How to Hang Curtain Panels on French Doors

French doors with their rows of windows allow plenty of light into a room. However, the openness lacks privacy. Sheer or lacey curtain panels let the sunshine in while blocking the room’s occupant from view. Although hanging the panels on a single curtain rod at the top of the door creates a flowing effect, the billowing curtain panel can easily become caught in the door every time it opens and closes. Securing the panels at the door’s top and the bottom keeps the panel from moving while still producing a wavy effect and providing privacy.

Tape measure
Curtain panels, one per door
Door curtain rods or sash rods with mounting hardware, two per door
Hammer
Pencil

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the length and width of the door’s overall window opening. Choose curtain panels that are 2 to 4 inches longer than the opening and two to three times wider. A panel that is three times the width of the opening has more folds or pleats in it when it is hung than dies the panel that is only double the size of the opening. Select panels with a rod pocket on the top and the bottom. Choose one panel per door.
- 2
  Select curtain rods that adjust to your door’s opening width plus 1 inch. Choose rods that mount close to the door and have decorative ends, as these ends will be visible.
- 3
  Secure the mounting brackets to the door with the hardware included with your curtain rods and a hammer. At the door’s top, place the brackets just outside of and just above the two top corners of the window. Measure from the top brackets down the widow’s length, making a mark on either side of the window at the length of your curtain panel. At the door’s bottom, place the brackets just outside of the window at these two marks. On doors that face the outdoors, placing the hardware on the inside of the doors keeps the curtain panels inside the home and out of the weather.
- 4
  Slide one curtain rod through the top rod pocket on the curtain panel. If the decorative end does not slip easily into the pocket, slide the rod apart into two pieces and place the panel completely onto the rod’s outer section. Slide the inner rod section back into the outer section.
- 5
  Secure the rod with the panel attached to the top mounting brackets so that the right side of the curtain panel faces you. Adjust the curtain rod as necessary, so that it fits onto the bracket.
- 6
  Slide a second curtain rod through the bottom rod pocket on the curtain panel. If the decorative end does not slip easily into the pocket, slide the rod apart into two pieces and place the panel completely onto the outer section of the rod. Slide the inner rod section back into the outer section.
- 7
  Secure the rod with the panel attached to the bottom mounting brackets with the right side of the curtain panel faces you. Adjust the curtain rod as necessary so it fits onto the bracket.
- 8
  Slide the curtain panel on the curtain rod, so that it stretches from end to end on both the top and the bottom rods and the folds are evenly spaced.

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