Curtains Too Long? Stop! Don't Cut Them Until You Read This

The Panic Moment: You’ve spent weeks waiting for your beautiful new curtains. You finally wrestle the ladder out of the garage, slide the panels onto the rod, and step back to admire your work. But instead of a perfect "reveal," you see it: a pool of fabric crumpled on the floor like a deflated balloon.

Your first instinct might be to grab the scissors. Stop. Put the scissors down. Take a deep breath.

Here is the reality check: "Too long" is a solvable problem. "Too short" is a disaster. In the interior design world, curtains that hover two inches above the floor (we call these "high-waters") are the ultimate sin. They make a room feel cheap and unfinished. Extra length, on the other hand? That is an opportunity.

Whether you mismeasured, moved to a house with lower ceilings, or are renting and can’t sew a stitch, you are actually in a good position.

In this guide, we are going to show you how to turn that "mistake" into a luxury design feature, or fix it without threading a single needle.

1. The "High Rod" Hack (The Optical Illusion)

Before you touch the hem of the curtain, look up. Look at your curtain rod.

Most homeowners make the mistake of mounting the rod directly on the window frame (the woodwork). This is a missed opportunity. If your curtains are dragging on the floor by 2 to 4 inches, the easiest fix isn't to shorten the curtain—it's to raise the rod.

The Golden Rule of Height: Designers almost never place the rod on the frame. To make a room look taller and grander, the rod should be mounted 4–6 inches above the window frame, or even halfway between the frame and the ceiling (if you have crown molding).

Why This Works:

1. It eats up the extra length: moving the rod up 4 inches instantly lifts 4 inches of fabric off the floor.

2. It’s an optical illusion: By lifting the eye upward, your ceilings instantly look higher, and the room feels more spacious.

So, before you panic about hemming, grab your tape measure. Do you have wall space above the window? If yes, you just solved your problem and upgraded your room’s look in one go.

2. Embrace "The Puddle" (Turn the Bug into a Feature)

If you can’t move the rod, or if you still have extra fabric pooling on the floor, it’s time to change your mindset.

In the world of high-end interior design, extra length isn't an error. It’s a luxury. It implies that you have so much beautiful fabric that you can afford to let it spill onto the floor. This is called "Puddling."

Pattern Linen Pinch Pleated Curtains

(Not sure what the rules are? Read our deep dive: Should Curtains Touch the Floor? The 3 Rules for a Designer Look)

Here are the two styles you can achieve with your "too long" curtains:

The "Trouser Break" (1–2 Inches Extra)

Think of a well-tailored pair of men’s suit trousers. The hem doesn't float above the shoe; it rests gently on it, creating a slight fold. If your curtains are just an inch or two too long, don't fight it. Let them "break" on the floor. This look is tailored, sophisticated, and polished.

• Bonus: It hides uneven floors (which almost every house has).

The "True Puddle" (4–6 Inches Extra)

If you have a lot of extra length, you can create a romantic, "Old World" vibe. This involves manually arranging the excess fabric so it fans out on the floor. It looks dramatic and incredibly cozy.

A Note on Fabric: Puddling works best with soft, natural fabrics that drape heavily.

• Perfect Candidates: Our Frankie (Velvet) curtains are born to puddle. The weight of the velvet creates luscious, soft folds. Similarly, soft linens like Rosie or Coto look relaxed and organic when they touch the floor.

• Avoid: Stiff blackout fabrics or cheap polyester. They won't "puddle"—they will just look like a crumpled mess because they are too rigid to fold softly.

3. The "No-Sew" Fixes (For Renters & Non-Sewers)

Okay, so the rod is as high as it can go, and you hate the puddled look. You want them to just kiss the floor, but you don't own a sewing machine. No problem.

The "Iron-On" Hem Tape Solution

This is the renter’s best friend. You can buy heat-activated hemming tape (like fusible web) at any craft store or online.

1. Fold the curtain to your desired length.

2. Iron a sharp crease.

3. Place the tape inside the fold.

4. Iron over it to melt the glue and seal the hem. Pro Tip: Use a "heavy duty" tape for velvet or lined curtains. And always test a small corner first to make sure the iron isn't too hot for the fabric!

The "Drapery Pin" Micro-Lift

If you are using Rings or a Traverse Rod (not a rod pocket), you have a secret weapon: the Drapery Pin. Most people stick the pin in the middle of the header tape. But if you need to lift the curtain off the floor, simply move the pin lower on the back of the curtain.

• The Physics: By moving the pin down the back of the curtain header, the curtain fabric sits higher relative to the ring. You can often "steal" an inch or two of height just by adjusting where the hook sits.

4. The Fatal Mistake: Beware of Shrinkage!

Before you rush to use that hem tape or take them to a tailor, please heed this "Mom Warning."

Natural fibers shrink. If you bought high-quality curtains made of Linen or Cotton (like our Three Girls collections), they are living, breathing natural fibers. Even if they are pre-washed, humidity and gravity can change them, and future cleanings can shrink them.

The Horror Story: Imagine you hem your curtains perfectly today so they barely touch the floor. Six months later, you wash them or get them steam-cleaned. Suddenly, they shrink by 3%. Now, your beautiful drapes are "high-waters" floating 3 inches off the ground. That is a mistake you cannot fix.

The Rule: Never hem a curtain until you have lived with it. Ideally, let the curtains hang for a few weeks to "relax." If you plan to wash them in the future, wash them before you hem them. If you are unsure, leave the extra length! A "Trouser Break" is always safer than a curtain that is too short.

Conclusion

Finding out your curtains are too long can feel stressful, but remember: it is always better to have too much fabric than too little.

Extra length gives you options. You can raise your rods to make your ceilings soar. You can embrace the romantic, luxurious look of a velvet puddle. Or, you can use a simple no-sew tape to get a clean edge.

Want the perfect length without the headache next time? At Three Girls, we don't believe in "one size fits all." We offer Custom Sizing precise to the inch. Follow our Measurement Guide, tell us exactly what you need, and we’ll create drapes that fit your windows perfectly—right out of the box. No scissors required.