Choosing curtains for tall windows

Tall windows are a gift - they make the room, let in a flood of light, give character. That's also why they punish bad curtain decisions hardest. Wrong length, fabric too thin, folds too sparse - and the whole effect collapses.

Proportions first

A curtain in a tall window needs twice the air a 2.3 m window does. That means:

• mount the rail 15-25 cm above the frame - the room "grows",
• finish the fabric at the floor or with a 1-2 cm pool - long curtains elongate the space,
• choose a fabric width of 2× the window width for full folds.

Fabric - weight matters

The taller the window, the more easily fabric "escapes". A light voile in a 3-metre window hangs flat like a sheet. What actually works:

• Linen at 200-280 g/m² - falls naturally into deep folds,
• Cotton with a wool blend - heavy, holds light,
• Velour and velvet for formal rooms.

Fold pattern

Classic "carambola" or Italian folds work better than minimalist tape headings in tall windows. They add verticality and don't cut the proportions.

Common mistakes

1. Curtain too short - ends above the sill.
2. Rail flush with the window - visually drops the ceiling by half a metre.
3. Fabric folds too rare - the "flat wallpaper" effect.

If you're planning window treatments in a tall interior, the best start is a measurement and fabric samples in our workshop - you can lay the material out and see how it actually drapes.