5 Things You Should Know About Curtains

Many of us make the mistake of focusing on the pretty, pretty fabrics of our curtains, without giving much thought to the bit at the top. This curtail piece of window-dressing real estate is called the heading and apart from fabric choice, it is the most important part of a pair of curtains. The heading determines how the curtains will hang, and has a huge impact on the look and style you will end up with. For example, if you’re going for a sleek and modern look, there’s no better heading than a Wave that glides effortlessly along a track. If you’re a traditionalist, then the Goblet is the heading for you. Conveniently, Stitched offer 7 different headings, which can all be customised with a different pole or track, depending on your style.

A common mistake is forgetting to account for what those in the Curtain trade call ‘stack back’. No-one wants their curtains to block the light from their windows when they are open, which is why it’s so important to make sure you’ve got enough room for the curtains to open right up, revealing the full surface of your window and letting in aaaaaalll the light. Different styles will stack back to different widths so be mindful of how much space there is on either side of your window frame when choosing your perfect curtains. If you send the Stitched Customer Service team a picture of your windows on their Web Chat, they’ll be able to advise you on what works best.

Most people associate ‘pooling’ with sharing a car to work, but in the curtain biz, pooling is the word used for the amount of fabric that gathers on the floor at the foot of your window. Made-to-measure curtains are made with an extra 5cm, as floors are often a little wonky. Stitched call this normal pooling, but if you’re looking for some glamorous excess, generous pooling is the one for you, adding 12 cm of fabric added to the bottom of the curtain and create that luxurious look.