If you’re looking to add a little extra privacy to your home then why not stick up a set of curtains in the room you’re looking to improve.
Curtains are great for many different reasons. They keep the sun off your eyes in the morning and the keep the neighbours from looking into your gaff at night. So here’s how to install a curtain pole and curtains to any room in the house in just ten easy steps.
What you’ll need:
Curtains
Curtain pole
Drill
Screwdriver
Spirit level
Stud detector
Rawl plugs
Pencil
Step 1: Getting started
It’s best to make sure you’ve got everything covered before you start. Make sure the curtain pole is the correct size for your window and check to see if there’s anything behind the wall that may be hazardous to you by using your stud detector – such as electric wiring.
Step 2: Where do you want them?
Next, you should hold your curtains up to the window and mark out where you want them to sit. Make sure there’s a good gap between the top of the window and the top of your curtains. Place the curtain too low on the window and you’ll notice the sun shining through a lot more.
Step 3: Prepare for drilling
Make double sure that you haven’t missed any wiring with your stud detector and once you’re confident there’s nothing that will kill you if you drilled into it, you can then mark out where you’re going to fit your brackets. Do this by holing up one of the brackets and mark the top hole with a pencil. Just the top one for now…
Step 4: Drilling
With a rawl plug mark out on your drill bit how far into the wall you need to go. Simply wrap a bit of tape around the bit to know how deep you’re going. Drill your hole and loosely fit the bracket. Use your screwdriver to help you guide the screw in.
Step 5: On the level
To make 100 per cent sure the bracket it level simply tighten the top screw of the bracket enough that it can still swing freely. Place your spirit level up along side the bracket and move until the bracket is completely straight. You can now mark, drill and secure the bottom hole. Simples.
Step 6: Fit the second bracket
For the second bracket you can use a laser level to make sure it’s in line with the first or you can simply use good old maths. Make sure you’re at the right height and directly across from the first bracket before you drill the first hole. You can then secure the second bracket using the same method as step 5.
Step 7: Piggy in the middle
If you putting up a curtain pole over a wide window you may need a third bracket. Simply fit this as you did with the other two. Nothing hard about that, right?
Step 8: Placing the pole
One your brackets are up you can check to see if the pole fits or not. Hopefully it should just slide into place, however if it doesn’t just take your time and retrace your steps.
Step 9: Curtain time
It now time to put your curtains on the pole. Simply slide them down one side of the pole, separate them in the middle and stick the pole up. It’s as easy as that.
Step 10: Secure the pole
Once you’re happy that the pole is in the correct position you can secure it to the brackets by simply tightening the screws that are on said brackets. They will screw towards the pole and will hold it in place. Now it’s time to draw the curtains, stick the fire on and throw the feet up.
Or else it’s time to sit in darkness while the neighbours have a good gawk through the window.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
