How to Measure a Curtain for a Bay Window
- 1). Install the hardware. Your curtains really do not fit the window, they fit the curtain rod or rods.
- 2). Measure the length of the curtain rod, or rods if there is more than one. If the rod is curved, take a piece of string and tape it so that it runs along the entire length of the curve. Mark on the string where the curve ends and untape it from the rod. Lay the string flat and straight and measure the length to know the true length of the rod. This number will be the width, which is typically measured in inches for curtains.
- 3). Measure the height of the window from the top of the window frame to where you want the curtain to end, whether it's below the window frame or to the floor.
- 4). Adjust your measurements. Generally, you don't want a curtain to lay flat against a window, you want some ruching along the width. A safe way to do this is to double the width measurement. Repeat this for all rod measurements.
- 5). Purchase curtains in the correct width and length measurements for each separate curtain rod in your window. You may choose to purchase two curtain panels for the longest curtain rod, in which case their combined width should equal the width measurement you were shopping for.
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