Types of Curtains to Know When Choosing Window Treatments

Bare windows can make a room look sparse and unfinished. Window treatments, such as curtains, serve both functional and aesthetic purposes. They filter light, provide privacy, boost energy efficiency, and offer UV protection. Curtains also contribute to a room's character and ambiance. They provide a visual focal point. With their various lengths, materials, shapes, prints, and colors, curtains help set the tone and style of a room.

Selecting curtains for your space can be challenging because of their wide variety. You can buy them by single panel or in pairs. You can install, sew, or hang them in different ways to reach the desired fullness. Knowing the terms used to describe their shapes and forms can make the task much easier. This is a guide to the most common categories of curtains, what they mean, and why the differences matter.

How are curtains categorized?

There are various classifications of curtains, including single or double-panel. Single panels are made from a single piece of fabric and cover one window. The double panel includes two matching panels of fabric. Other classifications are made based on the following:

Pleats and headers

The top of the curtain, the header, can be pinched or strung through the rod. The pinching or pleats define your curtains' fullness, shape, and volume. Types of curtains under this category include pinch pleat, classic straight hem, goblet pleat, rod pocket curtains, grommet, tab-top, pencil pleat, and box pleat.

The most common types of pinches and their resulting pleats include:

Pleated panel: These hang uniformly, creating a timeless, elegant look. Create different fullness levels by bunching multiple fabric folds. They are ideal for living rooms and bedrooms.

Pinch pleat: This traditional style curtain is almost ubiquitous. They are thicker, heavier fabrics, and the pleats are stitched and pinched at the top to allow folds of the material to flow below for an elegant and formal look. Pinched curtains range from two-finger to five-finger pleats; more pleats give a fuller look. Use these curtains in living rooms and bedrooms.

Goblet pleat: The pleats on these curtains resemble a goblet or wine glass. Because of their delicate structure, goblet pleat curtains should remain stationary. Thus, they are ideal to frame and decorate windows for large, formal rooms with high ceilings.

Attachment style

What method will you use to hang the curtains? The main types of curtain attachments include rod pockets, grommets, tab tops, and ring tops. Popular curtain attachment styles include:

Rod Pocket: Also called pole curtains, these are typically made from lightweight fabrics. They consist of a curtain with a pocket sewn at the top, allowing the rod to thread through.

Grommet: Also known as eyelet curtains, these are ideal if you are going for a contemporary or modern design. The curtain fabric (panel) has round metal rings built into the top, allowing a thin curtain rod to be threaded through. The final pleats are large and even. They are an excellent choice for bedrooms or any other room where you need to regularly open or close the curtains.

Tab-top curtains have loops or tabs at the top where the rod threads through. Typically made from lightweight materials, they give a farmhouse or cottage appearance. While affordable, they are challenging to open and close; thus, they are best for use on windows you rarely open.

Opacity or exposure

How much light do you want your curtains to allow? Curtains will impact how much light gets into a room based on the material used and how it hangs. The light filtration levels of curtains vary depending on the fabric. The curtains under this category include sheers, semi-sheer, block out/blackout, and patterned. Popular types of curtains under this category include:

Sheers: These are pretty much see-through (made from materials such as voile and chiffon). They don't offer much privacy. However, because they are lightweight, they provide a beautiful flow and let in enough light, casting a soft, ethereal glow throughout a space.

Blackout/blockout: Also made from heavier materials, such as velvet and denim, with a thickly woven lining designed to block out light, allowing for complete darkness. They are the best choice for bedrooms or spaces where you want to create a dark environment. If some light is desired at different times, consider layering with sheers. Besides filtering out light blackout curtains, they can also help regulate temperature by keeping out drafts in the winter and hot air during summer.

Patterned curtains: These offer a great way to add visual interest to any space. You can use bold patterns to make a statement or subtle colors to tie the different elements of the room together. Patterned curtains are available in various styles and prints (floral to geometrical patterns)

Length 

Curtains are typically 48 inches wide. Standard curtain lengths are 63, 84, 96, or 108 inches. If your windows or doors are uniquely sized, you can always have them custom-made to fit.

Curtain length may also vary depending on the style or design of the curtains you choose. Common terms based on lengths include sill, apron, floor, puddle, and café curtains. The most popular include:

Sill-length: These are primarily found in kitchens, bathrooms, and other small windows above sinks and countertops—they hang such that the ends lie parallel to the window sill or above it.

Apron-length: These are designed to make small windows look longer. They are about 84 to 94 inches long.

Floor-Length: These are an ideal choice for floor-to-ceiling windows. They hang less than an inch above the floor. Floor lengths are about 96 to 107 inches long. This length is often called “float,” to describe the way they float just above the floor.

Puddle: These are an excellent choice for tall windows because they offer a dramatic look. They are designed to gather and pool on the floor for effortless extravagance. To create the pooling effect, purchase curtains that add 15 inches in the length from the rod to the floor. Typical sizes are 108+ inches.

Material or fabric

Curtains are available in various materials, including linen, velvet, cotton, polyester, rayon, acrylic, and silk. Each material has different characteristics, and accompanying pros and cons. The most common materials include:

Cotton: A natural fiber, cotton is soft, breathable, and moisture-wicking. Cotton curtains are lightweight and excellent for creating warm and comfortable environments. However, they are prone to wrinkling.

Linen: Also a natural fiber, linen is soft, breathable, and good at moisture absorption. It offers a sense of natural coolness. Linen curtains are light and airy and exude a fresh and natural decorative effect,

Velvet: This is a heavy material with dense, short piles and fine weaving. Velvet curtains have a smooth and soft surface, rich texture, and shine, creating an elegant and decorative effect. These curtains also offer insulation because they are thick and opaque.

What's most important to remember?

There's plenty to think about when selecting the right curtain style, including the room where they will hang, how much light you want, and the style or design of the home.

Remember, window treatments include more than just the curtains. Decorative hardware, such as rings, roads, and holdbacks, can coordinate to add visual interest and functionality to your space. And the curtains must work well with the complex treatments, like shutters, screens, and blinds. Together, they must compliment one another to leave a strong visual impression that frames the entire room.