Custom drapery can be very expensive and hanging on your own can seem daunting, but here are a few simple tricks to make drapery look high end at a fraction of the cost: 1 - Use drapery rings and hooks - doing this instead of putting the rod directly through the fabric gives a much nicer look, and they are easier to use this way! Most vendors offer a ring to coordinate with the rod you choose (Amazon is great) - I recommend the eyelet style ring, not the clip 2 - install the rod as close to the ceiling as possible - this will give the impression that your windows are larger & ceilings are higher than they are 3 - extend the rod out longer than the width of the window, so that when they are open they don’t block light. This also helps your windows feel larger and is a better look overall 4 - choose the right material - this depends on what room you are doing - I prefer the look of a sheer linen fabric with some variation in color, and I opt for an off white or soft beige over a stark white (whites can sometimes look cheap with low grade fabrics) If you need to block light completely for a bedroom, I would stick to these guidelines above, but just make sure there is a blackout lining included! If you have any other good tips or tricks, let me know in the comments!