Can curtains be altered to fit a new window if you move house?
Updated
Curtains can sometimes be altered to fit a new window after a move, for example by changing the width or the drop. How well this works depends on how close the new window is to the original, and on whether the curtain suits the new track, since a large difference often makes a new curtain more practical.
Bringing existing curtains to a new home is understandably appealing, especially for a favourite fabric, and depending on how similar the new window is to the old one, an alteration can sometimes make this possible.
What generally works well
- A new window that is a similar width and height to the original, needing only a small adjustment.
- The same heading style being reused on a track that suits it. A different track may not suit: on a Wave Fold or S Fold curtain the runner spacing and the tape in the heading are ordered to match the track.
- Curtains in generally good, unfaded condition, where the fabric itself is not already close to the end of its useful life.
What makes it harder
- A significant difference in width, which may mean adding or removing a whole fabric panel rather than a simple trim.
- A different heading style needed for the new track, which can mean reworking the whole top of the curtain.
- Visible fading on the fabric, especially if only part of the curtain was exposed to sun in the old home, which can become more obvious once altered and rehung differently.
- Hems and seams that have to be moved, since pinholes from previous stitching may remain visible on the fabric.
A simple way to think about it
A small change in drop is usually the simplest alteration, though making a curtain longer is only possible where the hem allows it. A change in width is more involved, since curtain width is closely tied to the fullness and pleat spacing of the heading, and changing this can mean more than a simple trim. A different track or heading system again usually means more substantial rework.
What to ask your retailer
Bring the existing curtains and the new window's measurements to your retailer for a proper assessment of what is realistically achievable. Alterations go back through your retailer, who can advise whether altering the existing curtains is a sound option for your specific situation, or whether the time and cost involved means new curtains would serve you better. A careful, in person assessment of both the old curtains and the new window is the most reliable way to avoid spending time and money altering a curtain that was never going to suit the new space well.
Other ways people ask this
Is it always cheaper to alter existing curtains than buy new ones?
Not always. How the cost compares depends on how much work is involved, and a complex change in width or heading style can end up costing more time and money than a new curtain.
Can curtain width be changed easily?
Changing width is more involved than changing drop, since width is closely linked to the fullness and pleat spacing of the heading, so it often means more than a simple trim.
What should I bring to a retailer when asking about altering curtains for a new home?
Bring the existing curtains if possible, along with accurate measurements of the new window, so a careful assessment can be given.
This answer is general information. For your own windows, your retailer's advice and your order with them come first.