Curtains & Fabrics

Start with how much light you want

Before anything else, answer one question: how much light should come through when the curtain is closed? That answer sets the fabric category, and it is rarely the same for every room in the same house.

• Sheers — let light through softly and give daytime privacy, not night-time privacy
• Semi-sheers — filter light noticeably without darkening the room
• Décor weights — dense fabrics with body, for real light control and better acoustics
• Blackout — cut light almost entirely; the obvious choice for bedrooms

The heading changes the whole look

Two curtains made from the same fabric look completely different depending on the heading. It decides how deep the folds fall, how much fabric is needed, and how the curtain stacks at the edge of the opening.

Fabric quantity is measured as a multiple of the width: the larger the multiple, the richer the fold — and the higher the cost. It is the most common reason two quotes differ for no visible reason.

• Wave — a continuous, even ripple; a clean contemporary line
• Pinch pleat — a classic fold with a defined head, more formal
• Gathered tape — a simple gather, economical and flexible
• Eyelet — the fabric hangs from visible rings on a pole

The track decides whether it still works in five years

The part nobody looks at on a quote is the part that fails first. A heavy curtain on a light track binds, the user pulls harder, and the runners break.

The track is chosen from the weight of the fabric and the width of the opening, not from the price list. A layered solution — sheer in front, décor behind — needs a double track, which in turn needs depth allowed for in the curtain recess.

Measuring and fitting

Most curtain problems start with a bad measurement. We measure on site, because the drop from track to floor is rarely identical across the width of an opening — and a two-centimetre discrepancy shows.

The measurement is also where we decide where the curtain stops: just clear of the floor, brushing it, or breaking on it. That is an aesthetic choice with practical consequences for cleaning.

How much fabric does my opening need?

It depends on the heading. A simple gather takes less fabric than a wave with a generous fold. We calculate it at the measurement and itemise it in the quote, so you can see what you are paying for.

Can a curtain go up without drilling the wall?

In some cases yes, with tension mechanisms or a fixing to the frame. They will not hold heavy fabrics, though, and they do not suit wide openings. We assess it on site.

Can curtains be washed at home?

Most modern fabrics wash at 30°C on a delicate cycle, without softener. Linen and some décor weights need dry cleaning. Always follow the label — one wrong wash can shrink a curtain far enough that it no longer reaches the floor.