How to Hang Curtains Over Blinds

Layering your blinds under curtains is a beautiful way to add glamour to your home. 

And should you take the time to do that? Of course, you should–or I think so. And if you feel the curtain-blind combination might be much of a hassle, here are 3 easy ways you can hang your curtains over blinds without using nails, drills, or any tools whatsoever. And the combination will still look stunning.

How to Hang Curtains over Blinds without using Nails and Drills

Here are three easy no-drill methods that will show you how to hang curtains over blinds. And our favorite is the first. Keep reading and you’ll know why.

• Using window brackets (perfect for vertical blinds)
• Using Velcro
• Using command hooks (best for Venetian blinds)

Using Window Brackets (perfect for vertical blinds)

Materials you’ll need;

1. Curtain rod brackets
2. Curtain rod
3. Curtain fabric (obviously!)
4. Screws

So homeowners and renters, let’s put our hands to work and get this hardware over our blinds now!

Step 1: Install your brackets on your headrail

First, what is a headrail? A headrail is the top part of your blind from where the mechanism is operated. And the mechanism is what makes you able to move your horizontal blinds (Venetian blinds) up and down or vertical blinds left and right.

We recommend getting NoNo brackets on Amazon as they’re easy to use and you don’t have to drill a hole in your wall. So adjust your brackets and place them on both ends of your headrail bar. Afterward, readjust the settings so they fit tightly, firm, and secure.

Get your NoNo brackets here.

Step 2: Install your curtain rod on your brackets for easy mobility

After you’ve set up your brackets, then, it’s time to get your bar up.

But first, you’ve got to put your drapes on the curtain rod before placing it on the brackets. And after that, screw the one bracket to the rod till it feels stiff and you can feel the stability. The NoNo brackets come with screws you can use without a screwdriver.

Give and take, this drapery installation method takes around 5 – 10 minutes to complete.

Here’s why we prefer curtain rods to tension rods;

• It’s kinda complicated to get your curtains off your tension rods.
• Tension rods aren’t designed for larger windows and can only carry light-weight curtains. While curtain rods can be used for larger windows. Good point if you still use vertical blinds. And it can also carry your drapes regardless of their weight.

Get your curtain rod on Amazon.

Using Velcro

Hardware you’ll need

1. Velcro that’s around the length of your cornice.
2. Curtain fabric

Another no-drill method you can use for hanging curtains over blinds in your room is by using Velcro.

Here, you’ll fix one side of the Velcro to the inside of your cornice or headrail bar (if yours has got space for it). Then attach your curtains to the other side and it’ll fit nicely.

Hint: For light-weight curtain materials like silk, use ½ inch wide Velcro. And for heavier curtain materials, use a wider Velcro to install curtains.

This method is good if you'd like to use blackout curtains and desire a certain level of hue and/or privacy in your room, house, or office.

Previously, we have discussed how wide should blinds be!

However, the downside of hanging curtains this way is your window treatments will be stationary, and you won’t be able to slide your drapes to and fro.

Using Command Hooks

Materials you’ll need

1. Large command strip hooks brushed nickel (fits the colors of most walls and ceiling) – can hold 5 lbs. of weight. You can get it on Amazon.
2. Command heavy duty picture hanging strips – can hold items weighing around 12 lbs. Get it here.
3. Curtain rod that is less than an inch (a 1-in bar won’t fit into your command hook).

Now here we go.

Step 1: Bend your picture hanging strip right down the middle so that the top meets the bottom. And then bend sideways (from left to right) so that the Velcro will stick to each other.

Step 2: Take off the lid of one side of the strip and place it on the back of the command hook. Then hold it tight for like a minute: so it sticks firmly.

Step 3: Then remove the lid of the picture hanging strip to reveal its sticky side. And then place the hook on the wall. Hold it hook tight against the wall for around 10 seconds. Then lift your command hook off the strip. Don’t worry; your strip is still fixed to the wall.

Step 4: Press or push the command strip firmly on the wall for about 30 seconds before placing the hook right back on top of it.

Step 5: Repeat this step for the other hook on the other end of the wall. Then wait for 3 hours for the hook to sit firmly on the wall.

Step 6: Now it’s time to get your curtains up. But you’ll first have to put the curtains on your bar before mounting it on your hook.

NOTE: You’ll need sheer curtains because you don’t want to stretch the limits of your command hook and the picture hanging strip. There are several curtains kinds offering you a variety to look at! 

Now you see you don’t really need a handyman to help you undertake this little fun home decor project, nor do you have to bore holes into your walls to get your curtains up.

However, before you hang curtains over brackets, you need to measure your windows and get it right.

Making errors here can potentially ruin your window treatments and the appearance of your domestic space. And you don’t want that. So let’s get started.

Taking Measurements

What you’ll need

1. Measuring tape
2. Pen
3. Piece of paper

So here are the 5 steps to take measurement of your window for your curtains;

1. First, decide on the installation method. We highly recommend using the brackets method as this is super easy and quick to install. If you’re opting for the brackets method, a good idea will be to get curtains that are wider than the window frame.
2. Measure the width of the window up to the area you’ll like the curtains to cover. Extend your tape measure beyond both horizontal ends of your window frame. You should begin measuring at the point your curtains will start and end at the point it will stop.
3. Measure the height you’ll like your curtains to hang. So if you’re going to be using the Velcro or window brackets technique, measure from the top of your blinds to the floor. And if you’re going to be using command hooks, measure higher, probably from close to the ceiling, and to the floor.
4. Now you’ve got your minimum measurement as in step 2 and your maximum measurement as in step 3. So you can proceed to buy curtains that will be around somewhere in the middle as it might be difficult to get curtains that fit your exact measurement.

And while you’re still here, here are some dos and don’ts to make sure you don’t ruin the appearance of your curtains over blinds. But instead, give your home or room that perfect look;

DOs

1. If you’re considering getting new curtains and also changing your vertical blinds to horizontal ones, pick your style of blinds first. As a rule of thumb, roller blinds and Venetian blinds match curtains more than other blinds. Now if you’re going with timber blinds, you should use drapes with warm colors. And if your home features cool colors, try to use curtains with complementary colors and a little bit of dark hue.
2. If you’ve got a small room, do hang your curtains and blinds close to the ceiling. And let the curtains extend to around 30 – 60 cm beyond the windows. This way, you will make your windows look larger and your ceiling, taller.
3. When hanging curtains over blinds, do use enough fabric that’s around twice the width of your window. This is if you plan to close them often.
4. Rightly pairing your curtains over blinds can make your home feel and look cozy, and also make your guests fall in love with your space. If your kitchen or any other room has huge glass windows then you should definitely consider pairing blinds with curtains. You can roll up the blinds in the day to let natural light in. This will make your space looking fresh without compromising your privacy or interior design. You can achieve this by pairing roman blinds (perfect for creating a cozy ambiance) with blackout curtains.
5. The rod should have a matching color with the drapery and blinds. Using a rod with a shiny color like gold is a big no-no.  Instead, opt for hardware with a matte finish to complement your window treatment.
6. Using accessories like tiebacks and tassels can also give your window treatment a facelift. So don’t be afraid to accessorize with these.

DON’Ts

1. If you’d love to buy a drapery with prints on it, make sure your blind don’t have prints on it as well. The best practice is to pair a single-colored blind with a patterned curtain for your window treatments. you don’t want to go overboard with patterns.
2. For the sake of having aesthetic home decor, don’t use the same curtains around the house. This is from a design point of view. Experiment with different curtains for different rooms. This way, you’ll add more color and radiance to your room.
3. To make sure your curtains always cover your windows, don’t use a bar that is too narrow.
4. Don’t mount blinds outside the window frame. It will make your house look weird. You can check for Kitchen blinds ideas covered on our blog!

Whether it's your privacy you cherish or it's the shades of sunlight beautifully peeking through your sliding doors, now you know how to hang curtains over blinds. However, I think you’ll probably also like some design ideas for pairing your curtains and blinds in your room. Who wouldn’t?

So do check out these 15 cool ways to style window treatment.