Door curtains are not only a nice soft touch to add to your home, they are also helpful for providing privacy and protection from natural elements like the sun.
If you’re planning to add a door panel curtain, you also might be wondering how to install them, we’re going to go through exactly how to hang door curtains in this article.
The easiest way to hang door curtains is by using a sash rod or a curtain rail. With the help of nails and screws, you can easily attach the curtains to the door or walls.
There’s also a number of methods that don’t require nails or drilling at all which we’ll cover in this article.
If you want to understand exactly how the process works and what to remember before hanging your door curtains, then keep reading.
Benefits of Using Door Curtains
If you have a door with glass in, a full glass door or french doors in your home, you might feel like you’re missing out on much-needed privacy.
In the summer months, it can also get quite hot as the warmth and sunshine shines through the glass on the door.
The best solution in this situation is to install door curtains.
Door curtains can give an eye-catching welcoming look to the room and add a splash of colors to your space. Plus, they act as a protective barrier and can help regulate the temperature too.
How to Install Door Curtains
The two main methods people use to hang door curtains are:
- Using a sash rod
- Using a curtain rail
How to Hang Door Curtains with a Sash Rod
If complete privacy is your main priority, a sash rod can help you achieve that.
The curtains will cover the entire door as two rods are used; one at the top and one at the bottom. You can also tie the curtain in the center to give a pretty hourglass shape.
Before buying sash rods, you need to measure the area that needs to be covered. There also need to be pockets at the top as well as bottom of the door panel for the rod to be installed on.
You can follow these steps to use a sash rod correctly:
- Starting from the top, take the curtain’s panel and slide the sash rod into the pocket.
- While holding up the rod, mark the point where the hardware will be mounted. To do this correctly, the panel must be straight or flat, or someone can hold it from the other side for you. However, be sure not to apply any force or tension on it.
- Drill the holes using nails or screws depending on where you marked the points.
- Now secure the hardware and the rod in place.
- For the bottom panel, repeat the same steps.
- Finally, seal the rod ends with covers. (if you have them)
How to Hang Door Curtains Using A Curtain Rail
A single rod can also be used at the top of the door for hanging the curtains.
If you want to cover the door completely, you need to look for a curtain that has the appropriate length and width.
The resulting look is classy and cosy, and can add a nice design feature to your door.
You can install the curtains and rail by following these steps:
- First determine where the curtain rod brackets should be installed. The distance should be enough the cover the door while holding the rod up.
- Mark the position for drilling pilot holes.
- Then put the screws in place.
- From one end of the rod, slide in the curtain.
- Next, do it from the other side.
- Finally, hang up the rods on the brackets.
How to Hang Door Curtains Without Drilling?
It’s okay if you don’t want to use nails or screws to put the curtains up. You still have a number of different methods to choose from. Lets go through some of the simplest and most ones:
Tension Rods
This is the easiest and most versatile tool you can use. All you need to do is buy the right sized tension rod.
Simply hang the curtain on the rod and then secure it in place. There is a sturdy spring inside the rod that gives it the tension it needs to be installed.
Magnetic Rods
These rods work best on steel and metal doors as the magnet will properly work on this material.
All you need to do is press it on the door where required and the magnetic rod will get attached.
You cannot make the magnetic rod adhere to a wooden door unless you use an adhesive.
However, an adhesive can damage the door or simply not be strong enough. So, it is recommended to only use a magnetic rod if your door is made of metal.
Velcro
You can also use velcro to hold your curtains in place. You need to choose the right thickness of the velcro according to the curtains and their weight.
The downside to velcro is that you can’t easily retract the curtains, you will have to remove them completely if you want to let the light in. Also, it can’t hold too much weight, so would be best used for net style curtains.
For instance, a half inch wide strip is usually suitable for a small and thin curtain. For heavier and longer curtains, you would definitely need a heavy duty velcro strip.
Before you add the velcro, the curtains should be set the way you want them to look. If you want a gathered look, first bunch up the curtain cloth according to your preference and then apply the velcro strips.
Remember, removing the curtain and velcro requires a citrus cleaner to dissolve the strong adhesive on the velcro strip.
How Long Should Door Curtains Be?
This depends on the material and style of your door as well as the look you want to achieve.
If your door has a clear glass on its upper side only, the door curtains should be about 4-6 inches longer than the glass.
This curtain length usually looks best on this door type as it provides the necessary privacy while keeping the look of the doors structure.
For a full coverage glass door, longer curtains look best. The fabric should be long enough to cover your door from top to bottom.
The width of the fabric should be 2 to 4 inches wider than the door and 4 to 6 inches longer than its length.
Should a Door Curtain Touch the Floor?
This mainly depends on your personal preference and interior design sense. However, most people think that the curtain should be long enough to just touch the ground.
Others believe its okay for the curtain to be a few inches shorter. Longer curtains tend to give a more formal and fancy look.
How to Measure a Door For Curtains
You need to measure the length and the width of your door first. Basically, most door panels are measured starting from their top rod pocket to their bottom rod pocket.
The headings on the top and bottom are not included in the measured length.
How to Measure A Sliding Glass Door for Curtains?
A standard sliding glass door measures 60 or 72 inches in width and about 80 inches in height. Typically, at least two curtain panels are needed for sliding glass doors.
You can find the right dimension for curtains by first taking the measurements of your door. If the door measures 5-foot (60 inches), the curtain should be around 66 to 72 inches.
At least 3 to 6 inches should be added on each side to get the right measurements.
How to Hang French Door Curtains?
A French door is a single or pair of doors made from glass panes or solid glass.
When choosing a curtain for your French door, make sure it is a full-length one as you would want maximum coverage. For a fuller look, you should also make sure to keep adequate width.
For a single French door, you must install rods that fully cover the doors. If you have multiple French doors, you will need a curtain rod which extends the total width of the doors.
If you don’t want to drill any holes, you can hang the curtains using holdback or curtain rod brackets. You can simply position the brackets on the door trims and tap them into place.
How to Hang Beaded Door Curtains?
Beaded curtains also look very attractive and hanging them is a simple process. You don’t need many tools to hang the curtains in place. With a hammer and small nails, you can easily do it yourself.
Most beaded curtains have attached rings on top to hold them in place. Use the rings to guide you and mark the points where the nails should be attached.
Then, use a hammer to put the nails in place. You can also use cup hooks. Finally, hang up the beaded curtains once the hooks or nails are installed.
Final Words
Door curtains can surely be a wonderful addition to your home and improve the appearance and privacy your door offers.
Now you know how to hang door curtains and that it is a fun DIY task you can easily complete at home. Just remember that the proper measurements are crucial to install the curtains smoothly.
