Ask Joshua: Should Curtains Touch the Floor? How to Choose the Right Curtain Length

Hi Joshua,

I recently moved into a classic San Francisco apartment with a bay window in the living room and a couple of standard windows in the dining area along the same wall. The space has great bones, but I’m stuck on how to handle the curtains.

For the bay window, do the panels need to go all the way to the floor? And should I treat the other windows the same way so everything feels cohesive? I’ve seen everything from shorter curtains to dramatic puddling, and I honestly can’t tell what’s intentional versus what just looks off.

I want the space to feel polished and elevated — not like I guessed on the measurements. What’s the right move here?

- Emily in San Francisco, California

Custom floor-to-ceiling drapery panels in a Modern Victorian primary bedroom, designed by virtual interior designer Joshua Jones of JJones Design Co., tailored to lightly touch the floor for a refined, timeless look.

Hi Emily,

You’re not alone — drapery is one of those details that can quietly elevate a space or make it feel slightly off. The good news is there are a few designer rules that work beautifully in most homes, including bay windows and standard windows along the same wall.

Yes, in most living rooms and dining rooms, drapery should reach the floor.

In nearly every case, floor-length drapery looks the most polished because it:

• makes ceilings feel taller

• creates a clean, tailored vertical line

• gives the room a finished, intentional appearance

Short drapery in living and dining spaces can often read as accidental unless there’s a functional reason they must be shorter.

The best “default” length: a slight float or a clean touch

Here are the three most common designer-approved drapery lengths:

• Slight float: the hem sits up to 1 inch above the floor
  This is what I most often recommend to my clients. It looks crisp and tailored while avoiding drag or dust collection.

• Kiss the floor: the hem just lightly touches the floor
  This feels classic and slightly more traditional.

• Puddle: extra fabric gathers on the floor (typically 2–6 inches)
  This is a deliberate, dramatic choice and works best in very formal spaces. It can also be higher maintenance.

For a San Francisco apartment where you want polished and elevated, I would typically recommend a slight float — no more than one inch above the floor — or a clean touch.

What about the bay window?

Bay windows can look incredible with full-length drapery. The key is thoughtful hardware placement so the installation doesn’t feel bulky.

You can either:

• Use a rod that follows the angle of the bay

• Or treat each section individually with separate rods

The important detail is allowing the panels to stack mostly on the wall when open so you preserve as much natural light as possible.

In other words, full-length drapery works beautifully — but placement and proportion are what make it look intentional.

Should the dining room windows match?

If your bay window and dining room windows share the same sightline, consistency is important.

That usually means:

• Mounting all rods at the same height

• Keeping the drapery length consistent

• Using the same fabric or a cohesive variation

• Matching the header style

This is what creates visual flow instead of making each window feel like a separate decision.

The most common mistake I see

It’s rarely the fabric. It’s proportion.

Drapery hung too low or too narrow is what makes a space feel unfinished.

For a tailored, designer look:

• Mount rods higher than the top of the window frame (often closer to the ceiling, depending on trim and molding)

• Extend rods wider than the window so panels stack on the wall

• Keep the hem within one inch of the floor for a clean finish

Those details are what give a room that refined, intentional feel — especially in apartments with beautiful architectural character.

— Joshua

Have interior design related questions? You can ask Joshua here.