Curtain Decorating Idea
Choose a Style

Understand the terminology and discover how to choose a great style.

Whether you are buying your curtains ready-made from a store, or having them custom made for your room, it makes really good sense to have a good idea of the terminology that curtain makers and manufacturers use.

That way, you can get an idea of what you can expect your finished curtain to look like - always a good plan!

• Modern curtain headings are tab tops and eyelets - these give a contemporary look, and quite a slimline, smooth curtain, with no fullness, gathers, fussy or fancy bits.
• Standard curtains that are bought ready-made, are usually gathered or pleated, which will give you a 'normal looking full curtain.
• If you have your curtains made to measure, or employ the services of a curtain maker, there are some more unusual and formal headings, which you might want to consider for your curtain decorating idea. These will give your curtains a little bit of individuality and flair.

So, read on to reveal the mysteries of the different curtain headings, and discover what it all really means, and what it will mean for your curtain decorating idea from a practical point of view...

Tab Top Curtains
Eyelet Curtains
Gathered Curtain Headings
Pencil Pleat Curtains
Box Pleat Curtains
French Pleat Curtains
Cased or Slotted Heading Curtains
Goblet Curtain Headings
Flemish Curtain Headings
Smocked Curtain Headings

Choose your Curtain Decorating Idea

• Tab Tops are a modern and contemporary style, and actually very simple.


• The curtain is held onto the pole by small 'tabs' of fabric. These can match the curtain fabric, or sometimes can be a contrasting color, pattern or even leather - for a more interesting look.


• These curtains are quite cheap to buy, and really simple to fit - just slide the tabs onto a pole!


• I really recommend this style for a modern, reasonably priced, easy curtain choice.

• Again this is a modern and simple curtain decorating idea.


• The curtain pole fits through round eyelets, in the top of the curtain.


• Again this is cheap to buy and easy to fit.


• Another recommended style for an easy, modern curtain.

• Put simply, gathered headings are 'normal' curtains with a standard heading tape on the top. You pull the cords at the back, and gather the curtains into informal 'gathers' or loose pleats.


• These give quite a full curtain, with more fabric than the two styles above, but it is still an informal style, suited to a modern or traditional home.

• These are more formal gathers - longer, tightly packed 'pleats' at the top of the curtain.


• They are avery practical curtain decorating idea, but give a very neat, ordered finish, and plenty of fabric for a nice full curtain.


• They are quite a popular heading style, both for ready made curtains and custom made curtains.

• A pleated heading, but using wider, rectangular pleats.


• This is quite a formal look, and very smart and unusual, but it is quite smooth and minimal looking, so would suit a modern home really well.


• This curtain decorating idea would suit heavy fabrics really well.

• Another pleated style curtain heading. This time the pleats are arranged in groups of 3 pleats, alternating with larger flat areas.


• This is a very attractive and formal curtain decorating idea - but it can be very practical too - as the pleats mean that the curtain falls into very neat, ordered, full folds.

• This is a simple heading where a curtain pole or rail, simply slides into a plain 'slot' or 'tube of fabric' sewn into the curtain.


• The curtain gathers up naturally along the pole - it is an informal curtain decorating idea, and there are no formal 'gathers' actually sewn into the curtain.


• The curtain covers the pole, and is not really designed to open and close along the pole, but just to be held open by tie-backs.


• This style suits a lightweight fabric best - nothing too heavy or stiff - which might not gather up very well.


• Sheer fabrics are the best fabric for this curtain style, as a lot of the window is obscured in this style, and a heavier fabric would stop the light.

• These are a very unusual and interesting, formal, curtain decorating idea.


• The 'goblets' (I do have to admit I keep wanting to call them 'goblins,' which is something entirely different, but quite a funny mental image ... which I just had to share!) ... the 'goblets' are sewn fabric 'tubes' across the top of the window, which then have a contrasting fabric inside - which gives a really interesting and unusual effect.


• They are complicated to make, and to draw together - so this style only really suits curtains which can be left drawn together at the top (and opened by just pulling the fabric back onto tie-backs) or for valances.

• These are goblet pleats, as above, but with a cord or rope added, linking together each pleat at its base.


• Again, this is a complicated, but very attractive, formal curtain decorating idea - and should be treated as the goblet heading above.

• These are really complicated to sew (although I must admit, I haven't actually tried myself!), so if you are having smocked curtains made for you, they will most likely be quite expensive.


• They are a very attractive style though, and particularly suit pretty little cottage windows.

Click here for more help with choosing your interior design window treatments.

Click here for info on pelmets, drapes, swags, valances and tie backs - to get your perfect window treatment design idea.

Click here for a guide to measuring for window treatments.

Click here for a guide to buying and hanging window treatments

Click here for a guide to window treatment fabrics.

Still need more info? Look at my selection of window treatment books here!





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