Curtains 101: What to Know About Panels, Sheers, Valances, Rods, and More

A single curtain rod is the most common way to hang curtains. They come in a wide variety of styles, from traditional to contemporary, as seen in this Umbra Cappa Adjustable Curtain Rod ($40). They should be hung above — not parallel to — the highest part of the window. If you have the ceiling height for it, you can even mount the rod closer to the ceiling so you can choose longer curtains and make the whole room feel larger.