I have a 72" window and each panel is 81". 1.5 x 54" width fabric. I don't think yours look bad but I don't think they look like they could cover the window.

Hi LL,

It's a dark image. If you have no intent on ever closing the drapes then less fabric is fine. It would then be a question of how it looks to the eye as it frames the window. Your image is just too dark to really call it. It's about the folds, or if the intent is to start at the sides of the full width window and stop short of the trim separating the side windows. It's about visual rules and here is where an elevation can help before pulling the trigger and not being happy. Elevations cost design time, always a designer's quandary. Especially with all of these HGTV shows. Those of us with a design degree do more then hone our eye, we use plans and elevations to make better informed decisions. As a rule "decorators" have no formal education and "designers" do. In the end communication and agreed design decisions are key to the best results. I hope this insight is helpful.

They do look too thin on each side. To ensure that panels look ample and drapey when closed, they should have a combined width that is 2 to 2½ times the width of the window. Exceptions: If you're hanging curtains just to frame a window and don't intend to shut them, you can round down to 1½ times the width according to Real Simple. Perhaps she was trying to keep clear what appears to be the heating register on the right side of the picture.

Strange decision. I thought the rule of thumb was usually 2x the width of the window, 1.5x as a minimum.

If your intent is not to cover the windows, remove the rod…waste of money…and hang the panels OUTSIDE the frame on stationary rods. That install will make the window look larger.

Designer made a boo boo.

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I’d do 2x the width with a much longer rod that allows the drapery to stack back wide enough to not cover the sides of the window. In my opinion, if you’re going to the Trouble and expense of drapery make it wide enough to close.

She may be a certified ID, but her knowledge re window treatments is lacking. The rod should have been installed just beneath the crown. And yes, one-width panels for a window that wide is not enough. It's not horrible, but my preference would be two widths for each panel. Actually, I would have made them big enough to cover the window, but that may not have been in the budget. There should be enough fabric in the hems to let them out, so I would do that and have another width of fabric added to each panel. It will cost you, because the workroom made what you (or the designer) asked for. Regardless of what you do, please ask her to have the installer properly attach the returns.

There are videos on 'calculating stack back for curtains' on line....basically it said if curtains are unlined then 10% of window width on each side beyond the window or 10 inches on a 100 inch wide window....if lined curtains, then 15% or 15 inches beyond the window on a 100 inch wide window. Video explains it pretty well with pics etc.

Try this. Pull both panels to one side and see how that looks. If it looks full enough, then get more fabric and rework the panels or, if they are really full and you can't see the separate panels, you can probably just put the two you have on one side and have two more made for the other side. If you plan on never closing them, (which I think is not a long term plan as it looks like that's the front of our house facing the street), it really won't show that there are two panels on each side, total of four. I think part of the problem is that is doesn't even cover the side window so it does look skimpy.