A Guide on How to Hang Heavy Curtains

Heavy curtains are great for blocking out noise, improving thermal performance, and giving your space an extra touch of elegance and class. They are well worth the investment, but let’s face it - they aren’t the easiest to hang. Failing to follow the right steps when hanging your heavy drapery may result in your rod bowing and the curtains themselves falling down at the most inopportune times. Luckily, we’re here to help! Here’s everything you need to know about how to hang heavy curtains.

heavy curtains

Selecting the Right Rod

Picking out a rod that is suited to support your heavy curtains is an integral part of the hanging process. Weighing your curtains is a sure-fire way to determine the appropriate footage for your rod. Simply divide the weight of your drapes by the required rod width to get an accurate weight per foot ratio. For example, if your curtains weigh 45 pounds, and the rod required is 10 feet, the rod should be able to support 4.5 pounds per foot. In general, your rod should also be at least five inches longer than the width of your window.

In terms of material of the rod, stay away from expandable rods or rods made out of flimsy material like aluminum. These types of rods do not hold weight well, so you’ll be much better off purchasing a solid rod made from a more reliable metal, such as steel or iron.

Take a look at the manufacturer’s information and purchase the recommended number of brackets based on the length of the rod you have. It’s also a good practice to double-check you have the correct size and number of screws and screw-in wall anchors before you leave the store!

iron curtain rod

Prep for Installation

Now that you have the appropriate rod and hanging materials in hand, it’s time to prepare for the actual installation. Measure the distance from the top of the bracket to the floor, then divide the width of your rod by the number of brackets and subtract one to arrive at the number of inches that should be in between brackets. Mark your wall where you want the center of each bracket to be, hold the bracket in position on the wall, then mark the place where the screw holes should be.

You should also take the length of your curtains into account when you’re prepping for installation. Curtains that touch the floor may end up being more of a nuisance than you might think, so it’s best to hang your curtains at least 3 inches off the floor.

tool kit

Install the Brackets

With your walls appropriately marked, you can now move on to installing the brackets without any risk of crooked placement. Screw your anchors into the wall at each marked location, stick a piece of 2-sided tape on the back of the bracket, and place it on the wall. The tape will help hold the bracket in place while you’re putting in the screws. The anchors should align with the bracket screw holes. Insert the screws through the screw holes and attach the rod to the bracket. Your curtains can now be hung on the rod!

bracket installation

Other Tips to Bear in Mind

Once your curtains have been installed, wait a few minutes to see if they stay up and give them a gentle tug to test the sturdiness of the brackets. Remember that bigger doesn’t always mean better when it comes to curtain rods – the thickness of a rod and the weight of the drapery are what determine whether or not your rod will bow. Also, keep in mind that specialty curtain rods may be required for your heavy curtains, and these rods may not be available at your home goods store.

At Drapery Curtain Rods, we carry Canada’s most complete assortment of drapery hardware. Our specialty rods are sturdy, reliable, and well equipped to handle the heaviest drapery on the market. We also carry a wide assortment of finials, holdbacks, rings, brackets, elbows, and rod connectors that complement our specialty rods. Contact us to get top quality curtain rods and drapery hardware today!