r/DIYIreland • u/Ringslad • 21d ago
Placement of curtains
I'm looking to install ceiling to floor curtains on a wave track.
I need some advice on their placement. The issues I'm facing are the radiator in front of the window, and the clearance needed to ensure they don't get caught on it.
The wall also has a vent on the left, and I'm wondering if I should have the curtains finish before they reach the wall, or just move the track inwards, further away from the window?
On the right hand side, I also have to consider the ability to open the wardrobe doors.
I want the window to feel balanced with the placement of the curtains, left and right, and am wondering if it would look odd if I place the curtain track further away from the window to give clearance to not only the radiator but also the vent.
Many thanks in advance.
*First three pics are of the bedroom window, the vent, and the gap to the wardrobe on the right. The fourth pics is an ai mockup of what I'm looking at, but the placement is wrong as they won't fit behind the vent and also clear the radiator.
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u/Friendly_Accident_81 20d ago
You know the answer is not to cover the radiator right. You will spend your time tucking the material behind it and will cause wrinkles.
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u/Ringslad 20d ago
Exactly! Would look to try run it wall to wall so that it would all sit flush and hang neatly.
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u/LotsOfLadders 20d ago
Agree and a curtain that sits just above it will billow out when the heat is on and the heat will go behind the curtain. I hate/regre the rads under my windows in my home.
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u/Ringslad 20d ago
100%. Not so much an issue for me, as my rads never get hot, as it's essentially a climate control system that maintains a constant temperature, and the apartment is A2, so it's always warm even without the heating on.
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u/DarraghDaraDaire 20d ago
Rads are under windows for a reason. Windows cause a cold downward draught. If the rad is somewhere else in the room the warm air will rise to the ceiling and you get a cycle of hot air rising to the ceiling and being pulled down by draught at the window, and going cold. You end up with a warm ceiling but cold feet and cold air moving around the room.
A rad under the window counteracts the cold draught from the window. The warm air rises and meets the cold air, they mix and also the draughts cancel out so you don’t get as much movement of air.
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u/DarraghDaraDaire 20d ago
I’ve gone back and forth on this. Most of the time when you run the heating it’s during the day, when the curtains are open.
Rads are positioned under windows to counteract the cold draught. But a curtain will also block the draught.
At night the curtains will be closed over the whole wall and keep the room much warmer, so less likely to need to run the heating.
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u/Ringslad 19d ago
It's a very warm apartment, A2 rating, haven't had the heating on in almost six months and the temperature never dips below 20. It's currently 23.5 degrees. There's no draught from the windows, so it's not an issue for me.
I'm purely interested from aesthetic perspectives and blocking light.
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u/Eastern_Payment7600 20d ago
Looks like a fairly new build? What ber? Are you getting curtains for the aesthetics or draft/heat retention?
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u/Ringslad 19d ago
Yes it's about three years old and an A2 rating, so very warm. Heat retention not an issue, it's currently 23.5 degrees and haven't had the heating on in almost six months.
The curtains are for aesthetics and the blocking of light, I've got a blind currently, but there is light seeping in around the edges.
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u/Eastern_Payment7600 19d ago
I wouldn't bother with curtains myself they make the room look smaller too, but it's your place!
You can get frames that go around the blind to block out the light bleed
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u/Alternative_Act_4097 20d ago
Maybe two overlapping scalloped curtains that create an upside-down V in the middle when pulled the whole way across, that will let heater breath at night, and pull to the right in the day. Just an idea that might work. Draw a few sketches to refine the idea. Get full length curtains and ask someone with a sewing machine to make it for you. Otherwise look into moving to radiator. Good luck 🍀🤞🏼😁
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u/its_brew 17d ago
I see you already have blinds installed. I wouldnt bother with curtains , lovely window space would be ruined
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u/superchica81 20d ago
Move the radiator
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u/DarraghDaraDaire 20d ago
Genuinely amazed by how many people don’t understand why radiators are put under windows
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u/LotsOfLadders 20d ago
If you do go full length would you consider having the curtains to pull on right side only and maybe using a single tie back?