The best design advice has no expiry date, as Martha Stewart reminds us, time and time again. 11 years ago, the lifestyle guru shared her rules for perfectly measuring window coverings, and they still ring true over a decade later.
In this case, Martha tackled one of the most tedious jobs a homeowner faces: How to measure curtains. However, her bite-sized advice makes the process so much quicker than I ever thought possible (in fact, she addresses the measuring process in under a minute).
'Curtains can be soft and billowy, or they can be heavy and luxurious. Choosing the right curtain for your room is really a big job,' Martha begins before answering exactly how we should measure for window coverings.
'If you want to use a shade, you measure on the inside of the window frame. If you want to hang beautiful curtains and use a big rod with finial ends, you would measure from the outside of the frame, putting the hardware outside the window frame itself,' Martha explains.
'It’s very important for drapes, which are the long curtains that hang on either side of a window, to go from above the window panes themselves all the way down to the floor.'
Shop Martha Stewart-designed curtains
There are no better curtains to use to follow this advice than those designed by Martha herself. You can shop for some of our favorites below.
These lightweight, tufted stripe rod pocket curtains (from Stewart's Lily Pond Coastal Window Collection) are designed to filter sunlight for a light and airy look softly. We think they'd look particularly beautiful on a kitchen window alongside our favorite flowers – the pefect morning coffee setting.
These cut velvet curtain panels combine comfort, warmth, and maximalist style. They are particularly perfect for spaces with a transitional or traditional style of decor, bringing yet more drama to an already bold, comforting space.
Lightweight, versatile and always fashionable, these sheer curtains subtly filters light for a bright, spacious room (no matter the size). Sheer window panels can be used as a standalone treatment or layered window treatment, depending on whether we want a minimalist space or something that feels even more dramatic.
In the same footage, Martha goes on to address how we should dress a window that's subject to a lot of sunlight.
'There are beautiful sheer curtains [such as these from Amazon] that you can hang that will filter the light nicely and add a really pretty effect to a room. You can also have blackout curtains for those times that you really want to have a dark room with no light at all filtering in through the windows,' Martha says. She then explained how to wash and care for curtains to ensure their longevity.
'If your curtains are white cotton organdy, you can launder them carefully, iron them, and rehang them. If they are a non-washable fabric, they should definitely be sent to the dry cleaners,' she says.
As mentioned, Martha Stewart's curtain collection (available at Amazon) is a great place to shop for high-quality drapes that are beautiful but affordable. We're willing to invest in anything that carries Martha's good name.
