Hang curtains that make every window look custom-made. Most regrets come down to a few inches.

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20 Curtain Design Mistakes & Easy Fixes

How to measure, which length, heading and fabric to choose, and the 20 most common curtain mistakes, each with a before-and-after sketch and a simple fix.

$15USD · one-time

20 mistakes and easy fixes, from rod height to child safety
59 hand-drawn sketches you can read at a glance
A 5-page guide to measuring, lengths, headings, fabrics and hardware
A printable worksheet and quick check to take shopping

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Instant download. By buying you agree to immediate delivery of digital content. All sales final. See refund policy.

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37 pages PDF, print-ready
Inches + mm USA · UK · Canada

Most curtain regrets
come down to a few inches.

A rod hung too low or too narrow, panels that are too short or too skimpy, or the wrong fabric for the room. Get the height, width, length and fabric right, and even a plain window looks custom-made.

A peek inside

Every page: the mistake, the fix, the number.

Mistake 1

Rod mounted tight to the window frame

A rod screwed right onto the top of the frame makes the window look small and the ceiling look low. The heading covers the top of the glass, so you lose daylight.

Rod above the frame: 4–6" (100–150 mm)

The mistake: Rod on the frame: a squat window and a low ceiling.

The fix: Rod 4–6" above the frame: the window grows.

Mistake 3

Curtains that stop short of the floor

Curtains that end a few inches above the floor look like trousers that are too short. They make the window look smaller and let cold drafts slide in underneath.

Kiss the floor: within ½" (13 mm)

The mistake: Hem 7" off the floor: the window looks short.

The fix: Hem kissing the floor: tall and finished.

Mistake 5

Skimpy panels with too little fullness

Panels that add up to the width of the window look thin and cheap. Closed, they barely meet, leaving strips of light and no privacy.

Total fabric width: 2–2.5 × the rod length

The mistake: Flat panels: gaps of light, no folds.

The fix: 2× fullness: soft folds that close all the way.

Get the Curtains guide · $15

Instant download. By buying you agree to immediate delivery of digital content. All sales final. See refund policy.

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Built to be used, not just read

Real numbers

Rod height and width, curtain length and fullness, in inches and millimetres.

59 hand-drawn sketches

See the mistake and the fix side by side, with the mistake marked in red and the fix in green.

Worksheet and quick check

Print the measuring worksheet and the quick check, and take them shopping.

USA, UK & Canada

A word guide for terms that differ (rod or pole, grommet or eyelet), plus ready-made sizes for each market.

Pro tips

Simple tricks, like a strip of painter’s tape to test the rod height before you drill.

Yours in seconds

Download link right after checkout. Read on any phone, tablet or computer, or print it.

HOW TO USE IT

Three steps before you drill any holes

Read the guide

Learn how to measure, then choose your length, heading and fabric.
Check the mistakes

See each mistake and its fix in two quick sketches.
Fill in the worksheet

Measure each window, fill in one row per window, and take it shopping.

Mistakes: 20
Hand-drawn sketches: 59
Pages: 37
Both unit systems: in + mm

Flip through a few pages

Get the Curtains guide · $15

Instant download. By buying you agree to immediate delivery of digital content. All sales final. See refund policy.

Secure checkout by Gumroad · Card, PayPal and more · Instant PDF download

Made for you if you’re…

Buying new curtains
Measure first and choose the right length, heading and fabric before you shop.
Renting or just moved in
Get the rod height, width and length right the first time you hang a curtain.
Fixing a window that looks wrong
Find out why it looks wrong, and what a few inches can fix.

Just the curtains, or the whole house?

Curtains guide

$15

20 curtain mistakes and fixes
59 sketches · 37 pages
Printable worksheet and quick check

Buy the Curtains guide

Instant download. By buying you agree to immediate delivery of digital content. All sales final. See refund policy.

Best value

The complete book: 200 mistakes

~~Regular price $39~~ , launch price $29

Launch price until 30 Nov

200 mistakes across every room and zone
15 chapters, 241 pages
A separate book from this curtain guide

See the complete book

Questions, answered

How do I get the guide?

Right after checkout you get a download button, and Gumroad emails you the link too. It’s a PDF you keep forever.

Is this a printed book?

No. It’s a digital PDF. Read it on your phone, tablet or computer, or print it at home.

Can I print the worksheet and quick check?

Yes. It’s US Letter size. On A4 paper, choose “fit to page” when printing.

I live in the UK or Canada. Will it work for me?

Yes. Every measurement is in inches and millimetres, and a word guide covers the terms and ready-made sizes that differ between countries.

Is this guide inside the 200-mistake complete book?

No. It’s a separate book that goes deep on measuring, hanging and choosing curtains. The complete book covers home design mistakes in every room and zone.

Does it replace the instructions for my hardware or heaters?

No. Always follow the instructions that come with your rods, tracks, brackets and heaters, check local safety rules, and use a qualified installer where needed.

What if it’s not for me?

Because the guides are instant digital downloads, all sales are final. If your file is faulty or won’t download, email contact@vincerf.com and we’ll fix it.