Make the most out of your handcrafted wall finishes once you know how to hang curtains on plaster walls. Although you may have to put in a bit of extra effort, it will give you a homier feel.
You can use a heavy-duty hollow-wall anchor, wall stud, or a lumber window header to mount those curtain brackets. Anchor the screw into the wall by drilling holes and using studs to strengthen its hold.
The process may seem a bit intimidating, especially if you are not fond of drilling holes and similar types of home projects. However, plaster walls do make a great impression in any space. It gives it a nice texture and completely different look as opposed to regular walls.
What are plaster walls?
Plaster is a kind of building material that you don’t often see in typical houses. Its main purpose in architectural structures is to serve as moldings in ceiling roses, cornices, corbels, and many more. However, it is also commonly used as a surface finish for interior walls.
Although it used to be popular back in the 1940s, it has been a forgotten art. However, recent interior designing techniques have put them back on the charts. Nowadays, many people use it to create a rustic and retro charm in contemporary houses.
So if you have just moved into a home with regular and old-looking plaster walls, perhaps there is a way that we can turn your newly found apartment into a chic and refurbished home without getting rid of those plaster walls.
You can start by repainting them into a color of your choice once you finish patching it up and priming the surface. Another way to revamp its look is by adding design elements such as curtains or paintings onto the walls.
Luckily, you can quickly adapt some of these techniques in understanding how to hang curtains on plaster walls to hang paintings, install shelves, and many more. After all, the trickiest part is getting the screws in place.
Step 1: Mark the bracket placements
Whether you are hanging your curtains over a window or a plain wall, it’s essential to know where you want to put them first. So, grab your measuring tape and pencil, and mark the placements of your rod bracket.
You may want to put it at around three to six inches above the window sill for windows. If you’re placing it near the ceiling, make sure there is enough headspace to fit the finials. The same rule goes for the wall space.
Step 2: Drill the holes.
Drill the pilot holes using a 3/16” drill bit or any preferable size that suits your screws. Be careful and make sure to start slow when drilling the holes. You don’t want the plaster surface to chip off since it will damage the look.
Drill through the plaster for toggle bolts or molly bolts if there are no studs or header framing available. Make sure that your holes fit the anchor manufacturer’s specifications. Try not to make them larger than necessary.
Step 3: Install the brackets.
Take your curtain mounting bracket and install them using toggle bolts. Insert the threaded bolts through the screw holes in the bracket. Then, thread the collapsing wing section of the toggle anchor onto each bolt. Don’t forget to turn it in just a few revolutions.
Collapse the wing device one by one and push it through the corresponding holes in the wall. After that, thrust the bracket and bolt against the walls, making sure that the wings snap open inside the hollow space. Finally, secure the brackets by tightening the bolts.
Step 4: Use molly bolts
Take your molly bolts and use them to anchor the curtain brackets. Now, tap the anchors into the holes using a hammer. Do this until you find the flange at the open end of the anchor is driven up against the wall’s surface.
Turn the anchor’s bolt in a clockwise direction to draw the anchor’s sleeve tightly against the rear end of the wall’s surface. After that, turn the bolts counterclockwise to remove them and push them back through the curtain rod brackets.
Thread the bolds back into the anchor sleeves before tightening them.
Step 5: Hang your curtains
I know the entire hole-drilling procedure may seem a bit tiring. However, you will find that it’s actually a lot easier than it seems. Once you get your brackets up, it is definitely smooth sailing ahead.
Take your curtains, slip them onto the rod, and place your rod into your tightly mounted curtain bracket. Adjust the curtains as much as you want so that it gives your windows a nice, elegant, and tailored charm.
Summary
Drilling holes to hang curtains and other wall elements always seem like a pressing task. However, if you know how to do them right, you will find that they are always worth the extra time and effort you put into finishing the project.
Luckily, once you get the hang of understanding how to hang curtains on plaster walls, you can pretty much do the same drilling techniques to hang other items. All you need is find the right-sized drill bits and get yourself a bunch of sturdy screws and bolts.