How to Hang Cafe Curtains and Where to Buy Cafe Curtains

Learn how to hang cafe curtains easily, the hardware needed for cafe curtains, and where to buy cafe curtains, and what to look for when buying them!

Cafe curtains give a room a timeless charm look!

Cafe curtains are shorter curtains that typically cover the bottom half of a window to allow privacy and light. So, they are not only beautiful, but functional too!

When we started working on our dining room makeover, I knew I wanted to add cafe curtains to the window that is on the side of our house.

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After searching for cafe curtains that were the correct length and that were made with a high quality fabric, but still budget friendly, I finally found this pair of cotton/linen cafe curtains!

I ordered the natural color, but I may be exchanging for the white color!

There are many ways to hang cafe curtains and many places to buy them. I am going to share some of the best places to look for cafe curtains and my favorite, easy way to hang them for that classic, charm look!

Where to buy cafe curtains

Most Budget Friendly

The stores I looked at first for cafe curtains on a budget were Amazon, Target, and Walmart. But, I could not find the length I needed (30 inches long), in a solid linen or cotton white fabric.

The curtains I did find in the length I needed were a cheap, polyester fabric. And this is one of the biggest problems with lower priced cafe curtains (or any curtain).

If they are made mostly with polyesters, rather than a natural fabric like cotton or linen, the fabric looks cheap and doesn’t hang as well either. So beware of this when shopping for cafe curtains! Try to find curtains that have a least a 50% blend of cotton or linen if possible!

Wayfair has quite a few options in different price points. As I said I ended up getting these cafe curtains! It’s definitely a great place to search for more curtain options in various styles, fabrics, and sizes!

With all that said, here are some nicer fabric cafe curtains I found on Amazon, Target, Wayfair and Walmart!

• White cotton cafe curtains
• Pinch pleat linen blend cafe curtains
• Blue floral cotton cafe curtains
• Pick stitch stripe cafe curtains
• Textured cafe curtains
• The cafe curtains I used!

Etsy, Pottery Barn, and Ballard Designs

Etsy has gorgeous, cafe curtain options in unique, beautiful prints. They also have several 100% linen options too. However, they are all more costly for that reason.

Here are some cafe curtains from Etsy that I loved and considered getting!

• floral block print cafe curtains
• solid linen cafe curtains
• floral cafe curtains

Pottery Barn also has a 100% linen option too in white. But again, these are on the more expensive side!

Finally, Ballard Designs, has over 350 different fabric options for cafe curtains! I love this block floral pattern called Alexa Multi. These are definitely more expensive though!

Custom Sizes

If you need a custom size cafe curtain that’s hard to find and you don’t want to DIY cafe curtains or get them tailored to size, Etsy is the best place to buy them! Many shops will hem them to the size you need!

Standard Length Sizes

Most cafe curtains come in 24″ and 36″ lengths. Some come in 30″ lengths, which is what I needed. In general, most cafe curtains are hung in the middle of your window and cover the lower half.

However, if you prefer more privacy, you can hang them higher.

How to hang cafe curtains

1. Order or cut the curtain rod to size

When it comes to installing cafe curtains, you can use inside mount or outside mount hardware brackets. I prefer the look of inside mount so that is what I will be using in this tutorial!

Begin by measuring the width of the window opening.

Then, either order or cut the curtain rod to size.

I ordered this 36″ brass rod which included a free custom cut to size! I just had to message the seller within 1 hour of placing my purchase.

I just placed my order, then selected contact seller from my order details. It was super easy, the shop was very responsive and detailed in exactly what cut needed to be made with accounting for the bracket hardware.

They also have larger rod sizes available up to 72″ that can be cut too!

Alternatively, you can buy a steel cutter and make the cut yourself if you prefer.

2. Attach the cafe curtain rings to the cafe curtains

At this point if your curtains are a little wrinkly, go ahead and iron them before moving forward.

Next, determine how many curtain rings you want to use and about how far apart you want them spaced based on your curtain width.

For example, my cafe curtains are 42″ wide each. So, I spaced 7 rings out (with one on each end) about 6 inches apart.

Clip each curtain ring onto the curtains based on the determined spacing.

3. Install the mounting brackets

To determine where to install the mounting brackets, it’s easiest to just hold them up in place exactly where you want them so your curtains hit right above the bottom of the window trim.

Mark the bracket screw holes with a pencil for one of the brackets. Then, measure where this bracket is being installed and mark the same measurement on the opposite side of the window to ensure they are hung level!

Then, drill a pilot hole through the pencil marks (which should be a little smaller than the width of the screw threads).

Install the brackets with the screws through the pilot holes using a screwdriver.

4. Hang the cafe curtains from the curtain rod

Now for the fun part! Add your curtains to curtain rod carefully so they don’t slip off.

Unscrew the barrel end on one of the mounting brackets and add it to the curtain rod end.

Then you can easily insert the curtain rod with the curtains into the brackets.

Tighten the barrel end on the bracket to finish!

That’s it! Now you can enjoy your cafe curtains!

I love how much charm these curtains add to our dining nook! I hope this tutorial on how to hang cafe curtains and where to buy cafe curtains has been helpful!

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