Popular Curtain Lengths: Should Curtains Go To Floor or Bottom of Window?

It's amazing how much drapery length can shift the whole personality of the room: a few inches one way or the other can make a room feel more spacious or cozier, or make a window appear grand, casual, or even playful.

Drapery lengths are common topics for discussion at SmartLooks Window & Wall Decor, since every room is unique and popular curtain lengths greatly influence the mood of your interior design. Each choice brings a different style to a room. 

Read on to learn more.

When most people think “curtains,” they’re envisioning drapery that falls right at or just below the window sill. Drapery that extend to the floor are the most popular drapery length for living rooms, bedrooms, and dining spaces, though the right choice really depends on how a room gets used.

●    Floor length: more formal; adds sophistication and height to a room, and softens hard lines against hardwood floors or wide stretches of tile.

●    Bottom of window: more casual, cozier, keeps things practical near a heating vent, a low piece of furniture, or a window that gets opened often.

As you see, the answer comes down to more than space alone. But what about puddle-length curtains?

Window sill length curtains stop right at the bottom edge of the window frame, which keeps things tidy without extra fabric. This shorter style suits kitchens and bathrooms nicely, where a longer panel could get in the way of daily life. It also works over a sink, a radiator, or a window seat.

Apron length curtains drop a few inches past the sill, usually four to six, landing near the bottom of the window trim. That small extra length softens the look without taking up much visual space. We like how this looks on windows with furniture positioned just below them, such as a desk, a low bookshelf, or a bench. The fabric can fall just far enough to look finished without brushing up against anything.

Kissing length means a drapery length where fabric barely touches the floor. This easygoing style gives stationary panels or traversing drapery a formal and full feel with an impactful but not overstated presence, most common in most spaces.

Puddle Length: The Longest Length Drapes

Puddle length means that an extra few inches of fabric pool on the floor. This dramatic style of drapery leans traditional or romantic, which is why it shows up so often in formal dining rooms or bedrooms with softer, layered feels. It does require a bit more upkeep, though, since fabric on the floor tends to collect dust.

Mixing Popular Curtain Lengths in One Room

Some rooms benefit from combining custom-made drapery in multiple lengths to suit the space. A kitchen might use sill-length panels in a lighter fabrication over the sink while pairing matching floor-length versions on a larger nearby window or sliding door for balance. A bedroom can follow the same idea, using apron length on a smaller side window while the main window or French doors receive kissing floor-length panels for a more finished look.

The right curtain length can make a window treatment look like it was built for the room—because it was. We feature Hunter Douglas window treatments, Carole Fabrics™ drapery, and a talented team of interior decor specialists ready to help you with your project.

Stop by for a free in-showroom consultation or contact us for more information in Richardson and the Dallas Metroplex, including Dallas, Plano, Allen, McKinney, Frisco, Fairview, Wylie, Sachse, Murphy, Parker, Garland, Rowlett, Rockwall, Heath, Sashe, Addison, Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Celina, and the surrounding areas.