How can I install a curtain rod on a drywall?

Question

Originally I though this would be an easy process, however where I used to live all the houses are pure concrete, therefore something like this used to be relatively simple. My question is how can I attach a rod to a drywall?. I realize this questions might sound really ignorant, but please bear with me, I've never done anything with a drywall, I am currently living in the U.S., and my house like pretty much every other house here has drywalls.

It seems to me that if I just do it in the Drywall it will surely fall down, as it is not strong enough, my intuition tells me that behind the drywall there has to be some wood frame where presumably people attach the rods?. I do not have blue prints for my house, what would be a good way to know where I should install this rod?.

As a note the previous owner had curtain rods installed, but he removed them. So it is clear to me that this is possible, I just have no idea how.

This is a 2000 house that I just bought if that is relevant. Wood frame, brick veneer on the outside and drywall on the inside.

Any help, or perhaps good tutorials on how to do this, or what I need to buy would be really appreciated.

Answer 1

Typically most wood framed houses will have wood framing running from floor to ceiling on either side of the window. If you mount an inch and half away from the edge of the window opening you will most likely hit wood.

But the best way is to head to the store and buy a stud finder. It's a small hand held device that will find the wood/metal framing under the drywall. It's a handy item to keep around the house when ever you need to hang something that needs more support.

Answer 2

Use drywall anchors which come in many shapes and sizes. Select the one suitable for the load being applied.

For heavier loads, such as bookshelves, use a stud finder and attach the shelves through the drywall to the wood stud.