Where should curtain rod brackets be placed?

Understanding exactly where curtain rod brackets should be placed is a must if you’re dressing windows around your home.

Fail to get it right and the curtains themselves can look skimpy and block daylight when they’re open so the room feels gloomy.

Here, interior designers and curtain experts share their secrets for hanging curtains to enable you to put curtain rod brackets in the right position every time.

What to consider when placing curtain rod brackets

Knowing exactly where curtain rod brackets should be placed is vital to a successful finish for your curtains when you are installing curtain rods yourself. 

The position of curtain rod brackets might be influenced by the composition of the wall around the window, though if drilling is impossible, you can hang curtains without drilling using no-drill brackets that tap into the top of the window frame. 

Spark Innovators Black Tap Bracket, $14.99, Amazon.
These no drill curtain rod bracket installs in seconds on any window size and fit all standard size curtain rods. You can expect no damage to your walls with these tap in curtain brackets.

Other factors you'll need to consider when positioning curtain rod brackets are: 

• How wide curtain panels will be – and therefore the calculations for the fabric needed to sew curtain panels. The fuller the curtains, the further from the edge of the window frame the curtain rod brackets will need to be to allow for the panels to be pulled right back, so that they don't block light from the window.
• How high you want to hang curtains and therefore how long curtains should be. If you want to make a window look bigger, you should place your curtain rod brackets higher, perhaps even just below the crown molding. Otherwise, the accepted height for a curtain rod is a couple of inches above the top of the window frame. More on this below.

Select the right curtain rod brackets

Before you can place curtain rod brackets, be sure that you have the correct design for your needs. 

‘Curtain brackets come in multiple shapes, sizes, and materials,’ explains Kelly Simpson, senior director of design and innovation at experts in blinds, shades, shutters, and drapes Budget Blinds. ‘The weight of the curtain fabric and the size of the curtain rod are the two main factors that will influence which type of bracket you should select. 

‘For sheers or light curtains, a smaller bracket and rod can be used. For drapes or thicker curtains, you’ll need a bigger bracket, bigger bracket cup, and a sturdier material, as well as a larger curtain rod.’

Place curtain rod brackets at the right height

Consider the height at which you will place the curtain rod brackets. Unless the ceiling precludes it, this should be above the window frame. 

As a minimum, position the brackets 2 inches above the window, but 4 to 6 inches above the window is better. Alternatively, if there is a distance of between 6 and 12 inches between the ceiling and window frame, position the brackets at a height midway between the ceiling and the top of the frame. 

There’s a further height alternative favored by many interior designers, which is to place the curtain rod brackets as high as just below the crown molding. Don’t do this if the ceiling is very lofty, though; the rod needs to maintain a relationship with the window. 

Place curtain rod brackets in relation to the sides of the window

As well as placing curtain rod brackets at the right height, they need to be in the correct position in relation to the sides of the window frame.

At a minimum, allow 3 inches each side of the window, but 4 to 6 inches is preferable as it will allow for opening the curtains fully so as much natural light reaches the room as possible.

Bear in mind that you can exceed these guidelines. ‘When installing curtain rods, place the brackets 10 to 12 inches outside on either side of the window for a full look,’ recommends Katie Davis of Katie Davis Design.

Place the center bracket

If you are planning brackets for more than a single window, a center bracket will be necessary or you run the risk of a rod that sags under the weight of the curtains. 

In this case, it needs to be placed halfway between the brackets on either side of the window at the same height as them. Check with a level to ensure all the brackets are aligned.

Bear in mind that a center bracket does raise additional issues. Typically, curtains stack to both sides of a window, but there may be occasions when this isn’t the case. 

’If the views outside the windows or sliders are important to maximize, you want to use drapery in areas that have plenty of wall space for stacking,’ says Noelle Isbell of Noelle Interiors. ‘Depending on the window layout in the space, you can stack drapery off to one side or an equal part down the middle.’

So what’s the solution if drapery does need to go on one side only and there’s a center bracket? 

‘If you require the ability to stack drapery all to one side you will need C-rings in order to pass over the center mounting bracket of the rod,’ says Noelle.

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