What does drapery puddling mean? 

Puddling refers to the amount of extra drapery length that is spilled or pooled onto the floor. It serves as a decorative aesthetic in a formal living space. 

Levels of puddling 

Joseph Ashe offers three levels of puddling.

Tailored - A clean look that just touches the floor.

Soft - A slight spill onto the floor, giving a more relaxed look. 

True - A more formal and elegant look where the drapes fan out onto the floor. 

The soft and true puddles are recommended for drapes that will not be opened and closed frequently or for static drapery. 

Calculating drapery length to accommodate puddling 

Accurate measuring is essential. Once you have measured from the bottom of the hardware rod to the floor the following would need to be added to calculate the correct length for the desired look. 

Tailored - Nothing to add to achieve this look

Soft - Add 3 inches to achieve this look

True - Add 6 inches to achieve this look