Choosing the perfect track position for face mount curtains: our expert tips

Designer curtains scream made to measure when they're hung at the perfect height for your windows and when your track is the right width. They can completely enhance your space, elongate your windows and brighten up your room. Even slightly adjusting where your track goes can make a big difference and lets visitors to your home know your curtains have been custom made to frame your windows beautifully.

We asked our design team to list their top reasons for getting your track placement right:

• A track at the right height gives your windows the impact they deserve.
• If your track is too low it makes your windows and curtains look smaller and hemmed in.
• The opposite is also true: mounting a track too high doesn't look in proportion to the window and won't make the most of your luxe, custom curtains.
• Getting the width of your track right not only looks great, it's also practical. If your fabric stacks off the glass it lets the most light in.

Without a doubt our number one tip is to mount your track or rod above your architrave, also known as your window frame. It gives your plush fabric some breathing room and makes your ceiling seem higher. OK now let's get into some specifics:

• As a general rule mount your track at least half way between the top of your window and your ceiling if possible.
• Mounting your track 2/3 of the way between your window and ceiling is also popular.
• Stack your curtains off your windows. It creates the illusion of a bigger window and frames the space without covering original features such as ornate architraves. Read on to learn more about curtain stacks.
• Wall studs are by far the best and most secure surface to attach your curtain track to. It's well worth buying a stud finder and doing your homework.

Designer curtains look lustworthy in period homes and they're a fantastic way to glam up your windows.

• Find a fixture in the room to align your track with. In period homes it's common to have a picture rail or decorative vent and it makes sense to fit your track or rod just underneath it.
• Once you've nailed your placement consider a decorative rod in black or white to complete your look and blend the old with the new. It’s a semi traditional finish that looks amazing with a modern S fold.

We’ve never met a window we couldn’t dress and we love the challenge of a unique space or window shape. There are no exact rules and it's important to have fun designing your dream look!

Example looks for unique spaces:

• The left image above shows sheer, face mount curtains placed right above the windows and lining up with the mezzanine level. Having part of the curtain track recessed into the built in pelmet is a clever touch and creates a clean, sleek look.
• Check your built in pelmets are at least 150 mm deep to fit your single curtain track or 250 mm for double tracks. For double tracks combine an S fold with a pleated curtain at the back to keep your projection as slim as possible.
• The right image above shows sheer, face mount curtains that blend beautifully with the minimalist interior. The curtain track is mounted at the exact height of the lower ceiling for ultimate precision, which just emphasises how much thought has gone into every detail in this home.
• In living spaces you don't need to worry about covering high windows for privacy.

Stack is a fancy term to describe your curtains when they are drawn open and gathered to one or both sides of your window. Your fabric stack takes up approximately 30% of your width. Space permitting your track width ideally extends past your window so your curtains stack against your wall.

To stack your curtains off your glass, take your window width and add 30 % to get your track width. Your curtains may still sit on top of your architrave at the sides, which looks lovely for sheers as there's still some filtered light coming through.

Example: Your window is 2000 mm wide with ample wall space either side. 2000 mm X 1.3 = 2600 mm track width.

To stack your curtains off your window completely, take your window width and divide it by 0.7 to get your track width. This is the best stack allowance for lined curtains, so you don't block an ounce of light coming in.

Example: Your window is 2000 mm wide with ample wall space either side. 2000 mm / 0.7 = 2857 mm track width.

For wall to wall windows and sliding doors, you can work out how much of your glass will be covered by the curtain stack. Just take your window width and multiple by 0.3.

Example: Your wall to wall sliding door is 3500 mm. 3500 mm X .3 = 1050 mm of curtain stack covering your glass. For centre opening curtains divide this number by 2.