It may look easy to install, and to an extent, learning how to hang swag curtains probably is. After all, it is just a few measurements here and there, a few brackets, and a curtain rod installation (or not if you already have one).
Once you have your rod up and ready, you can easily slide the swag onto your curtain rod, wrap it around, make a few adjustments, and you’ve got yourself a lovely swag curtain. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, not entirely.
Hanging swag curtains takes on a pretty simple process. But if you are going for a particular look, and you definitely want that extra flair to spark up your interior, then you’re going to have to do more than just the basics of hanging these valances.
Swag Curtains
The obsession with gorgeous curtains and drapery stems from fashion and practicality. But let’s admit that we are all probably leaning towards the fashionable side. After all, who doesn’t love a chic-looking bedroom or living room?
Window treatments include valance, swag, and cornices that overlay your regular utilitarian drapes. Homeowners and interior designers typically hang these fabric pieces at the top of the window to hide the window treatment’s hardware.
Swag curtains, in particular, are loosely slung pieces of fabric over a decorative rod. It could be wound over a tieback or draped over the edges of the rod. There are many ways to hang swag curtains to give your window a frame a bit of style and romance to the room.
Hanging process
Like we have established earlier, swags are pretty much easy to put up. You might need to pre-install your brackets if it is your first time installing curtains. Don’t worry. We have you covered. Here is a list of step-by-step procedures that will help you achieve that glamorous cottage look for your home.
Step 1: Choosing Brackets and Rods
We’ve included this step for those who are hanging curtains for the first time. You’re going to need to choose your rods and decorative brackets first. It usually doesn’t matter if the bracket’s color doesn’t coincide with your home’s color palette since the swag curtain can cover it up.
However, if you chose sheer or other thin fabric as your swag, those metal brackets visibly showing within the fabric might ruin the look. You can get colored brackets that will blend well with your chosen decorative rod.
It is also essential to consider if you’re going to need single or double brackets to hang your swags. Get double brackets if you want to hang curtains along with your swag. They come with two slots, so they will let you hold two curtain rods. Otherwise, single brackets will do just fine.
Your curtain rod depends highly on the type of material of your swag. Sheer swags use thin fabric, so if you’re going to use those, try to use a decorative rod that matches its color and is also pleasing to the eye.
Step 2: Installing Brackets
Take out your measuring tape and measure the width of your window. That will help you know how far apart the brackets can go. This will also let you know the exact length of the rod that your window might need. Try to make the measurements before shopping for rods and brackets.
Make a mark at about four to eight inches (4 – 8” or 10-20 cm) above your window on both sides. You mustn’t hang them too high or too low unless you’re intentionally aiming for a tall or short-looking window frame.
Drill the holes on the marks and screw the brackets onto the walls. Make sure that they are tight and secured. The last thing you want is falling curtain rods due to flimsy bracket attachments.
Step 3: Hanging Swags
Put up your rod and hang each end of the swag near the finial. You can decide the length that will flow on either side. Some people opt for a one-sided look, so they let the swag’s excess fabric hang loosely towards one side while you wrap the other one around the rod.
To achieve a relatively symmetric look, hang one of the swags near the finial. If your curtain rod has a rod pocket, you can easily slide the swag onto the curtain rod. If not, wrap the swag around the curtain to create a scarf-style swag.
Adjust the middle and ends of the fabric to suit your preferences. Make it appear loosely hung for a more relaxed look. Make as many swags as you want. You can opt for a single swag look using thicker fabric or make a scarf-style wrap-around swag with silk or sheer fabric.
Make as many manual adjustments as you please. Place your curtain near the center or towards either edge to achieve your desired look. If you want your rod and brackets covered, you can try moving the fabric a bit more to the edge so that it hides unsuspecting brackets.
Summary
At the end of the day, it is up to you. I mean, it is your home, after all. Now that you know the basics of hanging swag curtains, you can experiment with different styles to further improve your home. Smooth them out with your hands, add pleats, make a back loop, and many more.