How To Keep Curtains Together And Closed

Curtains are a crucial aspect of the home decor and their primary function is quite obvious which is providing privacy while controlling and maintaining the amount of light and air that enters the room. 

But, to maximize these benefits, you need your curtains to stay put. 

So, what do you do when they don’t stay close together? Well, there are a few factors to consider that can help solve this problem.

The type of curtain can also play a factor as thick and heavy curtains tend to make a room feel warmer yet they easily stay closed whereas lightweight curtains are the opposite. The positioning of the curtain could be another reason why they don’t stay closed.

But that’s not all.

There are a few tips and tricks you can try to remedy this, including using decorative pins, buttons, safety pins, and magnets to keep the curtains shut or simply changing the curtains. 

Depending on what works best for you or the available supplies on hand, there’s definitely a solution you can implement immediately.

Keep reading to learn the correct way of ensuring your curtains stay put.

Ways to Keep Your Curtains Together and Closed

Sew a Tie

An easy way to quickly remedy the problem is to bust out your sewing skills and make a tie for the curtain. You could use a sewing machine or hand-sew the strip.

Here’s how to go about it:

Step 1: Pick a fabric matching your curtains and sew a thin strip on the center of the edge of the panels. 

Step 2: Then use that strip to tie your curtains. 

Step 3: While the method is simple, you must think carefully about where to place the strips to ensure you are not leaving any gaps and that the strips are even on both panels.

I think it’s essential to mention that this method can work well for achieving privacy however it may not be best for completely blocking out light if the tie-up leaves gaps in between the ties. 

If that’s the case, you’ll have to try out another method.

Safety Pins

Using safety pins is another excellent way to ensure your curtains remain put even though it does require some time to add them and undo them when you want to have the curtains open.

But since safety pins are cheap and a common item, they do work well.

Here’s how to use them:

On the edges of the panels where they meet, overlap them and insert several pins depending on the curtain’s length.

It’s better to insert perpendicularly along the edges as this gives a good seal. 

Depending on how many safety pins you’ve used, this should have closed the curtain and kept it together.

Buttons

Buttons can be a creative way to close the curtains and maintain privacy. This method will require a few crafting skills and time. 

You can use a machine to sew the button holes or you can opt for using scissors.

Pick buttons in a similar style and color so that it matches the look of your curtain. This way it won’t look weird. 

You can sew as many buttons as you along the edge of the curtain or wherever you feel will keep the curtains closed. 

Clips or Clothespins

If you’re like most people, you probably have clips or clothespins available in your home which makes this an awesome and easily affordable method you can do in seconds. 

Use the clips or clothespins to bring your curtain together and close it. 

Just clip the two panels on the side to create a quick seal. Note that you will need several clips to keep the entire curtain length closed. 

If you’re using this method for curtains that need to close in the middle, this could be a great temporary solution but for a long-term one, these clothespins pinned down the center may look unsightly and messy. 

That’s the only downside to this solution even though it does work.

Furniture

This might come as a surprise but furniture can be used to hold the curtains in place. 

Although this is a temporary solution, it can work for the moment until you find a better solution. 

It’s really as straightforward as this:

Hold your curtains taught and push the furniture tight against the wall. Then pin the curtain in place. You can use something like a footstool or shelf to keep it in place.

Be careful not to use a furniture piece that will crease the curtains and also pay attention to how it’s placed so that it doesn’t damage the walls.

Since this is a temporary solution, you might need to move the furniture from time to time to make additional adjustments.

Decorative Lapel Pins

Decorative lapel pins come in different patterns, colors, and designs and surprisingly enough, they can be used to help keep your curtains together while adding some decoration to your space. 

Choose a pin that will match your decor and aesthetic to make it more suitable for your space.

You use these pins to overlap the edge of the curtains where they meet and pin them together using a stud clasp.

This is a great way to keep the curtains closed while paying attention to details and the overall aesthetic of the decor.

Curtain Magnets

Some manufacturers sell curtains with magnets in them. 

But if you have a curtain that you need to keep closed, you’ll have to try doing a little DIY project.

It’s a pretty straightforward task. 

You’ll have to use several magnets on the edges where your curtains meet, starting from the top to the bottom of your panels or you could sew the magnets into the curtain’s hem.

How it works is that curtain magnets keep curtains together by creating a clasp that keeps the drapes perfectly closed.

You can attach as many magnets as you see fit.

Easy, right?

Velcro Strips

Velcro strips can ensure your curtains close perfectly without any gaps. 

You’ll want to attach these velcro strips on the curtains’ edges where the panels meet. Apply the strips or tape in various places up the curtain’s length or wherever needed. 

The great thing about velcro is that it’s cheap and it won’t damage your curtains.

Change Your Curtains

Lastly, if all the above methods don’t work and you still want more privacy or to block light coming from outside, consider replacing your curtains. 

Make sure to take accurate measurements to know the exact width and length and weight of the curtain to ensure it stays together.

Blackout curtains are also available in fancy design and many colors so it doesn’t necessarily have to look bad. 

These curtains are great for blocking out light. 

The Importance of Keeping Curtains Closed

Keeping the curtains closed can ensure adequate privacy and security for your home especially if you live in a place where the neighbors or people walking by can see inside. 

If you want to relax and unwind without an audience, even a few gaps in the curtain can easily annoy you. 

Besides the issue of onlookers, having curtains that close can also block unwanted light or conserve heat during winter.

You can easily control these factors with the right curtains. 

Quick Tips For Blocking Light From The Window

Since we’re on the subject of keeping curtains closed, I thought you might find these tips helpful if you’re tired of the morning light disturbing your sleep.

Here are a few ways you can blackout a window:

• Black fabric – Cover the window with black fabric to create a blackout. You’ll have to do some measurements to get the right length and width according to your window dimensions and cut according to size. Use velcro strips, command hooks/strips, or strong tape to attach it. 
• Cardboard – This is an easy, cheap, and almost free method to blackout a window. You can check with your local stores for spare cardboard boxes and cut them to size or you could reuse delivery boxes. You’ll also want to use some tape or command strips to attach it to your window frame or walls so that it can easily be removed without damaging the walls.
• Blackout curtains – If you want a full-time solution, investing in blackout curtains is a great choice. These are generally inexpensive but they do provide a satisfactory result. Great for those who love sleeping in a dark room and it also looks good for the overall decor.
• Liner – Curtain liners or blackout liners can be purchased and installed on your current curtain to make it a blackout curtain. The fantastic thing about this option is that you get to keep your curtain color and the room will still be dark as long as the curtain liner is attached to the curtain.

Conclusion

The above ways can help keep your curtains together. If you are undecided on which method to pick, think about your needs first.

For instance, switching curtains will be effective if you want lots of privacy, but if you simply want to block light temporarily, using a piece of furniture might be the best temporary solution that offers immediate results.

If you’re capable of sewing, making a tie or attaching a velcro strip to the curtain is another brilliant way to keep the curtains closed.

However, you could always opt for the good old safety pins that will get the job done in seconds.

I hope this article answered your question and provided useful solutions that worked. 

Before you go, here are a few posts that may interest you:

Different Ways to Hang Curtains For A Creative Look

How To Get Wrinkles Out Of Curtains (7 Effective Ways)