The Genius Way HGTV's Jenn Todryk Straightens Flared Curtains
Let's talk about curtains — a window's best friend. Some homeowners use them for practical reasons, like maintaining privacy or blocking out light, but many choose to simply decorate with curtains because of how well they dress up a room. However, there are instances where you hang up the curtains and they flare out at the bottom, and not on purpose. They look sloppy, especially if they're on the shorter side, which completely ruins the aesthetic of the entire space. Luckily, HGTV's "No Demo Reno" star Jenn Todryk has a genius way of fixing these awkward hems.
The answer? Adding curtain weights. "They go behind the curtains, and they pull them down, so you get that beautiful, straight, magazine-worthy curtain," Todryk told Realtor.com. This is also a great solution for lightweight curtains that blow everywhere when you have the windows open. These weights are inexpensive, and you can typically find them in multipacks, so you can add them to all of your window dressings. It's such a simple solution, but it can really change the game when you're dealing with difficult curtains.
How to properly use curtain weights
There are actually two different types of curtain weights. During an episode of "No Demo Reno," Jenn Todryk talked about covered weights, which are individually placed on the fabric. To apply, open up the hem and place the weights in the bottom two corners of the fabric. You might have to play around with their positioning to figure out which placement results in the sharpest-looking curtains. Once you've found the sweet spots, it's time to sew them into the curtains. If sewing isn't your thing, fabric glue should do the trick.
Then you have chain weights, which are singular weights connected to create one long chain. For this type of curtain weight, place them inside the hem along the bottom of the fabric, then attach them via sewing or fabric glue. When it comes to choosing which type of weights to use, there is no right or wrong answer. It all depends on what you like.
Other methods for straightening out curtains
Aside from adding weights to straighten out your curtains, you can use an iron to smooth them out, as well. Turn your iron to the lowest setting to get out any wrinkles without ruining the fabric. If that doesn't fix the problem, you can use a high setting, but only after placing a cloth over the curtains. This creates a buffer between the iron and the fabric to prevent burning it to a crisp. This is especially important for more delicate fabrics, such as silk and linen. For quick fixes, use a steamer, but only if the fabric is heat-resistant.
The best way to ensure your curtains hang nicely is to use a combination of weights and occasionally ironing or steaming. With that said, be sure you're only ironing when necessary, not on a daily basis. You don't want to add too much heat or you'll end up having to buy new curtains.