The Ultimate Guide to Hanging Curtains

Step 1: Gather the curtains

It's easiest to gather grommet curtains into their pleats before you start threading them onto the curtain pole. When folding the curtain into pleats, match up all the grommets and make sure the first and last pleats are pointing inwards.

Step 2: Feed the curtain pole through the grommets

Remove one end of the pole from its bracket and take off the finial. Then, feed it through the grommets on your curtain. Before adding the last grommet, place the pole back in the bracket so that the final pleat sits between the bracket and the finial. Reattach the finial and repeat the process on the other side.

Step 1: Check you have the right number of curtain rings/track runners

The first thing to do when you unpackage your pinch pleat curtains is to count how many hooks are sewn into the pleats. You then need to make sure you have the same number of curtain rings or track runners.

Step 2: If needed, adjust the hooks

Because pinch pleat curtains have hooks sewn into the pleats, you don't have to worry about inserting them yourself. However, you do have the option of repositioning them. The hooks on our pinch pleat curtains slide down a plastic retainer (if you slide them down too far, simply slide them all the way off and reattach at the top).

The reason for this is that you will be able to adjust the height of the heading. If you have a curtain pole, we suggest having the hooks as close to the top of the curtains as possible. If you have a curtain track, having the hooks midway down or at the bottom of the retainer will allow the heading to hide the track.

Step 3: Attach the hooks to your curtain rings/track runners

Once you're happy with the positioning of the hooks, you can start hooking them onto your curtain rings or runners. If you're using a curtain pole, make sure the final ring is between the bracket and the finial. If you have a curtain track, attach the last curtain hook to the fixed runner at the end.

Step 1: Measure the curtain pole or curtain track

Before anything else, use a measuring tape to measure the curtain pole or track from end to end. Divide this measurement in half and note it down: this is the width you'll want each of your curtains to be.

Step 2: Tie the cords at one end of the heading

You'll notice that at each end of your curtain heading, there are three strands. These are what you pull in order to tighten the heading into pleats. BUT, you must tie off one end, otherwise the threads will be pulled through and you might lose them (or they'll come out the other end)! Simply take all three strands together and tie them in a double knot.

Step 3: Pull the cords

Once you have tied a knot in one end, you can begin pulling the cords at the other end to create pleats and reduce the width of the curtain. The easiest way to do this is by laying the curtain across a flat surface, such as a table or ironing board. If you can, lay out a measuring tape above the heading of your curtain so you can keep an eye on the width as you're tightening the cords.

Keep pulling until the width is the same as the half measurement you took earlier, plus a couple of centimetres to allow some overlap.

The tied cords should be positioned on the outside edges and can be neatly concealed behind the curtain header tape.

Step 4: Tie off the other side

Tie off the cords at the other end of the curtains, but this time use a slipknot. This type of knot is easier to undo, which will be helpful if you want to adjust the curtains at any point or take them down to be washed.

Step 5: Neaten the pleats

You'll probably notice that the pleats in the heading are pretty uneven at this point. Spend some time redistributing them, aiming for each pleat to be roughly the width of a pencil.

Step 6: Insert the hooks

Count how many curtain rings or track runners there are and divide this number by half - this is the amount of hooks you will need on each curtain.

There are three pockets on the back of the curtain tape where you can attach your hooks. This allows you to determine the height of your curtain heading. If you have a curtain pole, attach the hooks to the top pocket. If you have a track, attach them to the middle or lower pocket.

Make sure you have a hook at each end of the curtain, and space out the other hooks so they are four-five pockets, or pleats, apart.

Step 7: Hang the curtains

It's now time to start hanging your pencil pleat curtains! Simply hook them to your rings or tracks. If you have a curtain pole, make sure that the final hook is in between the bracket and the finial. If you have a track, the final hook should be attached to the fixed runner at the end.