Wooden curtain rods make for a beautiful natural accent to any home’s interior decor. These hardy features can soften a minimalist design scheme or add a touch of luxury to elegant drapes and luscious upholsteries. There are a ton of woods and finishes to choose from when decorating your home.
With its sturdy construction and ornate details, the best wooden curtain rod is the Classic Home 72-inch Single Curtain Rod in English Walnut with Finial.
There are many different kinds of curtain rods. Which you choose will depend on the size and shape of your window, as well as a few other factors.
You’ll have your choice between hardwoods like oak, cherry, mahogany, walnut and maple or softwoods like cedar or species of pine. While hardwood is more durable than soft, your curtain rods won’t be seeing the same amount of use as, say, a couch. The one you choose comes down to which raw material you like the looks of best.
If you’re looking to match your wooden curtain rod to your decor and don’t like the raw, unfinished look, opt for a finished rod. These are painted or lacquered with a coat of color, such as cream, black, white, gold or natural.
Wood is a classy, organic element sure to brighten up any room that you’re decorating. Oak, ash and walnut are all popular choices for midcentury modern and boho decor. Cedar looks excellent in modern takes on rustic, country living.
Consider decorative aspects such as the finials and brackets. Fluting and ornamentation look best in classically inspired homes but might be a little loud for minimalist decor. In the latter case, consider understated finials or brass/copper end caps. This way, the material is the accent rather than the rod’s embellishments.
When purchasing a curtain rod, you need to measure your windows. Most are 24 inches by 24 inches. And a double window will be 48 inches wide, and so on. But check the rod against your own measurements to be sure, especially if you’re covering a casement window or bay window.
Most curtain rods telescope so that they can extend within a specified length range. You’ll want to err on the shorter end of that range to avoid sagging. A third, center bracket can help with structural rigidity. Remember to leave 3-5 inches on either side of your window for your curtain rod’s finials to show.
What kind of finials you choose is a matter of taste and decor. These decorative caps attach to either end of your curtain rod and typically add another one-half inch to 3 inches each. Classically inspired finials include such popular shapes as ball finials, pine cones, buds, pikes, square-urn shapes and hooks. More modern takes on the finial include simplified cylindrical, ball or square end caps.
Most curtain rods are capable of holding any curtain right off the shelf. The standard curtain rod holds about 5-20 pounds. That said, if you need a curtain rod that can hold blackout curtains or drapes, you’ll need to ensure that your curtain rod can bear that load. This means finding a wooden curtain rod with a weight capacity of at least 25 pounds to accommodate heavy fabrics.
Tension rods are particularly important. These can easily fall if your curtains are too heavy. A hearty pull or tug on your curtain can also be the straw that breaks the curtain rod’s back.
You can find a simple wooden curtain rod on a budget for about $25-$40. These are rare, however, and many are steel with faux wood finishes. If you’re looking for quality, authentic wood, expect to spend between $50-$120.
A. Your curtain rods will most likely come with brackets and sometimes even mounting hardware. If you’re hanging them in a location with studs (use a stud finder), you can either use the accompanying screws or your own wood screws. Drywall plaster is weak, so if you can’t find a stud, make sure to hang your curtain rods with anchors.
A. Wood is a very versatile material that can elevate just about any color or motif. Lighter woods are currently more popular when paired with primitive or minimalist patterns. Darker woods are great for anchoring rich or dark solid-color curtains.
Classic Home 72-inch Single Curtain Rod in English Walnut with Finial
What you need to know: This stately wooden curtain rod is decadent with a royally ornate crown finial.
What you’ll love: It comes in three sizes with two finishes: “English Walnut” and “Historical Gold.” The five-piece set comes with two resin finials, two brackets and the rod. This is a sturdy curtain rod capable of holding up to 25 pounds.
What you should consider: The Victorian look of this curtain rod might not fit in with modern and contemporary decors.
Where to buy: Sold by Home Depot
LTL Home Products 63-inch Single Curtain Rod in Classic White finish with Finial
What you need to know: Perfect for the home DIYer, this simple wooden curtain rod has all the trappings.
What you’ll love: This lightweight, budget-friendly wooden curtain rod comes in an off-white finish. If you’d like to apply your own finish, you’ll have to sand it down. The pole is long at 63 inches. So you’ll need to cut it down and predrill a new hole for the finial if it’s too big for your window. It comes with two finials and two brackets. It’s 1.1 inches in diameter and can hold 18 pounds. The understated look makes even the finish look good in contemporary interiors.
What you should consider: Users have found that the accompanying installation hardware is flimsy, so you should be prepared to buy your own wall anchors.
Where to buy: Sold by Home Depot
Alcott Hill Wood 1.375-inch Single Curtain Rod
What you need to know: Bring a little sophistication to your little cottage or roomy classical home with this fluted, decorative curtain rod.
What you’ll love: Featuring a simple ball final with a touch of ornamentation, this curtain rod will pair nicely with a vintage or antique aesthetic. It’s available in three finishes: mahogany, heritage oak (a golden ocher color) and white. It comes in three sizes and is thick at 1.375 inches in diameter.
What you should consider: The mounting brackets and finials must be purchased separately.
Where to buy: Sold by Wayfair
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Karl Daum writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
