What are the Different Types of Curtains
Different types of curtains can offer benefits and styles to suit different rooms in your house. Here are the different types of curtains, what each looks like and how to choose curtains so you can get the perfect style for your home.
The dictionary defines a curtain as: a piece of material suspended at the top to form a scree n, typically movable sideways along a rail and found as one of a pair at a window.
The first curtains were introduced into the homes of the rich in the 15th century, and up until then, fabrics were used for wall hangings and on beds. In England, curtains began to replace wooden shutters towards the end of the 16th century. The earliest form of window treatments were leather panels threaded onto iron rods. These were eventually replaced with woven wool panels.
The different styles of curtains you choose may vary depending on the windows in your home, the style you want to achieve and the fabric you’re choosing.
Table of Contents
The Victorians tended to use heavy living room curtains often in several layers – this was used as protection from drafts in houses where there were gaps around windows and doors allowing cold air to enter rooms.
Our made to measure curtains are available in the following styles, with the following pleat styles.
Double and Triple Pleats
These are decorative curtain headings fitted to each window with permanent sewn-in pleats for a luxurious, tailored look; also known as ‘pinch pleats’. This style of heading is recommended for more formal rooms, maybe a dining room or smart sitting room. Double pleats are a little more contemporary than triple pleats. Both have the benefit of several different hook positions, allowing you to alter the length of the curtains if necessary, and can be used with poles and tracks. It is important to carefully measure your track or pole as the curtains are made to an exact fit. It is also easier to put up the pole or track before measuring if possible.
Pencil Pleat Curtains
This curtain heading consists of a 3 inch tape with three rows of string threaded through it for three hook positions to suit all types of track and pole. These are curtains with hooks and are called pencil pleat curtains.
It is so called because fabric folds are gathered closely together when the strings are pulled up to resemble a row of pencils laid side by side. This heading has the benefit of being adjustable in the width if you move house, or want to adapt them to suit a different window in your home.
Cottage Pleat Curtains
This heading will give you an informal gathered look, ideal for use in a kitchen or bedroom. A cottage pleat heading can be used with tracks or poles and can be gathered to suit the required width of your window. These are also curtains with hooks and are called cottage pleat curtains.
In these photos you will see the heading created with two of our depth options: 5cm or 10cm. This is my favourite heading being soft and romantic.
LHS is a 5cm Cottage Pleat header, with the RHS as 10cm.
Flop Over Frill Curtains
This heading will give you an informal gathered look, ideal for use in a kitchen or bedroom. A cottage pleat heading can be used with tracks or poles and can be gathered to suit the required width of your window. In these photos you will see the heading created with a 1″ tape and 18″ frill.
How do I decide how to line my curtains?
All curtains come with a good quality ivory lining in 100% cotton, also you can add a warm interlining, (made with 72% cotton and 28% other fibre), for insulation and a more luxurious, ‘full’ look; this is what we call ‘bump’. We have a thinner version of the interlining available for Roman Blinds and Curtains, called ‘domette’.
Should you wish to eliminate light, we also offer blackout lining. Lastly, we can also make your curtains with a contrast lining in any one of our other fabrics, Simple Ticking Detail is a particularly suitable design.
We sell fabrics exclusively designed by Vanessa Arbuthnott, along side small, bespoke collection of Made to Measure items which includes curtains, blinds, sofas, footstools, chairs, headboards, and quilts, all handmade specially for you by master crafts people.
