You spent months on the flooring, the sofa, the lighting. Then the curtains go up, and somehow the room looks… ordinary.
Here’s the thing most people don’t know: curtains rarely look cheap because of the fabric price. They look cheap because of how they’re measured, hung and stitched. The same fabric can look like a five-star hotel or a rented flat, depending on a few decisions.
These are the 7 rules our team at Sulit follows on every project of custom curtains in Ahmedabad, and the ones the city’s best interior designers swear by.
In this guide
The 7 rules that make curtains look expensive
1Hang them high, not at the window frame
Wrong: The rod sits just above the window, so the ceiling feels low.
Right: Mount the track close to the ceiling (or inside a false-ceiling pocket). The eye travels up and the room instantly feels taller.
2Go wide, past the window
Wrong: Curtains stack on the glass when open, blocking light and making the window look small.
Right: Extend the track 8–12 inches beyond each side so the open curtains rest on the wall, not the window.
3Never skimp on fullness
Wrong: A flat panel stretched to the exact window width. It looks thin, like a bedsheet.
Right: Use 2 to 2.5 times the track width in fabric. Fullness is what creates those deep, rich folds.
4Get the length exactly right
Wrong: Curtains that stop an inch or two above the floor, like trousers that are too short.
Right: Let them just kiss the floor, or “break” by 1–2 inches for a softer, more relaxed look. Puddling is a style choice, not an accident.
5Line them
Wrong: Unlined fabric that looks see-through in daylight and fades within a summer.
Right: Add lining. It gives body, protects the fabric from the Ahmedabad sun, and makes the drape fall heavier. Choose dimout or blackout lining for bedrooms.
6Choose the pleat for the room
Wrong: One pleat style everywhere, picked by default.
Right: American pleat or box pleat for formal living rooms, Arabian or ripple-fold styles for modern spaces, and Roman blinds where a curtain would crowd the room. The pleat sets the mood. (More in our guide to curtain pleat types.)
7Layer sheer with solid
Wrong: One heavy curtain that’s either fully open or fully closed.
Right: A sheer in front for soft daylight and privacy, a solid behind for night. Two tracks, double the flexibility, and the window looks finished at every hour. (See how to layer curtains.)
How to measure your windows (the 3-number method)
You only need three numbers. Use a steel tape, not a cloth one.
- Track width: window width + 8–12 inches on each side.
- Drop (height): from where the track will be mounted down to the floor. Subtract about half an inch if you want the curtain to just touch the floor.
- Fabric width: track width × 2 for a neat look, × 2.5 for a luxurious one.
Example: a 6-foot window → about 8 feet of track → 16–20 feet of fabric width.
Not confident? Share a photo of the window with the tape held across it, and our team will check the numbers before anything is cut.
Quick picks: fabric and lining by room
| Room | Fabric | Lining | Pleat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Living room | Linen-look, textured weave or velvet | Standard lining + sheer layer | American or box pleat |
| Master bedroom | Velvet or heavy textured fabric | Blackout | Box pleat or Arabian |
| Kids’ room | Easy-wash cotton blend | Blackout | Simple pleat |
| Dining area | Sheer or semi-sheer | None or light lining | Ripple / Arabian |
| Home office | Semi-sheer with a Roman blind | Dimout | Roman |
Frequently asked questions
How high should curtains be hung?
As close to the ceiling as possible, ideally 4–6 inches below it or inside a false-ceiling pocket. It makes the room look taller.
How much fabric do I need for curtains?
Two to two-and-a-half times the track width, plus allowance for hems and pleats. A good furnishing team calculates this for you.
Are custom curtains worth it over ready-made?
Ready-made panels rarely match Indian window and ceiling heights, so they end up too short or too narrow. Custom curtains fit exactly, which is most of what makes them look expensive.
Do I need lining in Ahmedabad?
Yes, for almost every sunny window. Lining protects the fabric from fading and keeps rooms cooler.
See the difference in person
The fastest way to understand fullness, pleats and lining is to see them side by side. Visit the Sulit showroom at 107, Aaron Spectra, behind Rajpath Rangoli Road, Bodakdev (Mon–Sat, 10 am–8 pm), or WhatsApp us your window photo and measurements.
