Short or long curtains for short windows?

Contemporary Dining Room by Carlsbad Interior Designers & Decorators Klang & Associates

and

Traditional Bedroom by Savannah Interior Designers & Decorators Joel Snayd

Contemporary Bedroom by Other Metro Photographers Colin Cadle Photography

The first two I like better--they HANG the curtains way up and to the outside of the window and it works for short windows this way. This third pic above I do not like the way it looks. Below is another one like the top two: 

Traditional Dining Room by Minneapolis Interior Designers & Decorators Design By Lisa

however this one below appears to work and it doesn't do what these top two do

Farmhouse Bedroom by Other Metro Media & Bloggers Adrienne DeRosa

Contemporary Bedroom by Aspen Interior Designers & Decorators Paxton Lockwood

Note how high they hang the curtains again--I like this idea

Eclectic Dining Room

Eclectic Living Room by San Francisco Interior Designers & Decorators Antonio Martins Interior Design

Traditional Kids

Traditional Bedroom by Mill Valley Interior Designers & Decorators EJ Interior Design, Eugenia Jesberg

Contemporary Kids by Sacramento Interior Designers & Decorators Kerrie L. Kelly

Here are some beige type wall stuff:

Traditional Dining Room by Grandville Interior Designers & Decorators Dwellings

Contemporary Living Room by Edina Photographers Sethbennphoto