Measure from the top of the drapery rod to the bottom of the desired length.

MEASURING TIPS FROM BARBARA
Always use a steel tape measure. Measure every window in the room, even if they all appear to be the same size. Use the highest window in the room as a standard for measuring if windows are at different heights. Place all draperies in the room at the same height from the floor.

DRAPERY ROD PLACEMENT
Barbara prefers to place the rod equidistant between the ceiling and the top of the window frame. Some people choose to place their rods on the window frame and others will extend their rods several inches on both sides of the casing. If the distance from the window casing to the ceiling is less than 8", you should consider extending the drapery treatment to the ceiling for a floor-to-ceiling mounted drapery.

STATIONARY DRAPERY PANELS
A break (fold) at the floor is recommended for drapery side panels that are stationary. A break can be achieved by adding between 1"-2" to the total finished length. PUDDLING at the floor is used for more formal treatments- English styles in particular-and the desired look can command between 12"-20" added to the finished length.

MOVEABLE DRAPERIES
Allow ½" clearance between the bottom of the drapery and the floor when measuring for floor-length draperies. Don't forget to include the carpet and carpet padding height. For Sheers allow a 1" clearance between the bottom of the drapery and the floor. Lightweight fabrics can stretch a bit over time.

For a professional look, Barbara recommends 1.5 widths per panel. This is referred to as a 3 to 1 ratio and creates fullness.

LININGS
DecoratorsBest uses a 50% Cotton; 50% Polyester Sateen Lining. Linings give fullness to drapery and create smooth looking folds. Medium- and heavyweight fabrics have a richer appearance if they are lined. The folds appear softer and deeper. Linings help prevent the fabric from fading . Linings cut down on the amount of light, noise, and dust that filter through the window. Linings give windows a unified appearance on the outside.

SILKS
Barbara recommends that all silks exposed to sunlight are lined and that they are also interlined.

SHEERS do not need lining

INTERLINING
DecoratorsBest Interlining is 100% Cotton. Interlining is a fabric layer that is placed between the fabric and the lining. It gives body to the drapery and helps it drape better. Barbara recommends using this for drapery in large or formal rooms and in small traditional rooms. Barbara uses interlining in almost all of her drapery.