Ball-type finials on dining room drapes.
Decorative curtain rods come in two standard types: fixed-length and adjustable-length. When creating the window treatments for your home, consider how you wish to use the treatments in the decor and how the window treatment will operate. A fixed-length curtain rod will have a unified appearance across the entire rod (it will have the same thickness); an adjustable-length curtain rod will need to extend and this means that there will be some type of mechanism, such as a sleeve, to allow for this extension. This means that half of the curtain rod may be thinner than the other half. At the end of both types of curtain rods are finials. These are decorative end caps available in hundreds of styles that are attached to hide the cut off end of the rod. These are fixed in place on both types of rods. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Measure the width of the window. Add 4 inches beyond the window trim. Mark your walls at these locations. The curtain rod will mount above the window from 4 inches above the window trim or further, depending on your window style and ceiling height. A curtain rod finial, like a ball, mounts over the last few inches of each end of the curtain rod.
2. Select a curtain rod length that will be at least 2 inches longer than the two marks you made on the wall. If you intend to add a draped scarf to the top of the window treatment, make the curtain rod a few inches longer to accommodate the extra fabric on the ends of the curtain rod brackets.
3. Choose an adjustable curtain rod so that your length measurement falls near the middle of the adjustable length. This will make your curtain rod stronger and better able to carry the drapery load. Very long rods will often use intermediate brackets to support the rods.
4. Install your curtain rod brackets at the height above your window casing. Mount the brackets over a wall stud or use wall anchors to secure the brackets to the wall. Place the finials over the ends of the curtain rods once the curtain has been placed on the rod. Often the curtain rings and clips or tabs will not fit over finials. Mount the finial by screwing the attachment screw through the finial ball and into the end of the curtain rod.
5. Position the curtain rod so that the finial balls are outside of the curtain rod brackets. It is common to also position the last ring of the curtain outside with the finial as this prevents the curtain from sliding all the way across the rod. Turn finials with a pattern or design so they face toward the room.
Tags: curtain brackets, curtain will, above window, both types, curtain rods, curtain that