How to Hang Curtain Lights on Windows, Walls, Bedrooms and Balconies

Curtain lights look simple: one top wire with strands hanging down. But how you hang curtain lights decides whether they look like a neat sheet of light or a tangled mess. This guide covers the four places people hang them most (windows, walls, bedrooms and balconies), with methods that work for renters and do not need a drill.

Before you start: measure and plan

1. Measure the width you want to cover. Curtain lights look best when the strands hang straight, so choose a size close to that width rather than the biggest one.
2. Measure the drop. If the strands are longer than the space, they will pile up at the bottom; on a window, a sill can hide a little extra length.
3. Find the socket first. Note where the plug, adapter or controller will sit and how long the lead cable is. Planning this avoids stretching cables across a walkway.
4. Check the weight. Most curtain lights are light, but the controller adds weight at one end. Pick hooks rated for more than the total.

You will usually need: removable adhesive hooks or clips, a tape measure, and optionally a tension rod or small cable clips.

How to hang curtain lights on a window

• On a curtain rod: drape or clip the top wire along the rod, behind your normal curtains. This is the quickest method and leaves no marks.
• With a tension rod: fit a tension rod inside the window frame and hang the top wire from it. It is ideal for windows without a rod.
• With adhesive hooks: place small clear hooks along the top of the frame, about 20–30 cm (8–12 in) apart, and hook the top wire onto them.

Keep the strands a few centimeters (about an inch) from the glass so the lights are clearly visible from outside and you get fewer reflections inside. Our indoor Christmas window lights guide has more on making a window display stand out from the street.

How to hang curtain lights on a wall

1. Mark the top line lightly with a pencil or a strip of painter's tape so it is level.
2. Stick adhesive hooks along that line, spaced so the wire does not sag between them.
3. Hang the top wire, then let each strand drop straight. On textured walls, use hooks designed for textured surfaces or a slim wooden batten fixed with removable strips.
4. Tuck the lead cable along the skirting board with cable clips.

Curtain lights for the bedroom

• Behind a sheer curtain: hang the lights on the rod first and the sheer in front; the fabric softens the light into a glow.
• Behind the headboard: a wall section above the bed is a popular spot. Keep cables away from where you sleep and out of reach of children and pets.
• As a canopy: hang the top wire from a ceiling rod or hooks so the strands fall around the bed.
• Use a timer or remote so you can switch the lights off without getting up, and choose warm white or slow effects for the evening.

How to hang curtain lights on a balcony or outdoors

Clip the top wire along the balcony railing with clear clips or small zip ties, with the strands on the side facing out. Check the water rating first: IP44 is fine under a balcony roof, while spots exposed to rain need IP65 or higher. Keep plugs, adapters and controllers dry, ideally indoors. Our apartment balcony guide covers balcony safety in detail.

Curtain lights beyond Christmas

Curtain lights are not only for December:

• Halloween: orange and purple tones, or a pixel curtain showing pumpkins and bats, turn a window into a spooky display.
• Parties and photo backdrops: a curtain behind a dessert table or photo corner gives an even, flattering glow.
• Year-round décor: warm white behind a sheer curtain works as soft ambient light in a living room or bedroom.

Removing curtain lights without damage

Take the lights down before removing the hooks. Pull adhesive hooks off by stretching the release tab slowly, parallel to the wall, not outward. Then lay the curtain flat, fold the strands together in one direction and roll them around a piece of cardboard so they do not tangle in storage.

Our pick for an animated curtain

We are affiliated with Lumalyn. If you want a curtain that also plays pictures and messages, the Lumalyn Smart Animated Balcony Lights come with clear hooks, run on 5 V USB power (wall adapter not included) and include a remote and app with timers. For a simple warm glow, any plain curtain light hangs with the same methods.