How Long Should Curtains Be? A Designer’s Guide to Getting the Length Right

Should Curtains Go to the Floor?

It’s one of the most common questions we’re asked. The length of your curtains can make or break the look of a room. While full-length curtains often feel more luxurious, they’re not always the best choice for every space. Here’s how to decide what works for you.

1. Floor-Length: The Designer Favourite

Curtains that just skim the floor create a tailored, elegant finish. They help elongate a room, make ceilings appear higher, and work beautifully in living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms. This is the way we were trained to make curtains with a clearance of 1cm off the floor allowing for ease of movement, no drag and certainly not dusting the floor every-time they open or close. 

2. Floor-Length: Kissing the Floor

A current trend is for curtains to 'kiss the floor' usually by 3-5cm these work best on high ceilings and plain fabrics.

3. Sill-Length: Practical and Perfect for Radiators

If you have radiators, deep sills or furniture beneath your windows, sill-length curtains can look neat and intentional. The key is precision: get the drop right and don't have them halfway down the wall. 

4. Café Curtains and Roman Blinds

For smaller windows or where privacy and light balance are key (like kitchens and bathrooms), a Roman blind or café curtain can be a lovely alternative. They can be made in the same fabric as full curtains elsewhere in the room to maintain flow.

5. When in Doubt — Go Longer

If you’re unsure, it’s better to err on the side of longer. A longer curtain looks softer and makes your space bigger.

At Stripe Interiors, we help clients choose the right proportions for their specific windows, factoring in style, function and light.

Thinking about new curtains?
Book a design consultation or call us to find out more.