Curtain headings might seem like a small detail to consider when you are decorating a room. However, the type of curtain heading that you choose will have a significant impact upon the way that your curtains will fall. The type of heading will impact the amount of light that pass through the curtains, and will even impact the mood that the curtains will create within the room.
If you choose the wrong type of curtain heading, your beautiful new curtains may end up looking limp and awkward. However, if you choose the right curtain heading for your space, your curtains will appear tailor, generous, and in perfect proportion to one another. A curtain heading is the top treatment that is used to attach the curtains to the pole or track.
The type of heading will dictate the silhouette of the curtains, the fullness of the curtains, and how easy it is to draw the curtains back. By learning the different types of headings for curtains, you will no longer be guessing what type of heading to choose when you are at the fabric store or when you are shopping online for curtains. You will be able to easily determine which type of heading will best suit the windows within your home, your lifestyle, and the feeling that you would like to fill the room with.
The different types of curtain headings range from those that are crisp and modern to those that are more soft and romantic in their appearance. Some types of headings is best suited for formal sitting rooms in the house, while other types of headings are better for other, more busy area of the family home. The following section of this article will provide a look at the different types of curtain headings that are worth knowing about, starting with the most common types of headings and moving to the more specialized types.
Common Types of Curtain Headings to Know
1. Grommet Headings
Grommet headings use metal or plastic rings that are punched through the fabric of the curtains. These rings allow for the pole to pass through the curtains to allow the curtains to glide on the pole, and they allow for the curtains to create even folds throughout their length. This type of curtain heading is often used in contemporary lofts or in apartments that has a minimalist design.
The clean lines of grommet headings allow for the fabric of the curtains to be the stars of the room. Because the rings allow for the curtains to automatically form gathers in the fabric, there is less fabric that is needed to create the curtains with grommet headings. This can help reduce the cost of the curtains.
However, grommet headings work only with curtains that have poles and not tracks. The rings can make a clattering noise when the curtains are yanked open quick. However, gliding rings can be used in place of grommet headings for bedrooms to avoid this clattering noise.
2. Pencil Pleat Headings
Pencil pleat headings are perhaps one of the most popular types of curtain headings. There are a variety of reason that pencil pleat headings are so popular. The tape that is added to the heading pulls the fabric of the curtains into pencil-thin pleats.
You can adjust the tightness of these pleats by pulling on the cords of the curtain to pull the pleats tighter together or to allow them to be looser. The cords can be tied to attach the curtains to the tracks or the poles in the room. Pencil pleat headings can be used in a variety of fabrics, and they are appropriate for both a kitchen or a formal dining room.
Because the pleats allow the curtains to stack back against the wall when the curtains are drawn back, there is very little loss of the width of the window that is opened by the curtains. The pleats are relatively small and regular in size, making them a calm design element in the room. For these reasons, pencil pleat headings have remained a fashion accessory for curtains for many decade.
3. Tab Top Headings
Tab top headings use strips of fabric that are sewn into the curtains at regular intervals. The pole passes through these tabs to allow the curtains to create even spaces between the tabs. This type of curtain heading has a somewhat rustic appearance, which makes it ideal for bedrooms, childrens rooms, or other cabins that may be visited on the weekends only.
Because the tabs are visible from the top of the curtains, the fabric should be chosen accordingly. You might choose the fabric to complement the main curtain or to contrast to the main curtain. Because the tabs do not allow for the curtains to slide as easily as curtains with grommet headings or pencil pleat headings, tab top headings are best for curtains that may remain in place throughout the day.
However, tab top headings require the use of poles for the curtains rather than tracks.
4. Double Pleat Headings
Double pleat headings, also known as pinch pleats, are used to create deeper pleats in the curtains than the pencil pleat heading. The double pleat heading provides the curtains with a tailored appearance that is best for heavier fabric.
These types of headings are often recommended for living rooms where an element of formality and elegance is desired. The main advantage of using double pleat headings over pencil pleat headings is that less fabric is needed to create the double pleat. Double pleat headings require only around 1.5 to 2 times the width of the window for the fabric of the curtains, as opposed to 2.5 or 3 times the width of the window with pencil pleat headings.
This can save money on the curtains if the fabric is particularly expensive. Additionally, the double pleat heading allows the curtains to effectively disappear into the sides of the room when the curtains are open during the daylight hours, providing more light and view into the room.
5. Triple Pleat Headings
Triple pleat headings, also known as three pleat headings, are similar to double pleat headings, but with three pleats in the curtains.
The three pleat headings allow for the curtains to have a fuller appearance to the top of the curtain panel. This extra pleat also allows for the curtains to catch the light in different ways and to cast different shadows across the curtains. Three pleat headings are best used in traditional homes or country homes.
The three pleat heading for curtains requires more fabric than the double pleat heading. Additionally, more money is required to purchase the amount of fabric for the three pleat heading, and there is more space required for the curtains to be stacked when they are open. However, the three pleat heading allows the curtains to have a luxurius drape to them.
If the curtains use a bold print, the three pleat heading will even allow the print to be broken up in a way that it does not overwhelm the space in the room.
6. Eyelet Headings
Eyelet headings are similar to the grommet heading for curtains in that both types of headings use rings to allow the curtain panels to slide on the pole. However, the eyelet headings use fabric rings rather than metal rings.
It is common for the curtains to have a border of fabric that coordinates with or contrasts to the remaining curtain fabric. This type of heading is similar to the grommet heading but with a more natural alternative to metal. Because you hand make the eyelets on the curtains instead of being punched through the fabric with a machine, eyelet headings for curtains are best for smaller quantities of curtains or for curtains that are made to measure for an individual space.
The diameter of the pole must match the size of the eyelet on the curtains; otherwise, the curtains will sag when they are hung.
7. Cartridge Pleat Headings
Cartridge pleat headings allow for the curtains to have rounded pleats that stand away from the rest of the curtain panels. This type of heading allows the curtains to have an architectural look and feel, and for that reason they are best for modern rooms throughout the house or for any room where the curtains are to have a sculptural appearance.
Cartridge pleat headings use stiff fabric or paper tubes that are punched or cut into the panels of the curtains. You remove these tubes once the curtain panels have been sewn together around the edges. This type of heading requires less fabric than a pencil pleat heading because the pleats with cartridge headings are spaced further apart than the pencil pleat heading.
Additionally, the rounded pleats with cartridge headings catch less dust than curtains with gathered headings. This makes them ideal for cities or apartments with individuals that have allergies to dust. However, the only downside to using cartridge pleat headings is that they work best with fabrics that are plain or have a subtle texture to them.
Busy prints on the curtains may work against the rounded pleats with the curtains.
8. Wave Headings
Wave headings are a relatively recent innovation in the world of curtain headings. These types of headings were designed with moddern track systems in mind.
The tape that is added to the curtains creates soft and even ripples in the curtains when the curtains are drawn. These waves in the curtains remain even from edge to edge when the curtains are drawn. This type of heading is perfect for modern rooms and for any room where a modern look is desired.
Additionally, wave headings work best with sheer or lightweight curtains. The tracks for these types of headings must be specifically designed for curtains with wave headings; otherwise, they will not glide properly on the pole. Additionally, once you have installed these tracks for the curtains, they will glide almost silently on the tracks and will have a slim profile when drawn.
This makes them perfect for narrow hallways or rooms with small windows.
9. Scalloped Headings
Scalloped headings cut a curve into the curtains, creating a look to the curtains that is both romantic and feminine in nature. This type of heading was very common in Victorian homes.
It is still common in bedrooms or dressing rooms in the modern day. Because the scallops are cut into the fabric of the curtains, there is no way to adjust the fullness of the scallops once the curtains have been hung. Because of this, measurements must be taken carefully when using scalloped headings.
Additionally, this type of heading is best for curtains that remain in place in the room, or that are drawn only occasionally. If the curtains are expected to be open and closed multiple times within a day, the scalloped edge may become uneven. Finally, scalloped headings require the use of poles for the curtains rather than tracks.
The type of heading that you choose for your curtains will do more for your curtains than most people realize. However, by learning how each type of heading will work with each type of fabric, and by how each type of heading will work in each type of room in the house, you will be able to purchase your curtains with confidence. Whether you visit any fabric showroom or browse the best curtain stores online, there is a heading for every type of curtain and every type of fabric.
By taking the time to learn about each heading, you will spot the one that would best suit your space for your curtains right away. Your curtains will hang better with the proper heading. Additionally, with the proper heading, your curtains will last longer and will have an appearance that money and expensive fabric purchases for your curtains.
