HOW TO HANG OUTDOOR CURTAINS AND EASILY UPDATE YOUR FRONT PORCH
How to hang outdoor curtains and transform your front porch from “blah” to “wow.”
Easy tips to hang front porch curtains in an afternoon.
The community in which we live in is full of homes that are well over a century old. They have these grand front porches that often wrap around the side of the house. Because of the size of the porches, they are usually transformed into an outdoor living space with adorable outdoor decor.
These exterior spaces are just so inviting. They make you want to sit outside and sip a glass of iced tea in the afternoon and perhaps linger into the evening. They are not only functional, they are charming. And beautiful. And gracious. And I wanted one. Because the outdoor space on our front porch lacked a certain character.
Yep. I am strong enough to admit it …
I REALIZED I HAD FRONT PORCH ENVY!
Unfortunately our house is one of the newest homes on our street. Because of the layout of the lot, our front porch isn’t a large space. It look paltry compared to the other beautiful porches in our neighborhood and wasn’t as impressive as some of the other houses. And I wanted to change that.
So little by little, over the past few years, I’ve been transforming our front porch. I started small. The first thing I did was to paint our front door black and add a brushed nickel kickplate. In addition, I placed modern black planters on either side of our front porch and planted Boston Ferns in each one. It was a good start, but it needed more.
AND THEN I REALIZED WHAT WAS MISSING …
As we traveled around I started noticing front porches. I saw some great ones in Palm Beach, as well as the section of the Florida panhandle by Panama City Beach that is referred to as “30A.” So I took some pictures and made mental notes of what gave these front porches their undeniable charm.
When I looked at the pics, I started noticing a few common elements. The first was seating. All of the porches I was admiring had seating elements. Some featured big wicker chairs, others had stately rockers and a few had room enough for outdoor lounge furniture or an outdoor sectional. As I state previously, our front porch isn’t huge. So I knew I would need to be selective in whatever seating option I chose for the space. I detail the benches I chose later in this blog.
The second element I kept finding myself “ooh-ing” and “ahh-ing” over were outdoor curtains. Yup. Every time I saw stately outdoor drapes adorning a front porch I was enthralled. I loved how outdoor curtain panels dressed up porches, adding not only texture but a touch of elegance and an aesthetic appeal, especially the striped ones. I was convinced I’d found the answer to what was missing from our front porch. And I was right!
I’LL SHOW YOU STEP BY STEP HOW TO TRANSFORM YOUR PORCH IN AN AFTERNOON!
And I was right. I can’t wait to show you step by step how to hang gorgeous outdoor curtains. They will transform your front porch in an afternoon! You’ll have an outdoor oasis that showcases your personal style.
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HOW TO HANG OUTDOOR CURTAINS: FIRST MEASURE YOUR SPACE
The first step in the entire process is to determine the length and the width of the outdoor curtains you will need.
DETERMINE THE CORRECT CURTAIN SIZE
Outdoor curtains come a variety of standard lengths, namely 84 inches, 96 inches, 108 inches or 120 inches. The standard size panel is typically 50 inches wide. So armed with that information, you need to determine both the length you’ll need and the number of panels required for your installation. And know that if you want fuller curtains, you’ll need more panels. I determined I needed six panels to complete my job.
You also need to measure for your curtain rods. You’ll need more precise measurements for Those. However, most outdoor curtain rods are adjustable, so don’t stress out. Select the length category that fits best within your measurements, knowing you’ll be able to adjust the rod accordingly. For instance, my space was 96 inches, so I purchased a rod that fit spaces from 60 to 108 inches.
You want to make sure you use outdoor curtain rods specifically. Do not use traditional curtain rod hardware. The reason why? You need the rods to be rated for outdoor use, otherwise you run the risk of them rusting. Not only will the rods get ruined, so will your curtains!
Here are some great outdoor curtain rod options I’ve found:
Kenny Weaver One-Inch Outdoor Curtain Rod
This is a great tension rod (if that will work for your space)
HOW TO HANG OUTDOOR CURTAINS: GATHER THE MATERIALS YOU’LL NEED
Obviously you need to decide the type of curtains you’ll want. I chose black and white cabana curtains from Sunbrella. There are cheaper options out there, no question. However, I like the quality of Sunbrella fabrics and have had really good luck with their durability and their resistance to fading. If you’re going to all of this effort, you want something that is going to last.
You’ll also need a step ladder for this project. We purchased this step ladder a few months ago and it’s truly been a dream. I love it because it’s just the right height to reach most of the ceilings in our home and it folds down for easy storage. But my favorite part is the tray feature in the front. It has slots and holes to hold everything you need for a project like this (screwdrivers, measuring tape, marking tape, a pencil, drill bits, etc.). No more going up and down to grab what you need! It’s perfection! See how everything is right there in that caddy? I love it!
HOW TO HANG OUTDOOR CURTAINS: NEXT INSTALL THE RODS
You need to install brackets for the outdoor drapery rods. The first step is to measure where you want the brackets to be place.
For most rods, you’ll only need two brackets and you want to place them about six inches from each end of the rod.
The best way and easiest method to attached the brackets is to first drill pilot holes and then screw them into a stud.
I enlisted Matt to help me with that task. And he had it done in no time flat.
If you are hanging the curtains between posts, there is a possibility you could use tension rods. But for our space and with the risk of winds, I wanted the rods to be firmly attached to our soffit.
HOW TO HANG OUTDOOR CURTAINS: IT’S FINALLY TIME TO HANG THE CURTAINS
Once both sets of brackets are installed for each rod, you can finally hang the curtains.
I prefer patio curtains that have built-in grommets. You can also select curtains with tab tops but I think the grommeted type are sturdier. Before you put the curtains on the rod, gather the grommets every other one to create a pleated pattern. It’s make it significantly easier to put the curtains on the rod.
Next, It’s time to hang the rods. After they are on the hooks, you’ll want to adjust the curtains to your liking, spacing them out as appropriate.
Depending on the weight of the curtains, you may need to use curtain weights to keep them from blowing in strong winds. I found a great set that worked perfectly. Since they are magnetic, you simply place a pair or two at the bottom of each panel of outdoor drapes. They are a simple solution that is a great way to keep your curtains from blowing in strong winds.
Finally, I bought these magnetic tie backs for each curtain panel. I love how they make each panel into the shape of an hour glass. And they are as durable as they are elegant. They come in a variety of colors. I bought an elegant black rope tieback that coordinated perfectly with the black and white stripe cabana drapes.
THE OTHER ACCESSORIES I LOVE ON MY FRONT PORCH …
And voila! In one afternoon, my front porch has been transformed. I absolutely LOVE my porch now. I’ve achieved the elegant, cozy look I desired and I can’t wait to sip a nice cool glass of ice tea out there on a summer afternoon! In addition to the curtains, other decor elements of my front porch that I love include:
This black and white rug which I layered over this solid black rug
These stylish black lanterns. Instead of traditional pillar candles, I used these candelabra candles. They are battery operated and I love to group them in threes within the lanterns.
These black benches are perfect on either side of the porch. I paired them with this black seat cushion and this outdoor pillow set. They looked great on each of the benches.
This boxwood wreath looks great on the front door.
Looking for more great ideas? Check these out … !
Great Patio Lighting Ideas for a Small Space
It’s Hot … Cool Off with These Iced Tea Recipes
If you have any questions or suggestions, contact us or leave a comment!
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