where to place curtains over/under radiators

JuliusCaesar

the radiators are all under windows in my house. The cold spell has really made me think whether this is a good idea - but I can't afford to move them. So: should I get shortish curtains that can hang over the windowsill and be tucked behind the radiator (or does this mean that half the heat is going up the inside of the curtains?)
Or what is the best design??

there's no way that the curtains will fit inside the window alcove - the windowsill is only about 2 inches wide. But I have double glaxing and blinds on the inside and then the curtains go over that. (Still freezing though, but I am very susceptible to cold)

lily marlene

full length curtains almost always look better. If you already have curtains up you might consider changing your poles to double poles or alternatively fit a swish track under the exsisting pole. on this you could hang shorter curtains with thermal linings which could be closed at night not blocking the radiator. during the day they slide back behind the full length curtains.
hope this makes sense!!!

JuliusCaesar

lily marlene wrote: »

full length curtains almost always look better.

Thanks but that's a matter of opinion/fashion.

lily marlene wrote: »

If you already have curtains up you might consider changing your poles to double poles or alternatively fit a swish track under the exsisting pole. on this you could hang shorter curtains with thermal linings which could be closed at night not blocking the radiator. during the day they slide back behind the full length curtains.
hope this makes sense!!!

Sorry Lily, can't see the point of this - I'd never have the curtains fully closed in that case and I can't imagine that just having thermal lining closed would be in any way aesthetic from the inside (where I spend most of my time in the evenings!)

"My" solution (suggested elsewhere) (in case anyone else wonders about this) is to replace the sill with a wider board so that the curtains sit on top of the sill, and the heat from the radiators is forced out into the room, rather than up the windowpanes.

lily marlene

I think if you read my post you will find that I suggested shorter curtains with thermal linings.
I can see no asthetic value in having curtains sitting on a window sill. You are 100% right in what you say in that curtain length is based on opinion/fashion but if these are of no concern to you your solution will solve the heat problem.

ilovecars

on dragons den last week these 2 had an idea to put a floating shelf above the rad to lay the curtains on, but that wrinkles the curtains terrible.. i tuck mine behind the rads.. p.s. they didnt get the funding..

2 stroke

The solution to this is to go back to the old type of floor mounted radiators. there was room to close curtains behind the rads. As a man I could see sense in the dragons den idea but I understand that no woman could contemplate the idea.