Ever wonder how the pros get their curtains and draperies to hang so perfectly? You know... the pleats and ruffles are all perfectly even, and they drape just the right way. Well here's some secrets that may help:

#1 Rule for all types... if you're hanging more than just one rod, start with the inner rod first! It's extremely difficult to get everything to look nice if you've got your head under one already-hung set of curtains of valances while you're trying to get that under rod up and hung properly! :-)

Rod-Pocket Curtains

1. First if you want perfectly smooth curtains, they'll have to be ironed perfectly smooth - even the ruffles (if they have them).
2. Second is putting them on the rod. First, just get them all on there, making sure that your rod is not extended too long. (It can be very difficult sometimes to slide it smaller with the curtains on... On the other hand, it is always easy to extend it longer.) The easiest way to put them on without wrinkling your just ironed curtains is to lay them across the bed while you're putting the rod in. Don't worry now about getting your gathers even.
3. Now put the rod up on the brackets. Put one end in, then extend the rod as needed and put the other end in.
4. Now is the time to even out those gathers. First find the center of your window and make sure your edges meet there. Then even out either side. To make sure your headers (the ruffle that's on top of the rod) stand up properly, start at one end of the curtains, pull up on the headers with one hand, and pull down on the curtains below with the other. Move along the rod and repeat every few inches.
5. Now for the bottom of your curtains. If they've got ruffles, pull them all out so they're hanging freely and evenly. Put the hooks for your tiebacks about 2/3 of the way down the curtains and just outside of where the outside edge of the curtains hang. Hang the inside end of the tieback.
6. Now for those neat and even pleats! Kneel down on the floor on the outside edge of one side of your curtains - let's start with the left side. (This is a little hard to describe, although it's easy to do. (-: ) Fan-fold the curtain into your hands like this: Hold the outside edge of the curtain panel - about a foot up from the floor - in your left hand between your thumb and palm with your fingers straight. (so the outside edge folds back) Create the first fold by folding the fabric around to the back of your left hand with your right hand. Pull your left hand out of the fold so you're holding the folds in your right hand between thumb and palm. Create the second fold by folding the fabric around to the back of your right hand with your left hand. And so forth. For each fold you make, pull down slightly on the new fold to help the fabric carry the fold to the top. What you will be doing is folding the fabric accordion-style from the outside in. Each time you make a new fold, the inside edge of the curtain will be drawn in and up a little. You will end up with the entire bottom of the curtain neatly folded in your hands. Check the folds up to the top once more and straighten any that need it. You're still holding those pleats in place. Now reach up to the folds near the tieback with your left hand, and gently draw the pleats farther back. Let go of the bottom and use your right hand to bring around the tieback and fasten it. Let your pleats gently fall into it. Your folds will bounce out a little at the bottom, hanging exactly as they should. Repeat with the right side, using the opposite hands.
7. One more thing... Lift the folds up a little on the inside just above the tieback giving them more of a drape. Lift the innermost fold up about four inches, and each next one a little less so that your folds continue to hang evenly.

Pinch-Pleated Draperies

1. First iron them smooth.
2. Second is putting the hooks in and hanging them. Make sure all your hooks are put in at the same point, so they'll all hang at the same level. Having one hook even a quarter of an inch higher or lower will prevent them from hanging neatly. To hang them on the rod, start in the center with the rods drawn closed. Put the first hook in the very end of the 'leaders' that overlap in the center of your rod. Put the second hook in whichever hole allows that first section of drape (between the pleats) to lay smooth and flat. Follow with the rest of the hooks in the individual sliders - up until the last three. Put those last three hooks through the holes in the end of the rod - one on the front, and two around the sides. While closed, your drapes should pull smooth and even... not tight, but not all bunched up. If you have just a few inches of extra drapery that's keeping them from closing smoothly, use the extra holes on the outside end of the rod bracket and pleat them together there.
3. Pinch-pleated draperies will naturally hang with even folds if step 2 is followed properly and your draperies are smooth when closed. Now, put your tieback hooks about 2/3 of the way down your draperies, just outside of where the outside edge of the drapery naturally hangs. Measure up from the floor to make sure that all the tiebacks in your room will be attached at the same height. Hang the inside end of the tieback on your hook.
4. To make those perfect pleats for pinch-pleats, follow the same procedures as above, but you'll need to match up the front edge of each fold with a pleat on top.
5. Do the tiebacks the same as above.

I hope this is easy to understand! I've shown this to people before, but never had to describe it without actually showing at the same time! Drop me a line and let me know if this has helped, or if you're still having trouble!