Curtains are an essential consideration in any room’s designs. Whether they blend into your carefully constructed decor or shock the room with a fabulous stand-out pattern, your curtains frame your home, so it’s important to consider their effect.
Whether you plan for your curtains to be stylish, cozy, quirky, or other, it’s imperative to understand the curtains heading. A curtain heading can change the feel of your curtain, and most have some important practicalities to consider.
Different Types of Curtain Tops
Take a look below to find out which type of curtain heading will suit your style best.
1. Wave
Wave curtain headings have been growing in popularity in recent years because of their chic, effortless appearance. As the name suggests, these curtain headings create a beautiful wave effect on the curtain.
If you’ve ever worried about pleats ruining the design of your curtains, this curtain heading is the answer to your prayers. The wave curtain’s minimal pleating makes it ideal for showing off bold and exciting colors, patterns, or fabrics.
Wave curtains also use a discreet track that can be fitted into the ceiling. This makes it easy to fit stunning floor-to-ceiling length curtains that give a black-out effect and stand out in the room.
However, something to consider is that wave curtains can only be used with wave tracks, which can be more expensive than non-wave alternatives. In addition, wave headings create a look best suited to be a floor-length curtain and can look strange if short.
2. Tab Top
Any fans of vintage houses here? If so, you’re going to love tab top curtains.
Tab top curtains use loops of fabric that wrap around the rail to hang the curtain. This heading type has existed since before track systems were invented, which is why they’re perfect for anyone who’s going for a more vintage feel.
The simplicity of this curtain type also makes it more practical and accessible. They’re easy to hang up yourself, are the most inexpensive curtain type, and come in many different colors, fabrics, and styles.
Tab top curtains are also a great option if you’re looking for display curtains. They’re lightweight but wear quickly if they’re opened and closed frequently. This makes them more suited to being display curtains that are used less often to optimize their appearance.
3. Eyelet
Eyelet curtains are another popular style, loved for their modern and contemporary look.
For those looking for curtains that allow rays of sunlight to peek through, this curtain type is a fun addition to your living room.
These versatile curtain headings are easy to put up and take down by yourself, and they look stunning in most colors, fabrics, and patterns. This is because their wave-like structure doesn’t distort the motifs.
One type of fabric you should stay away from for eyelet curtains, however, is embroidered fabrics. This is because the embroidery can fray around the eyelets.
This curtain style can also only be hung from a straight metal pole. If you already have a different track fitted, selecting a curtain option that matches your track is advised. Something else to also consider is that over time, eyelets may scratch your poles more than curtain rings would.
4. Gathered 1″ Tape
Gathered 1″ tape headings, also known as cottage pleats, have a soft and traditional appearance. They use a one-inch tape a few inches below the top and look great on curtains with a shorter drop.
Cottage pleats look best in sweet and simple gingham or floral prints and best suit a traditional country house’s kitchen or bedroom. If you want to give your room a more informal and cozy feel, then this style is a match made in heaven.
This heading style is also very versatile and can easily be found in shops and used with either tracks or poles. In addition, this style can be gathered based on the width of your window, so you don’t need to get it made to measure either.
5. Double or Triple Pinch Pleat
For a more sumptuous elegance, the triple pinch pleat curtain is a feast for the eyes. This style uses more fabric and must also be hand-made, which gives it a more tailored and luxurious appearance.
These types of curtain headings are the most eye-catching of the list and look especially striking in lounges or master bedrooms. They also look fantastic in all fabrics, but it is advisable to keep the pattern plain. The creases in these types of curtains can make an elaborate design look distorted.
Triple pinch pleat curtains can also be used with a pole or tracks. As they have a more full appearance, the pole or track used needs to be a good distance away from the wall to allow for enough space behind.
Something to also keep in mind is that they have a fixed, sewn-in heading, so you must measure your track accurately.
Due to their hand-made nature, triple pinch pleat curtains are the priciest among the curtain types. However, if you’re sold on the style but need a lower cost, you can opt for double-pinch pleated curtains; they require less gathering and are more inexpensive to make.
6. Pencil Pleat
Pencil pleat curtains are a timeless classic. They’re the most popular curtain type, and for a good reason too.
This versatile style looks stylish in various fabrics and can be used on both tracks and poles.
This heading looks fantastic in any room at any length. So whether you want a short curtain or floor-length curtain for your kitchen or lounge, pencil pleats are sure to look stylish and suitable.
Despite their popularity, pencil pleat curtains are also very affordable.
One drawback you may find with pencil pleat curtains is how much space they take up. Due to the ruching of the fabric, when drawn back, it uses more space than other styles.