Curtain Width Advice Please

3 years ago

Hi all, I have a bay window with a made to measure curtain pole. The pole is secured to the wall at either end and also in the middle - so it can have two curtains. The length of the pole from finial to finial is 3m.

At the moment, I have 4 long IKEA charcoal velvet eyelet curtains. They are 145cm wide each. I have two on either end and then two in the corners. They are fine - but the decorator is painting tomorrow, and I now want a softer, more grown up feel, and am looking at getting pencil pleats instead, in a woven linen effect.

My question is what width? The length is about 265cm, so made to measure is too expensive at the mo, so looking at ready made from either John Lewis or Dunelm in their extra long 274cm length. (IKEA is no longer an option as they changed their lengths to 250cm, so now too short). Google is telling me that I should go for anything from 1.5 times the width, up to 2.5 times. This is quite a difference! The Dunelm ones come in at 168cm wide per curtain or 228cm per curtain. I’m thinking that if I went for the 168cm ones, I’d need two pairs, or 4 curtains - but they would be very, very full. If I go for the 228cm per curtain, I think I could get away with one pair - but they wouldn’t be very full at all!! Any advice as to which would work best? Many thanks! (Please don’t suggest shutters or blinds - neither is possible at the mo due to cost).

The photos - first is what we currently have. Then the two curtains that I’m considering from Dunelm. (John Lewis has a couple that are very similar, but seem to be out of stock in the longer lengths).

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Comments (14)

Sonia
3 years ago
Hi Sarah, curtains are normally double the width of a curtain pole, that is for both curtains. 2.5 x the curtain pole if you want an even fuller look. However, if you want a more casual, less bulky look, then go for 1.5 times the curtain pole (total width of 2 curtains). Pencil pleat is a lot more gathered so at least double the width of the pole would look better. With eyelet curtains I would go 1.5 x the curtain pole. I recently did this with some eyelet curtains in my kitchen and they just meet in the middle, but I didn’t want bulky curtains. Hope this makes sense!
Daisy England
3 years ago
I’ve always worked on a minimum of 1.5 for pencil pleat and double for eyelet. I made the mistake of making eyelet curtains for my holiday home at just over 1.5 and they’re tight on overlap when drawing them. Eyelet use more fabric because of the folds.

Pencil pleats are easier to work with than eyelet as they require less fabric. Don’t skimp on it though as fabric when drawn closed that has no puckers looks unsightly.

Curtains are really easy to make. I would see if this is something you can do and then you can amend the width to whatever you want.
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I tend to prefer long curtains personally as well but if you think that brushing past them would annoy you then I’d go for short. Roman blinds could be an option as well if they will tuck under the pelmet, I do feel that you’d need a double layer approach with perhaps a roller blind in the window to block out the light tho. You could always ask the curtain maker to include curtain weights in the bottom. This would help to make the fabric hang a lot straighter. Of course this does depend on what type of fabric you choose. A thick woven wool or chenille for example (something you might use for cushions or upholstery) will have a lot more bulk and stick out more. Synthetic materials such as nylon and polyester tend to drape better because of the smooth weave. Here’s some advice on choosing fabrics https://www.themillshop.co.uk/blog/which-is-the-best-fabric-for-curtains A plain simple pelmet would look best I think even if it’s curtains or Roman blinds.
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mii2
3 years ago
As Daisy says, minimum of 1.5 for pencil pleats and double for islets. Check out just fabrics for excellent discounted fabric and they also make curtains. There is nothing that beats made to measure curtains for a beautiful window and your bay window would look lovely. Making curtains is not rocket science, but start with a small window for your first pair so you can make your first mistakes with less seams to unpick and less expensive material costs! Good luck
Neasa
3 years ago
I would go off needing twice the length of the pole for pencil pleat curtains, so I would say 2 pairs of the 168cm is what you need - for a total width of 672cm. If you're after a more luxurious look and feel, that's what fullness in the fabric gives you. For curtains to hang nicely, it helps if they have a small weight stitched in to the bottom corner seams.
Sarah U-S
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks all - I think I’ll have to get the two pair option!
natashahall1
3 years ago
I’d go for the 228 wide and have a single curtain either side. This will allow more light. Yes they won’t be as full when closed but how often are they closed and is it really that noticeable. The other option is to buy second hand. I need a 3m length for my bay and since IKEA changed i can‘t buy ready made. These were bought on eBay a couple of weeks ago.
Sarah U-S
Original Author
3 years ago
Natasha - yours look fab! I’ve looked on eBay - but part of my problem is that the room has been knocked through with the middle room, and there are French doors at that end - so I need curtains for that end too.

Do you know how full yours are?
natashahall1
3 years ago
They’re actually too wide but because they’re pinch pleat on a corded pole they get left overgathered at each end. My old ones were about 260cm to cover 180cm so about 1.5. They were made from 2 pairs of Dunhelm curtains. Splitting one curtain to hang using the other 1 to get the extra length and some extra contrasting fabric for the band and the piping details. My mum fell out with me about those!
Sarah U-S
Original Author
3 years ago
😂😂

Nothing is ever easy, is it?! You have helped me to make up my mind - I’m going with the larger 228cm curtains and just one pair. It will be just over 1.5 times the width - and I think I’d prefer just one curtain each side instead of two. I think it’s the 4 curtains that I’m not keen on at the moment. This option also saves me about £100, which means more wine at Christmas 😂
E D
3 years ago
Lovely window.

Was just thinking, if you can pull the sofa further out of the bay, it would probably look even nicer.
Sarah U-S
Original Author
3 years ago
ED - I completely agree, but sadly there’s another sofa on the side wall, so it’s a bit limited. Ideally I want a new sofa that’s not quite as heavy looking (lusting after all the lovely velvets around at the mo), but the leather one is super comfy and generally absolutely nothing wrong with it - it’s pretty much billet proof and I can’t justify it at all!!! I’m trying really hard to reduce my impact on the world, and buying stuff that we just don’t need is hard to justify! (Please note that the plan for the existing curtains is to reuse them elsewhere!).
E D
3 years ago
Looks like a great sofa to me, I think you’re right not to replace it. It’s just pushed into the bay a little too much. ☺️☺️

Oh and maybe the cushions let it down a sliver? 😊
Sarah U-S
Original Author
3 years ago
Currently googling cushions at the mo 😂
What would you suggest? Room is currently being painted in very soft grey/green called Grosvenor Square by Mylands. Despite the wall colour, I feel ready for colour in my life!
E D
3 years ago
Yes colour I think.

But others here are much better at that sort of thing. 😊

Curtain Width Advice Please

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