Curtain headings: types, choosing and fitting tips

The pleats of a curtain decide the look of a room, and they affect the control of light and the insulation too. The fullness runs from 1.5× to 2.5×, depending on the type of heading, and the amount of fabric is worked out by a simple formula: the width of the track × the fullness.

What types of curtain heading are there?

Pencil pleat curtains form even, narrow pencil-shaped pleats, which look equally good open or closed. They suit classic and contemporary interiors alike.

A pinch pleat heading is a formal choice. The fabric is gathered in groups of 2–3 pleats, which gives a structured, tailored look. It suits living rooms and showpiece spaces.

A wave heading is a minimalist, modern choice. It forms even, soft waves with no sharp pleats. It needs a ceiling track with gliders and cannot be hung on a standard pole.

An eyelet heading is the simplest to fit. Metal rings are threaded straight onto the pole, forming loose, open folds. It suits a contemporary style. Goblet pleats are the most decorative option, each pleat shaped like a goblet. They suit living rooms and bedrooms.

Tape-headed or hand-pleated: which to choose?

A word on terms: heading tape is a woven tape with loops, sewn to the top of the curtain, not a wooden or plastic board. The type of tape decides how the pleats form and how the finished curtain looks.

With tape-headed curtains the pleats form automatically when a cord in the tape is pulled up. The tape makes even, fixed pleats with no extra effort. It is economical, quick and reliable, suits most windows, and is most popular where quick fitting and a uniform result matter.

With hand-formed pleats, each pleat is shaped and stitched by hand, one at a time. That gives a more exact shape, a deeper pleat and a better finish, but it takes longer and costs more.

When should you pay more for hand-formed pleats?

• —The fabric is dear and calls for pleats formed with great precision.
• —You want the effect of goblet pleats or a pinch pleat heading, with pleats of exactly the same depth.
• —The curtains hang in a showpiece space, where detail matters most.

How to choose a heading to suit the fabric

Heavy fabrics such as velvet or blackout need pleats that are further apart but deeper. Light fabrics such as voile (from €9.50 per metre) and soft voile (from €15 per metre) drape more softly and need pleats gathered more closely, so that the fabric does not hang flat.

Linen takes the middle position: it has a natural weight and texture, but without proper draping it can look lumpy. Linen curtains usually take French pleats, which bring out the natural texture of the fabric.

Fullness: how much fabric you need

Fullness is the number that shows how many times more fabric you need than the width of the track. The formula: width of fabric = width of track × fullness. For example, if the track is 300 cm wide and you choose a wave heading (2×), you will need 600 cm of fabric in width.

Fitting tips and the commonest mistakes

1. 1Measure the window: the track should run 20–30 cm past the window on each side, and a wall-fixed pole sits 10–15 cm above the frame, so that the curtains cover the window properly.
2. 2Choose the type of heading. It decides the track: a ceiling track for a wave heading, a wall-fixed pole for an eyelet or pinch pleat heading.
3. 3Work out the amount of fabric: the width of the track × the fullness.
4. 4Choose the fabric for its use: blackout for a bedroom, two layers for a living room, short curtains in a kitchen.
5. 5Fit the track: check that it is level, and use the right plugs for the type of wall.
6. 6Hang the curtains and form the pleats: shape the pleats before hanging, and leave the dressing set for at least 48 hours after hanging.

The commonest mistake is too low a fullness. Buyers who save on fabric get flat, unexpressive curtains. Tracks cost €5–95, and making is €8 per metre for sheers and €13 per metre for lined curtains, so it pays to buy the right amount of fabric from the start.