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No Holes, Renter Friendly Window Treatments!

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How to hang curtains without holes using command hooks-great idea for renters or students who don’t want to put holes in the walls! 
white floor length curtains hung with command hooks and curtain rod and text reading \"how to hang curtains with command hooks, no holes, renter friendly\"

As a military family, we move a LOT. One of the big challenges we’ve faced over the years were limitations set by landlords when we were renting. Our home near DC a few years ago was the perfect example. We had gorgeous windows but weren’t allowed to drill holes to hang curtains. This led us to learn how to hang curtains with command hooks!

three large floor to ceiling windows with transomes and no curtains

Why Hang Curtains With Command Hooks

  • rental that doesn’t allow drilling into the walls
  • walls difficult to drill into (ours were backed by brick)
  • walls that have been weakened by previous drilling
  • dorm or other space that doesn’t allow permanent changes

If you like this tutorial please give it a five star rating below!

How to Hang Curtains with Command Hooks

large living room window with white curtains and yellow rug

How to hang curtains without holes using command hooks-great idea for renters or students who don’t want to put holes in the walls!

Active Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $15

Tools

  • Metal File (optional)
  • Bolt Cutters (optional)

Instructions

  1. Purchase 2-3 jumbo command hooks per window. Pick a finish that is the same as the curtain rods you will be hanging.
  2. Clean wall surface where you will be applying hooks with rubbing alcohol and clean cloth or paper towel. Clean gently, rubbing too hard can remove the paint. Allow to dry.
  3. Mark the placement of the hooks. Generally you will place one 3-6 inches outside of each outer edge of the window along with one in the middle to help bear the weight. If hooks are too tall trim according to directions in the notes below.
  4. Separate the strips of adhesive and remove the red liners. Press the adhesive to the hook. Remove the black liners and press each hook to the wall for ten seconds.
  5. Slide the hook up and off the adhesive base and press the base an additional 30 seconds.
  6. Allow to sit one hour before continuing.
  7. Gently add curtains and curtain rods to the hooks.

Notes

  • If necessary, use bolt cutters to trim top of command hooks. This is only required if you want them to hang at ceiling height. Use a metal file to smooth the cut surface.
  • Tape off the front of the hook and clean with rubbing alcohol. Use plastic primer to paint the back of the command hook and finish with a paint the same color as your wall if desired.
  • Read on for more tips and tricks….

    If your command hooks are too tall to hand as high as you like you can easily trim them.

    using bolt cutters to trim command hook for hanging curtains

    Use bolt cutters to cut about a half inch off the top of the hook and a metal file to smooth the edge. You can see how much we cut off here:

    trimmed jumbo command hook

    Since we’re talking windows, don’t forget to check out these articles on how to clean windows and how to clean blinds!

    Painting

    When we were hanging our command hooks we wanted the back of the hook to blend with the wall. This was easy to accomplish by painting the back surface. Clean the hook with rubbing alcohol then tape off the front portion you want to blend with the curtain rod.

    painted command hooks for hanging curtains

    Next, prime it with Valspar plastic primer. Finally, paint the surface with paint to match your walls. In our case, we used touch-up paint that matched our moldings.

    white curtains hanging floor to ceiling from command hooks

    After the paint is dry you can put up the hooks following the below instructions. Be sure to wait the required hour to allow the adhesive to bond before hanging your curtains.

    large window with plantation blinds and ladder standing in front

    You can see how wonderful hanging curtains with command hooks worked out! We lived in this home for two years and the command hooks held the curtains the entire time with no issue!

    3 large windows with long white curtains hanging from dark curtain rod and yellow patterned rug on the wood floor

    Tips:

    • Use a thin, lightweight curtain rod that can fit in the jumbo hook.
    • Because of the proximity to the wall, smaller than usual finials may be required on the curtain rods.
    • I do not recommend this method for heavily used curtains or heavy curtains. This is best for decorative curtains that are left open or closed rather than handled regularly.

    Room Sources:

    You might also like to check out how to make your own DIY Wooden Map Art or build a Pottery Barn inspired table for under $100!

    This post was originally published October 2014 and updated June 2019 with additional information.

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    72 Comments

    1. This is exactly what I have been looking for in the past ten years. GREAT!! And thank you so much!!

    2. If the Command Hooks do not hold to a wall surface that they should:
      1. Make sure the strips you are using are not too old.
      I had some that were old, and the adhesive dries out.
      2. You can also use Command Adhesive Strips that are rated to
      hold a heavier weight. (Available in replacement packs).

    3. Thanks 4 the rental window tips. Great ideas including comments on textured-but-not-2-textured paint so hooks stick. I am going to use a 5/8 rod w flat leaf finials. This should work w Command hooks NP. I feel more confident but still need to measure 1st so get right length.

    4. Hi Stacey. If your walls are textured and you don’t mind retexturing the spots on your walls when your done with your drapes, ask your home center (Home Depot or Lowe’s) what product you can use to smooth out the walls where you want to attach your command hooks. Let them cure for however long the package recommends and then hang your drapes. Me, being me, I would put up extra hooks. As for removing the hooks, I learned the hard way to pull the tab directly straight down very very slowly till it pops off the surface; works every time. I hope this will be a good solution for you.

    5. Command strips have never worked for me on anything. Then when I try to take them down, it pulls the paint and sheet rock off.

    6. What a fantastic idea! I will have to try this myself. Your window looks so beautiful with the long drapes… Thank you for sharing that hack.

    7. I had heard about this hack before and unfortunately it does not work for me either. My apartment has textured walls, so there is no smooth surface available for command hooks to adhere to. My walls are backed by cement so there’s no drilling allowed. It makes it very difficult to decorate anything in the apartment!

      1. Hi Stacey. If your walls are textured and you don’t mind retexturing the spots on your walls when your done with your drapes, ask your home center (Home Depot or Lowe’s) what product you can use to smooth out the walls where you want to attach your command hooks. Let them cure for however long the package recommends and then hang your drapes. Me, being me, I would put up extra hooks. As for removing the hooks, I learned the hard way to pull the tab directly straight down very very slowly till it pops off the surface; works every time. I hope this will be a good solution for you.
        One last thing—check the packaging for the number of pounds each hook will support.

    8. I loved this hack since the first time I read it, so I tried it as soon as I could. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been working for me. I have tried 3 times, but the strips keep on giving up. I’m using a thin, light rod with thin curtains, and I’m careful about moving them, but it is frustrating to wake up with the curtains laying on the floor instead of staying up. The wall doesn’t have texture, but I’m starting to think that maybe there’s something on that paint that doesn’t allow the strips to fully adhere. I’m seriously considering to forget about my “no-drill” rules and install regular curtain hooks 😔

      1. I’m so sorry it isn’t holding for you Vivi. I wonder if it is the paint, out home had flat paint where we attached ours and it held for two years until we moved. I can imagine how aggravating it would be to find everything on the floor repeatedly.

    9. You can add some finials that have a flat, rather than round, shape, like a fleur de lis, or something like that. I’ve also read that a 5/8 inch curtain rod will fit the large command hooks.

    10. I think I will love it. I don’t like drilling my walls cause I felt like I’m just messing up a blank canvas. And I haven’t heard that command hook before but I’ll surely search for it by now. Thanks!

    11. Do these actually stay up? the adhesive never stay on our ways, as we have textured walls! 🙁 Nice job! 🙂

    12. Great idea! Do have a link for your curtains you used? Having a hard time finding ones that aren’t too heavy.

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