Should Your Curtains Touch the Floor?

Let's cut to the chase. In 2026, the overwhelming trend — and the advice from every interior designer we've spoken to — is that curtains should touch the floor. Floor-length curtains make rooms look taller, more elegant, and more finished. They're the standard for any room where you want a grown-up, considered look.

Short curtains that hover above the sill or sit at radiator height look dated. They were practical in the 1990s, but interior trends have moved firmly towards full-length, flowing fabric. If you're dressing the windows in a brand new home, go floor-length. You won't regret it.

Floor-length (just touching): The curtain hangs to exactly where the floor meets the fabric — about 1cm above the floor. This is the most popular and practical choice. Clean, modern, no dust-gathering pooling. Perfect for new builds.

Puddle / break (2-10cm on the floor): The curtain pools slightly on the floor for a romantic, luxurious look. Beautiful in a master bedroom or formal living room, but impractical in high-traffic areas. You'll be straightening them constantly.

Sill-length: The curtain ends at the windowsill. Only really works for kitchen windows above a worktop. Anywhere else, it looks like the curtains shrank in the wash.

Below-sill: The curtain hangs 10-15cm below the sill. An awkward in-between length. Unless you have radiators directly below the sill and no floor space, avoid this.

New builds typically have large windows, often stretching from near the ceiling to just above the skirting board. This is great for curtains — you get a dramatic sweep of fabric from ceiling to floor.

However, new builds also tend to have radiators below most windows. Floor-length curtains will cover your radiators, which can reduce heating efficiency by 30-40%. The solution? Use a curtain pole wide enough that the curtains pull back fully past the radiator, or pair floor-length curtains with a roller blind for everyday use and only close the curtains in the evening.

One more thing: new build floors can be uneven. Measure the drop in three places (left, centre, right) and use the average. If there's more than a 1cm difference, consider having curtains made to measure rather than buying off-the-shelf.

Eyelet: Large metal rings punched into the fabric, threaded onto a pole. Creates deep, even folds. The most popular heading for contemporary new builds — modern, fuss-free, and easy to draw. Works best with a statement curtain pole.

Pencil pleat: Tightly gathered fabric creating a row of slim, pencil-like folds. More traditional but incredibly versatile. Works with poles or tracks. Good if you want a fuller, more gathered look.

Pinch pleat: Fabric pinched together at regular intervals creating elegant, structured folds. More formal and tailored. Often seen in higher-end homes and show homes.

Wave / S-fold: A contemporary heading that creates a soft, even wave pattern. Requires a special track system. Increasingly popular in new builds for a clean, hotel-like look.