No matter what the ceiling height the minimum distance from the top of the window casing to the curtain rod is two inches.
Height to hang curtain rod.
Use these same rules when the windows are arched.
For the ideal middle ground curtains should hover just above the floor.
When you hang the curtain rod high it will make the window appear taller.
If trying to determine the best height for shorter panels such as those found on cafe curtains measure from the bottom of the window sill to a pencil mark made 4 to 6 inches above the window frame.
This is particularly important to do if the room has low ceilings.
Don t scrimp on length.
For grommet curtains you will need to take into account the placement of the grommet.
Make a mark about four inches above your window for mounting hardware.
Hanging curtain rods high above the window frame adds height to the wall and works best with long panels or drapes.
Hanging the curtain panels with the rod and panel s dimensions figured out it s time to begin the process of hanging your new curtains.
This is a traditional height though you can cheat an inch or so either way depending on the height of your ceiling and the length of your finished curtains.
A rule of thumb from architectural digest is that curtains should be hung between 4 to 6 inches above the window frame so install your curtain rod accordingly.
To create the illusion of height mount the drapery rods close to the ceiling.