So I wanted to title this post “hanging drapes for dummies” but I didn’t want to scare anyone away before reading the first line. Another title choice was “hanging drapes for thirty year olds” because if you are an actual adult i.e. over thirty, you probably already know how to hang drapes the old school way and you will learn nothing new from this post.
But as it seems, the last time I really saw drapes in my home was circa 1989 and I wasn’t hanging them. Then the 90’s hit. Oh the 90’s. Balloon valances. Need I say more about the puffy beasts that hung over suburban windows everywhere?
Moving onto the new millennium. Or so.
My window treatments up until recently have always involved sheer panels, tab tops, grommet tops and funky, ornate hardware. That sort of thing. I have never once hung a drape. Or draperies. That word sounds so grown up and maybe even old-fashioned.
But there is a first time for everything and that was a really long introduction to…hanging drapes for dummies. With pictures.
Follow along as I become an actual adult and introduce drapes into my home.
First let’s review what I mean by drapery. I am talking about heavy curtains with pleats. Old school.
Specifically, I am talking about this fabulous pair of handmade, vintage toile drapes that I scored for a song! The fabric needs to be attached to the curtain rod. But how? I don’t want to use the modern ring and clip method.
We’re going way back. This, my friends, is a drape hook. This little device does all the work! A package of drape hooks costs about $2.50 and can be found at your local hardware store.
Flip over the drape so you are looking at the back side of the pleats.
The drape hook has one pointy end. Insert the pointy end upward into the seam of the pleat so it is running parallel with the pleat.
Once inserted, the curved part of the drape hook should be near the top of the pleat.
Repeat this process pinning each pleat with a drape hook making sure each hook is sturdy.
And that’s it. They’re ready to be hung!
Fun fact: A package of drape hooks contains 14 hooks. Each of my drapes had 7 pleats. Coincidence?
Stay tuned for the reveal! There’s still a lot of work to be done in the dining room.
Signed, Your first time drape hanger
Circa Dee 
I love pretty window treatments. I look forward to seeing your dining rom reveal. I know it’s coing to be so pretty once you’ve finished!
xo,
RJ
Thanks! I can’t wait to see it too…
I guess I’m old fashioned…these are the only style of drapery I used for years. lol
But I have a question…do they open & close okay sitting on the rod like that? Usually we’ve used traverse rods with guides to slip the hooks into. The guides had rollers for easy opening & closing. Yours look easier to use.
Debbie 🙂
Debbie – Old fashioned is a good thing in my book! Yes, they slide very well across the rod. I can’t believe how simple the whole process was.
These are beautiful and I, too, want adult window treatments! Can you further define the difference between a drape and a curtain? Will all drapes come pre-pleated?
Curtain is really just a general term for all fabric window treatments. Basically it is the genus and drapes, sheers, panels, valances and window scarves, etc. are the species. They all fall into the window treatment family. Am I getting too scientific? So you could say “close the curtains” and be referring to whatever fabric is hanging on your window as noted above. Most drapes are pleated. That is how I define drapes but I am not sure that all will have pleats. I guess it depends on your source.
Just in time. I too scored a beautiful plant leaf printed set of perfect drapes. Now I can hang them up. Yeah. Thanks for the tutorial. Karen
I’ve taught you well!!! LOL!
Wow, that’s the way it used to be done in my home as a child. Nowadays the curtains I’m familiar with are the Just Hang “em Up curtains. lol.
I thought you would need those old guide things my mom used. Thanks I’ll have to try that..
I came across same drapes as yours (different colors) and they are sitting in my closet waiting to be hang 🙂 I’m 28 I guess this post was especially for me 🙂