How to measure your windows for a curtain enquiry

Full view of a balcony doorway and curtain fitting space — From Hiên Rèm’s photo collection. Compare a physical sample before choosing your colour.

1. Start with a photo

Photograph the whole window wall, including the ceiling and floor. Add a view with the window or door open to show handles, walkways and nearby furniture. A room mid-renovation is fine: Hiên needs to see the fitting space.

Use a metal tape measure and one unit throughout, such as centimetres. Label each window: Living Room, Bedroom 1, Balcony Door. Leave high or hard-to-reach measurements for the site visit rather than climbing on furniture.

2. Record the width and what it covers

If there is no track yet, measure the window opening and note the free wall space on each side. For wall-to-wall curtains, record the wall width separately. Hiên can then discuss where the open fabric will stack, particularly near a sofa or balcony doorway.

If you plan to reuse a straight track or pole, measure its hanging length, excluding decorative pole ends. Photograph the track, hooks or eyelets so the heading can be checked. This width is not the amount of fabric to buy.

Another view from Hiên Rèm’s new curtain collection — From Hiên Rèm’s photo collection. Compare a physical sample before choosing your colour.

3. Use a clear starting point for the height

Without a track, record ceiling-to-floor heights on the left, at the centre and on the right, keeping all three figures. For sill-length curtains, note the sill height too. Say whether the floor is finished or still awaiting its final covering.

With a track already fitted, photograph where the tape starts as well as the measurement. The starting point varies with wave, pleated and eyelet hardware. Send the raw figures; floor clearance and the heading allowance will be agreed for the actual fitting.

4. Leave fabric allowances and deductions to the fitting plan

For roller, zebra or wooden blinds, note whether you want an inside or outside mount. Measure the opening width at the top, middle and bottom, and the height at the left, centre and right. Send every reading and a handle photo so the fitter can select the ordering dimensions for that system.

Do not double the width for fabric or subtract a few centimetres using a general online rule. Enquiry measurements are a starting point. Production sizes need to be checked and confirmed at home before ordering.

A simple message to send Hiên

“Living-room window, no track yet. Opening width 240 cm; free wall space 35 cm left and 40 cm right. Ceiling to floor: left 280 cm, centre 279.5 cm, right 280 cm. The floor is finished. I would like curtains with sheers, opening to both sides. Photos attached.”

These are example notes, not dimensions to use for an order. Leave any unknown measurements blank and send the photos first.

Reference material: John Lewis — Buying Curtains & Measuring Up · Direct Fabrics — How to Measure for Curtains & Blinds · Blinds 2go — Measuring Guide