Everything you need to know about custom made curtains

Custom made curtains are the hottest trend in window coverings at the moment. They provide a soft design element to complement the existing decor of any room, or alternatively can offer a contrasting statement to bring personality and ‘wow factor’ to a space. 

Curtains allow for greater interior design choices. With thousands of fabric options, varying in style, colour and texture — customers can align their aesthetic preferences with their home’s unique spatial requirements. Not only do curtains provide an added element of style, they offer the practicalities of privacy, light control and insulation.

Fabric Choice

Appearance

The fabric you choose obvioulsy has to be visually appealing, after all your investment in professional custom made custom curtains will last you for many years to come.

Some of the aesthetic considerations will relate to the style of your room, and the existing interior decor and furnishing in the space. Are you looking to complement the existing decor, or to create a contrast which provides a ‘wow factor’.

Neutral colours are great for calming a space already filled with colour or patterned soft furnishings

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Type of fabric

The choice of fabric will affect the way the curtain hangs and looks. Each fabric falls differently from an elevation and will therefore look different when installed and drawn back. Fabrics fall mainly into 2 cateories – natural fabrics and synthetic fabrics.

Natural fabrics like linen and cotton offer a beautiful soft finish, look stunning and hang superbly. However, they are both susceptible to shrinkage and will deteriorate over time, especially if exposed to excessive sunlight, or not properly maintained.

Synthetic fabrics like polyester, viscose and acrylic have become increasingly popular as the quality and range have improved. They can offer a similar look to natural fabrics, whilst being durable, easy to clean, fade resistant and a cost effective alternative.

Function

There is an endless range of fabrics for custom made curtains, however some fabrics are better suited than others to certain functional requirements.

What are the priorities for your curtains. Is it to protect furnishings from the harsh sunlight and UV, or is your focus on night time privacy. Maybe you want a curtain fabric with excellent insulation qualities to keep the room cool in summer and warm in winter.

We also have a range of acoustic fabrics which are specially designed to reduce sound and noise entering a room.

Blackout custom made curtain

Curtain Headers

What is a Curtain Header

The header is the top section of the curtain which attaches the curtain to the track or pole.

The choice of curtain header impacts on the look of the curtain, how the curtain hangs, and how the curtain stacks when open. The type of header also affects the fullness of the curtain and the amount of fabric that will be required to make the curtain.

The curtain header you choose will also need to be compatible with the track or pole from which the curtain will hang.

S-Fold Header

Currently the most popular and most requested curtain header. The S-Fold (or wave fold as it’s sometimes called) creates a beautiful wave like shape along the fabric.

It is perfectly suited to modern and contemporary homes, however with the right fabric selection and a decorative track, it can work equally well in a more traditional home.

Spacial considerations

Some headers require more space than others because of how the fabric will hang and stack. If floor space is an issue, this needs to be factored into your decision.

S-Fold headers allow the fabric to stack neatly to the side when opened, however they will extend out close to 10cm from the wall or window behind them due to the wave effect.

Pencil pleat headers however require minimal space when closed, but will bunch more than an S-fold when opened.

Curtain length

Form and function

The finished length of your custom made curtains will impact greatly on the overall look.

Generally, curtains are made to be either full length, or to be puddling on the floor. When deciding on the right length (or drop as it’s also referred to), it is important to give equal consideration to functional practicalities such as cleaning and ease of use.

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Full length

A full length curtain should sit just above the floor level. This enables the curtain to hang fully from its elevation, prevents the bottom of the curtain becoming dirty when its opened and closed, and is easier to control as there is no friction between the curtain and the floor covering.

Puddling

Puddling is the the term used to describe when a curtain which is made longer than required, so that the excess fabric ‘puddles’ on the floor. This is a very popular trend at the moment and creates a beautiful, soft and relaxed feel for a room.

Particularly useful when trying to disguise issues with floor levels running out, or windows being out of square.

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Sheer, Blockout, unlined

Sheer Curtains

Sheer curtains are a popular window furnishing solution due to their aesthetic range and suitability for a wide range of spaces.

Made from lightweight fabrics, sheer curtains filter bright light into a room, offering a level of daytime privacy and creating a feeling of relaxed elegance

If night time privacy is required, a second track can be installed behind the sheer, from which a lining curtain can be hung.

Blockout Curtains

Blockout / Blackout curtains are designed to do just that – block the light from the room to provide the highest level of privacy and room darkening capability.

The blockout is achieved by using either a blockout fabric, or by making a fully lined curtain. A blockout fabric has a special coating applied to the back of it during the manufacturing process, which prevents light from penetrating the fabric.

Fully lined curtains consist of a feature fabric at the front, which has a separate lining attached to the back of it during the curtain manufacturing process.

Unlined Curtains

Unlined curtains consist of just a feature fabric. The amount of light control depends upon the density of the fabric selected. This type of custom made curtain allows for greater privacy and light control than sheer curtains, and is a cost effective window furnishing solution when full blockout is not required.

Tracks, Fittings and Controls

Style aesthetic

Curtain tracks are a functional requirement for all curtains, which can be either minimised or maximised depending on the style of the room.

A contemporary space often suits a white ceiling mounted track that will recede into the colour of the ceiling, leaving the curtain to be the ‘hero’ on its own. In a more traditional home, a decorative track can be chosen to co-ordinate with other hardware items in the room (handles, switches etc.), to make the track a key component of the finished look.

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Compatability

The curtain track must be compatible with the header on the curtain to be hung.

An S-fold curtain will not fit on a standard track, just as a pencil pleat header will not fit onto an S-fold track.

Control options

Options include corded, hand traversed and motorised.

A corded track has a looped cord at one end which moves the curtains back and forth when pulled. Hand traversed tracks use a flick stick to manually move the curtain – usually best suited to light weight fabrics or sheers.

Full motorisation is also available using remote controls, and the option for a smartphone app and home assistant connectivity.

Where to fit

Where the track is fitted impacts greatly on the end result. A ceiling mounted track allows the curtain to hang the full height of the room, which in turn elongates its appearance.

It’s important not to just focus on the window being covered, sometimes it’s necessary to look beyond the purely functional to find the best location for a track. Extending the track and curtain from wall to wall can give a more dramatic effect, and again make the room visually larger.

Experience

Your custom made curtain questions answered by the experts at Evans Curtains and Blinds

When can I expect my custom-curtains to be ready?
Custom-curtains generally take around 8 weeks from the time you accept your quote, through to the day we come and install them.

The exact time will depend largely upon your fabric choice, and its availability within Australia. We have a range of over 5000 different types of quality fabrics which are sourced from leading manufacturers across the world. The major fabric houses maintain good stock levels locally,  however they may occasionally run out of stock, whilst waiting for new shipments to arrive from overseas. Due to current circumstances, influenced by the pandemic, shipping of fabric may take longer than usual.

How long do custom made curtains last?
In terms of longevity, this really depends on the fabric, location, and how often the curtains are cleaned. When dust particles are allowed to build up on the fabric, they eventually lead to a deterioration in the fabric, as well as changing its aesthetic appearance. Professionally made curtains, with a well chosen fabric that are regularly maintained will easily last for 12 years plus. From our years of experience, we’ve seen customers with curtains that are over 20 years old that are in perfect condition.
What types of curtain headers are available?

The header is the top section of the curtain which attaches the curtain to the track or pole. The choice of curtain header affects the look of the curtain, how the curtain hangs, and how the curtain stacks when closed. The choice of curtain header can also impact on the type of track or pole needed to hang the curtain.

The most commonly used headers for custom made curtains are Pencil Pleat, S-Fold and Pinch Pleat. Other popular varieties often used in ready made curtains include Tabs and Eyelets.

Want to learn more about selecting Curtain Headers? Read more here: Curtain Heading Styles Explained

What length should my custom made curtain be?

Length is an important factor that needs to be considered when planning for your custom curtain. The length of the finished curtain impacts on the overall look, as well as things like easy of use, cleaning and room functionality Our expert team can help you come to the right decision during our custom quote and measurement

Curtain length considerations and options:

Full-length curtains:

A full length curtain should sit just above the floor level. This enables the curtain to hang fully from its elevation, prevents the bottom of the curtain from becoming dirty when it’s being opened and closed, while allowing from greater control as there is no friction between the curtain and the floor covering.

Puddled Curtains:

Puddled curtains are made longer than required and are designed to naturally ‘puddle’ on the floor. This is a very popular trend at the moment and creates a beautiful soft and relaxed feel for a room. This length is particularly useful if the customer needs to hide an issue with their floor level running out, or their window being out of square.

Please note: Puddled curtains may not be the best choice in high traffic areas where the pooling could cause a trip hazard, or in areas where young children are running around.

How do I clean my custom made curtains?

Different fabrics have different cleaning requirements to ensure their longevity, and to keep them looking their best.

Low maintenance fabrics like synthetics can generally be machine washed providing they are not lined. This is great for people with allergies or pets who need to clean their curtains more regularly.

High maintenance fabrics, or any curtains which are pleated, are best dry cleaned so that they maintain their colour and shape.

All fabrics will benefit from regular vacuuming to remove surface dust, which if left can lead to deterioration in the fabric.

All our custom curtains are supplied with ‘care instructions’ which detail the cleaning process for that particular fabric.

Custom curtains represent an investment in your home that should last for many years. So get in touch with the experts and let our experienced team guide you through the process.

Contact

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Opening Hours : Monday – Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm

Showroom : 3/1 Rosella Street, Frankston, VIC, 3199. Mon 10am to 3.30pm, Tue-Fri 9.30am to 3pm

By appointment at all other times

Contact us : 1300 304 347