Do not extend the curtain by habit
A short, wide window above a desk does not automatically need curtains running to the floor. The extra fabric may be hidden by furniture, caught by a chair or placed in front of a heater. Start with the room's arrangement rather than a general rule about making windows look taller.
A sill-length curtain keeps the fabric close to the opening. A below-sill finish can cover more of the surrounding wall, provided it clears any radiator and follows the heater's instructions. Full-length curtains remain an option when the wall below is unobstructed and the longer shape is something you want.
Watch the open stack
On a wide window, the amount of cloth gathered at the sides may be more important than the drop. If there is little wall beyond the glass, heavy fabric can cover a noticeable part of the daylight even when open. Check the pole's usable span and the curtain manufacturer's width guidance.
A small, regular print may read as texture, while a large motif can be cut off by the short drop. View the whole fabric repeat before ordering. The sample should show enough of the design to judge what a finished panel would contain.
The heading also changes the appearance. A broad eyelet fold and a gathered pencil pleat make different top lines. Confirm compatibility with the existing pole or track before choosing purely by style.
Measure around daily use
Open the window and move any desk chair or nearby cupboard door through its normal range. Check where the curtain will sit when closed and where the hem may move when drawn. A neat arrangement should not require clearing the whole desk each evening.
Keep window cords and chains safely managed using the supplied system instructions, particularly where a desk or bed could be climbed by a child. A shorter curtain does not remove operating-cord hazards.
Finally, look at the window from across the room. A short curtain can look deliberate when its colour and width relate to the opening and furniture. It does not need to apologise for failing to reach the floor; it needs to finish at a point that serves this room.
