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A Hunker report describes an Instagram creator’s paper-template method for marking matching curtain rod bracket positions on either side of a window. The template uses the window trim as a guide, but the report does not provide independent testing or confirm how well the method works on different windows and wall surfaces.
Hunker has reported on a paper-template method shared by Instagram creator @stephanieboothhome to help homeowners mark matching curtain rod bracket positions on both sides of a window before drilling. The method uses the window trim as a reference, offering a way to transfer hole locations without repeatedly measuring or estimating the second bracket’s placement.
The template is made by overlapping two sheets of paper at a window’s upper corner: one sheet is aligned with the top of the trim, while the other meets the outside edge of the side trim. After taping the sheets together, the installer places a bracket where it should sit and marks its screw holes on the paper.
According to Hunker’s instructions, small openings are made at those pencil marks using a screw tip. The template can then be flipped and aligned with the corresponding top and outer edges of the trim on the other side of the window. Pencil marks through the openings indicate where to position the second bracket. The report also recommends checking the layout with a measuring tape and level.
The listed materials include a curtain rod and mounting hardware, paper, tape, a pencil and a drill. Hunker says to use wall anchors when the screws are not going into studs. The article also describes adapting the same basic idea to picture frames or shelves: mark their hanging hardware positions on paper, tape the template to the wall, and adjust the layout before marking holes.
Fewer Guesswork Marks on Walls
The method addresses a familiar installation problem: bracket positions must look balanced across a window, but small marking errors can leave a rod visibly uneven or require additional holes. A paper guide gives the installer a repeatable reference point for transferring the first bracket’s hole pattern to the other side.
That could be useful for people working alone, as the source report suggests, and for anyone planning wall-mounted decor. The practical benefit is not that paper replaces careful measurement; rather, it can make a layout easier to test and transfer before drilling. Fewer misplaced marks may mean less wall repair and a cleaner finished installation, though Hunker does not report measured results or testing of the technique.
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How the Trim Guides Placement
The approach depends on using the window’s top and outside trim edges as alignment references. The paper’s corner shape records where a bracket sits relative to those edges, then the flipped template carries that position to the opposite side. This is the core of the reported hack: transfer the hole locations instead of trying to recreate them from memory.
Hunker presents the technique as a home-decor tip from Instagram creator @stephanieboothhome, not as a tested product or formal installation standard. A level and tape measure remain useful because trim, walls and bracket placement can vary. The article also suggests saving templates for future decorating projects, although a saved template would only apply when its dimensions and reference points match the later installation.
“The paper helps transfer the bracket placement from one side of the window to the other, using the window trim as a guide.”
— Hunker, reporting on Instagram creator @stephanieboothhome
Fit Depends on the Window
The report does not say whether the creator tested the method on windows with uneven, unusually shaped or absent trim. Because the template relies on matching trim edges, its accuracy may depend on the window and wall. The article also provides no independent comparison with measuring each bracket separately, no performance data and no information about how the method works with different bracket designs.
It is also not clear from the source whether the Instagram post included additional precautions or variations beyond those described by Hunker. Readers should confirm the intended rod height and width for their own curtains and hardware, then check the marks before drilling. The report’s directions do not establish that the template alone will guarantee level brackets or a secure installation.
Check Before Drilling
For anyone trying the technique, the next step is to position the rod and brackets, make the template, and verify the proposed marks with a tape measure and level before drilling. Confirm that the chosen fasteners suit the wall and bracket; follow the hardware maker’s instructions, and use anchors where appropriate if the fasteners are not going into studs.
Hunker’s report does not announce a follow-up test, product release or further update. Whether the paper pattern is useful in a particular room will depend on the trim, wall and hardware, so the result remains a practical tip rather than a verified guarantee.
Key Questions
What does the paper-template curtain hack do?
It records the screw-hole positions for one curtain rod bracket and uses the window trim to transfer those positions to the opposite side.
What materials does the method use?
Hunker lists two sheets of paper, tape, a pencil, a curtain rod and mounting hardware. A drill is needed for installation; a measuring tape and level are recommended for checking the layout.
Does the template replace a level or measuring tape?
No. Hunker recommends keeping both nearby to double-check the placement. The template is a guide for transferring hole positions, not a substitute for checking the installation.
When should wall anchors be used?
Hunker says to use wall anchors if the screws are not being fastened into studs. Follow the mounting hardware instructions and choose fasteners suited to the wall and load.
Can the paper method be used for other wall decor?
Hunker says a similar paper template can help lay out picture frames or shelves by marking their hanging hardware positions and testing the arrangement on the wall before marking holes.
Source: hunker.com
