When I designed our living room, I purposefully planned on all curtains opening into one corner. I loved the look of them flanking the sides of the room. However, with such long curtain rods on the sides, the middle bracket was necessary and prevented the curtains from shutting all the way.
If you only need the sources and not the below info, everything is linked here. Or you can continue reading…
Initially, I tried c-hooks and a bypass bracket, which helped, but it would still catch and annoy me all the time. Pottery Barn has some options if you want to go down that path. This curtain track randomly popped up in my Amazon feed a few weeks ago, and it’s been a game-changer.
Ordering the Right Track Size
One part that unexpectedly threw me off was the sizing.
**Keep these measurements in mind when ordering the tracks you need…
The largest size is listed as 9.8′ to 13.1′. It’s important to note that this largest set comes with three rods that are each just over 52″ long. The 6.6’x9.8′ size comes with two rods, each are 58.5″ long. The 3’x6.6′ come with two rods that are both around 3′ long.
I ordered different sizes to try, but all that matters is: The 6.6×9.8′ size ended up being the perfect size for the two walls with three windows. I ordered one 9.8’x13.1′ set to use for the two smaller windows next to the fireplace. I used a 52″ rod on both sides because the 3 ft size wasn’t quite big enough. (That means I had one 52″ rod left over)
**All materials used are linked on this one list**
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Installation
These were super easy to install, and you can do them on the wall or ceiling. I wanted to use some of the holes that I had for the other rod, so I chose the wall-mounted hardware. Both options come in each pack, which is nice!
I made sure all were screwed into studs, and I added some extra brackets to make sure the rods wouldn’t droop. I bought the corner piece from the same brand to give me a continuous line for the curtains. The end caps are silver, but I will paint them black if they ever bug me.
*This brand also has a flex track for bay windows. I didn’t use it myself, but I can link it here!
The Curtains
We have IKEA Ritva curtains. They’re my favorite, I have them in almost every room. They come in a pack of two. I bought 5 packs to give me 5 panels on each side.
I used pleat hooks to give me the look that I wanted. I choose the 4th opening over from the middle section of each… So hard to explain, but the arrows are pointing in the photo above! You can choose whatever pattern you like best. These pleat hooks then hook onto the rings that come with the curtain track.
You can buy the rings separately if you need more than the pack has.
Hemming the Curtains
I added a 5th panel after switching to the track system, and the rest of the curtains hung a little lower than the old rod, so I had to do some hemming… for the third time. Always steam the curtains before hemming, steaming them usually adds some length!
I think it’s odd that I hem the curtains while they’re hanging, but that’s what I’ve always done. I use iron-on hem tape and eyeball the length. I like to iron the crease before using the tape to make sure the length is right.
You can choose whatever length you prefer. I like when the curtains just barely graze the floor!
Connecting the Panels
I’m sure you could sew the panels together to avoid having to move each one individually, but I wanted something more temporary.
I ended up using strong magnets at the top, bottom, and one in the middle.
I couldn’t be happier with how they turned out. I’m finally able to open and close them whenever I want, not just when I have the patience for it!
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