Tockalosh

Help needed please

First off I have never ever bought curtains in my life, previous houses either had them or first wife used to spend fortunes on them and they would magically appear one day

I am looking for curtains that cover the windows and not great works of drapery art. I don't want black outs as I cant wake up happy unless there is light so its simple curtains to stop the neighbours seeing in, simples or so I thought.

There are patio windows all over the palace del Alma and though the drop varies the width is consistent at 152cm

So in the bedroom the main window measures 152cm width edge of frame to edge of frame and 265 drop top of frame to floor

Ikeas curtains all seem to be 145cm wide by 300 or so drop. Which appears to be massively wider then the opening to be covered.

Is this right ? Do I need 2.9m width of both curtains to cover a 1.5 m width ? Am I missing something blindingly obvious.

Kix

So you shagged your first wife's sister eh?

No idea about your query, but I'd have thought 2x the width is the minimum you'd need with all those pleats, probably 4x would be a better option.

Robajob

Yes. When you close a cutain it is not flat, it is rippled in and out, these ripples take up the extra fabric.

Why not hire someone to come and make them fit and hang them?

Blue Cat

2.5 times the width of the window is enough for gathers, have you looked on Dubizzle for curtains? sometimes people are selling complete sets for entire villas. You obviously have no idea what you are doing so it might be cheaper in the long run to get a company in to make them up for you, nothing fancy just basic unlined jobs, at least they will fit I think Home Center have curtains as well so check there too

shiva

Go to ikea
Buy curtains in a colour you don't hate
Buy curtain rails at same time
Go home put them up
Sit down have a cup of tea and handful of man the **** up pills


You'll be asking about cushions next!

kittycat1

Tock,

Depending on the finish you want curtains would be 1.5- 3 x the actual window width.
In length remember to add the height of the track as well.

worst case scenario go to a curtain specialist tell them you don't understand and need help (I would question the knowledge of Ikea staff). Take a picture of the window in question and write the dimensions on so they can see where you are measuring, so if you are literally measuring from inside the frame they will know what to add on at the sides/above/below.

You could also check out http://www.johnlewis.com/buying-guid...s-buying-guide

Tockalosh

Thanks for the advice Ladies including Shiva

These are all flat front for want of a better phrase curtains with no pleats so reckon I am on the case. KK I measured outside of frame to outside of frame so am ok with the dimensions

Shiva, I hate IKEA with a passion and like to go in with a list of part numbers put in trolley and get out asap before I start buying lemon squeezers etc because I once used one in a Brummy curry house 15 years ago and think I cant possibly live without one now

BC thanks for the advice but getting stuff made just sounds expensive

All sorted bar one stupid size window that IKEA doesn't capture adequately.

Tockalosh

And am starting to sound really gay here with colour choice

But do black curtains show the day to day dust more than white curtains ?

I am relating to cars and their colours here as black cars always look dirty 5 minutes after you wash them

Blue Cat

Just make sure you get enough gather, double the width even triple the width is fine it just gives you more gather. have you ever put curtains up? do you know what to do to gather them etc?

Blue Cat

yes they do but they do a better job of keeping the sun out

Tockalosh

BC I have power tools arriving in the container soon

I am a man

I need not instructions

I will probably **** this up because of the 3 statements listed above

shiva

Ikea do online shopping here now and have an online catalogue. No need to fight the crowds of het up women and men about to die of boredom

Tockalosh

So on balance black is better than white ?

I have a washing machine arriving tomorrow and a dhobi wallah arriving with the kids month end

shiva

Rubbish, they'll be up in precisely the manner you intended !

Tockalosh

I saw that when I was checking stock but cant sit at home waiting for delivery so I will have to face the masses this arvo.