How To Hang Curtain Rods Without That Whacky Ms. Havisham Look

Don't let this happen to your loved one.

We’ve all seen it, even if we didn’t know what to call it: the crazy, outdated curtain rod with equally outdated and perhaps even more awful draperies or curtains. It’s called the Ms. Havisham. Ms. Havisham, you may recall, was the elderly jilted bride in Great Expectations. In the progressive lunacy that consumed her, Ms. Havisham decided (decades prior) to hang on to her wedding cake, you know, like a keepsake, but that rots over time. Totally legit, right? We’ll overlook the cake Havisham, but we will NOT overlook your dusty, musty, outdated decor—we’re not gonna take it anymore! In the name of all those who freedom fight, ridding the world one curtain rod at a time from the Havishams that surround us, link arms with us at YOUHANGIT and show the Havisham in your life the light! (Seriously, if they’re like the actual Ms. Havisham they may literally not have seen the light since the last time the Cubs won a series.)

How do you un-Havisham someone? Research has shown that interior design interventions don’t work—anecdotal evidence tells us that rage and curtain rod jousting can be the outcome. Be careful around your Havisham. Instead, do some of this:

Introduce new trends in curtain rods and hot new curtain patterns: Hang out on Pinterest or check out the curtain rod options available at Target online for sweet ideas that jazz the joint up. The fatal mistake you could fall into is turning your Havisham against you by showing them curtain rod styles and drapes that are not their bag. So if you’re working with someone who is into art deco, stay in that realm. However, if you’re dealing with someone in denial about whether or not tie-dye drapes are okay, wean them off of this sideshow look by introducing them to other vibrant and more up to date curtain styles. Jerry’s dead man, we’re sorry.

Your Havisham has super, crazy long windows and Arcadia doors to cover: You’ll need an equally crazy long curtain rod. No problem—you can find long curtain rods and hardware at most mass retailers, and the really good ones can be found off and online—check out options in drapes and curtain rods on Amazon, and bounce to your local Lowes to peep current trends in curtain rods for sale.

Once you have conditioned your Havisham to accept an updated style in curtain rods and curtains, help them hang a curtain rod—this could be an experiment in behavior modification, so keep your phone handy if you need to call for backup.

You're welcome Ms. Havisham, you're welcome.

Don’t try to hang curtain rods without YOUHANGIT: You’ve got a sadly mentally misshapen person pacing behind you, muttering under breath about the curtain intervention. The last thing you need is to blow it. Going it alone and leaving the wall dotted with drill holes that didn’t work out because you didn’t measure correctly could cause your Havisham to turn on you. Instead, use the YOUHANGIT Decor and More Kit to make perfect marks on the wall so you’re not guesstimating—the YOUHANGIT “squishy thingy” allows you to make the perfect mark every time.

Sidebar: don’t make the classic curtain rod hanging mistake of not putting the actual curtains on the rod before you hang the bar into the curtain rod hardware you just affixed to the wall.

Please, please use screw anchors: drapes and curtains and even the curtain rods themselves are heavy. When you hang a curtain rod, all that weight needs more support than regular ol’ drywall or sheetrock. The last thing you need is a call from your Havisham regarding a curtain mishap—this could push them right off the wagon.