt for our designer or residential track in white to blend with light walls and in black or silver to tie in with similar features in your home.
- Combine curtains with roller blinds, giving you all the options to control light and privacy.
- Looking for something unique? Contact us about our designer curtain rods and different fabrics.
OK it's time to start measuring,
let's take it step by step.
Measure your width
Measure the exact width of your ceiling from one wall to the other, and write it down. If you have cornices, you'll measure from the inside of your cornices. This measurement will be your track width.
Don't worry about measuring how much fabric you need; we'll take care of it for you based on your track width.
Measure your splits (optional)
For multiple openings
For multiple openings you can choose 1 or 2 splits and tell us exactly where you'd like them. Splitting your curtains is a fantastic option for bi-fold and sliding doors so you can easily move sections of your curtains to access your doors.
Make a note of how many splits you'd like in your curtains. We will assume that your splits are evenly spaced if you don't give us split measurements.
If you don't want any splits you can skip to step 3.
For one custom split
For one custom split measure the width from the left across to where your split will be and write it down.
For two custom splits
For two custom splits measure the widths from the left across to each split position and write them down.
Measure your drop
Measure from your ceiling down to the floor on the left side, middle and right side. If you have cornices, you'll measure from the inside of your cornice. Write down the largest of all three.
Go for puddling if your 3 measurements have a greater than 10 mm difference.
Choose your finish
When you design and order your curtains choose from the three options below.
Please only provide the hard measurements to us and please don't make any deductions or additions. We'll make the necessary adjustments so you get the perfect finish.
- If you choose curtains just off the floor they will be approximately 5 - 10 mm shorter than your drop measurement, and they will hover just above your floor.
- If you choose curtains touching the floor they will skim your floor by up to 5 mm.
- If you choose puddling your curtains will puddle on your floor by 20 mm. If you'd like a larger puddle let us know in the comment section during checkout.
Choose your wand, stack option and track flow
Note down which wand you want. It sounds obvious but the larger your drop, the larger your wand needs to be so you can reach it.
Note down whether you want a left stack, right stack, centre opening or multiple openings. Think about which side is easiest to reach, obstruction free and which part of your window you'll want to open often. If you're adding motorisation your motor will sit on your stack side. Choose the side for your motor, if you want centre opening curtains. Motorisation is not available for multiple openings. We’ll make sure your motor fits; you don’t need to alter the measurements you took.
When you order choose between a fixed flow track and a free flow track.
A free flow track gives you complete flexibility with how you open and stack your curtains. Motorisation is not available for free flow tracks.
Order your custom curtains online
You're all set to order your curtains! When you order you'll choose your hem option. Just remember you don't need to add any extra to your measurements for your hem; we'll do it for you.
Remember to only give us the exact measurements you took; don't make any deductions or additions for your chosen finish.
If you order motorised curtains with a wired motor we'll mail out your cables straight away, so your electrician can start wiring.
Curtains that hang on your wall are called face mount:
- For a lush feel cover your entire wall with designer curtains.
- Curtains are best attached to wall studs and also attach to concrete, stone, brick or tile.
- Opt for a double track to layer curtains (see our measure guide for double curtains).
- Add motorisation for effortless luxury and choose wired or battery motors for your curtains.
- Go for sheers for a soft and floaty look and blockout fabrics to stop light coming in.
- Select lined curtains for incredible thermal insulation and an ultra plush feel.
- Keep it on trend with a left stack or right stack, or pick a centre opening or multiple openings for easy access to your windows and doors.
- Get the luxe look with an S fold or go traditional with pleated curtains.
- Choose from 3 finishes -just off the floor, touching the floor or puddled.
- Pick your perfect hem and for premium linens opt for our 100 mm hem.
- Customise your track flow by choosing a fixed flow or free flow.
- For larger drops, go for a longer wand or no wand at all.
- Opt for our residential track in white to blend with light walls and in black or silver to tie in with similar features in your home.
- Combine curtains with roller blinds, giving you all the options to control light and privacy.
- Looking for something unique? Contact us about our designer curtain rods and different fabrics.
OK it's time to start measuring,
let's take it step by step.
Measure your width
For curtains to cover your entire wall: measure the exact width from one wall to the other and write it down. This measurement will be your track width.
For curtains to frame your window: measure the exact outside width of your window frame or recess across the top and write it down. Then add around 30% to the total width, so your curtains stack to the edge of your window. This measurement will be your track width. Example: your window frame width measures 1810 mm. You'll add 30% (543 mm), and then give us 2353 mm.
Don't worry about measuring how much fabric you need, we'll take care of that for you based on your track width.
Measure your splits (optional)
For multiple openings
For multiple openings you can choose 1 or 2 splits and tell us exactly where you'd like them. Splitting your curtains is a fantastic option for bi-fold and sliding doors so you can easily move sections of your curtains to access your doors.
Make a note of how many splits you'd like in your curtains. We will assume that your splits are evenly spaced if you don't give us split measurements.
If you don't want any splits you can skip to step 3.
For one custom split
For one custom split measure the width from the left across to where your split will be and write it down.
For two custom splits
For two custom splits measure the widths from the left across to each split position and write them down.
Measure your drop
Measure and mark with a pencil where your curtains will start - this will be the top of your curtain track. Use your ceiling or window frame as a reference point, so you get a level starting point across the top. Remember, it's best to hang your curtains from wall studs.
Measure from where your curtain will start down to the floor on the left side, middle and right side, and write down the largest of all three.
Please note: the drop measurement will be from where the top of the track will be mounted to the finished floor.
Go for puddling if your 3 measurements have a greater than 10 mm difference.
Choose your finish
When you design and order your curtains choose from the three options below.
Please only provide the hard measurements to us and please don't make any deductions or additions. We'll make the necessary adjustments so you get the perfect finish.
- If you choose curtains just off the floor they will be approximately 5 - 10 mm shorter than your drop measurement, and they will hover just above your floor.
- If you choose curtains touching the floor they will skim your floor by up to 5 mm.
- If you choose puddling your curtains will puddle on your floor by 20 mm. If you'd like a larger puddle let us know in the comment section during checkout.
Choose your wand, stack option and track flow
Note down which wand you want. It sounds obvious but the larger your drop, the larger your wand needs to be so you can reach it.
Note down whether you want a left stack, right stack, centre opening or multiple openings. Think about which side is easiest to reach, obstruction free and which part of your window you'll want to open often. If you're adding motorisation your motor will sit on your stack side. Choose the side for your motor, if you want centre opening curtains. Motorisation is not available for multiple openings. We’ll make sure your motor fits; you don’t need to alter the measurements you took.
When you order choose between a fixed flow track and a free flow track.
A free flow track gives you complete flexibility with how you open and stack your curtains. Motorisation is not available for free flow tracks.
Order your custom curtains online
You're all set to order your curtains! When you order you'll choose your hem option. Just remember you don't need to add any extra to your measurements for your hem; we'll do it for you.
Remember to only give us the exact measurements you took; don't make any deductions or additions for your chosen finish.
If you order motorised curtains with a wired motor we'll mail out your cables straight away, so your electrician can start wiring.