Step 1 – Measure your window width and add an extra 100mm, this will allow for the overhang that we want and will provide a full coverage to your new window style incorporating your new swag or swags and tails. I will use the following example that my finished size of the window is approximately 2100mm wide. We are going to use a material that is basically  plain  or slightly textured in design and run it lengthways across the window. Most materials used for curtains or soft furnishings is either 1200mm wide or 1400mm wide. If your window is 2100mm in width then we will need approximately 2500mm of material for our first step – Remember to add an extra 400mm of material on to your first width measurements. This is how we achieve a requirement of 2500mm material.

Step 2 -  Generally we will create a swag every 700mm of window width, ie if our window is 2100mm wide then this window will have at least 3 swags, now firstly I need you to create 4 strips of material approximately 50mm in width by 300mm in length, these are called our swag bands or swag holders.

Step 3 – You will need to purchase a piece of timber that is 2100mm wide and the depth of the timber needs to be at least 150mm, this will allow for the swag curtain or swags and tails to extend out over your existing roller blind or curtain. The Thickness of the material is generally 19mm. Now on the font of the timber you will need to staple some hook velcro tape, this is generally available at most craft or hardware stores. Very importantly ensure that you extend the tape around the corners of the headboard.

Step 4 – You will now need to cut you material to the exact width of the headboard including the returns around the side, for example if the width of the headboard is 2100mm, we need also to add on the projection of the swag headboard which in our example is 150mm, so overall we have to allow 2100mm , 150mm plus 150mm , this will total 2400mm, this is our exact measurement to cut the material. after we have cut the material we will now sew on the opposite side of the velcro tape, when sewing this tape to the material along width ensure that you allow at least 1cm down from the top as this will form the frill or header that hides swag and tails headboard.

Step 5 – Now lay the swag curtains headboard on its side and attach the material to the headboard using the velcro tape that you have sewn on, we are now going to use our swag bands, staple the four bands on to the top of the headboard , positioning them as follows , 1 band on each end approximately 1cm in, space the other 2 bands out in equal distances, now once you have done this pull the band over the material , up and under and staple it to the inside of the swags headboard. and voila guess what you have created a modern swag effect. On the returns that go back to the wall create 2 new bands approximately 20mm in length, and repeat the above process. This will form the tail.

Well done , you have created a swag curtain or swags and tails that has taken less than an 1.5hours to complete.

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1. When you have arrived home with your new curtain the very first item that you must check is the width and drop of the window, firstly measure the width and then measure the drop or height , you should end up with something like the following  2100mm x 2130mm drop. This is our first  and most critical measurement.

2. Now unpackage your curtain and check for labelling, ie you should have something within the curtain that will allow us to hang the curtain the correct way, on the tag there is usually a measurement that will ready something like this – 2 x 2w @ 2130mm drop, what this is basically telling us is that you  have 2 curtains and each curtain has 2 widths of material sewn togeather, the drop or height of the curtain is 2130mm .

3. A very basic formula that I apply to all curtains is that 1width of material generally covers a maximum of 700mm of window, so in the above example you have a total of 4widths which will cover 2800mm of window -  4 x 700mm.

4. If you are installing a new track remember to install onto the architrave or alternatively install the track or rod to the height of the curtain, another simple formula for installing your new drapes is just to make sure that the top of the curtain track or rod is set to 10mm higher than the curtain, this will allow for the curtain to sit 10mm off of the floor.

5. This is a very important step in how to hang curtains, if you have purchased a set of ready to hang curtains, spend the extra time to ensure that you press or iron the curtains prior to installing, it generally takes around 1/2 an hour per window to iron or press. This has a huge effect on the desired look of your curtain

6. After you have pressed the curtain, count how many runners or rings are on your curtain track or rod, ensure that you have the same amount of hooks in your curtain and generally if you are using a gathering tape at the top of the curtain you will need to install the hook in the middle row of the tape.

7. You are now ready to hang your first curtain, pick up the curtain and lay the bulk of it over your shoulder, this is a system that all professional curtain installers use as it take the weight of the drape and allows you to keep one hand free at all times.

8. Start from the inside and work your  way to the outside , ensure that you do not miss any runners or rings along the way, how to hang curtains is not difficult if you follow these steps as it shows you an easy and effective way of hanging curtains.

9. Now once you have hung both curtains, allow them to settle on the window for at least 24hours before completing the final phase of the installation which is called the dressing of the curtain, do not attempt step 10 until at least 1 day after you have installed them, this will allow for the curtain to settle and soften which will make you job alot easier and more professional.

10. Now for the dressing of the drape, open each curtain and start running your hands up and down into the folds, we generally allow 10 minutes for each curtain or 20 minutes total, once you have completed this, tie the curtain off with some decorative rope or even some material, allow the curtain to stay in this position for 2 days, release off the tiebacks and you now have a fully dressed curtain that was done by following “how to hang curtains in 10 easy steps”

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