1. Style – Rules are made to be broken – sometimes!
First, let’s clarify the ‘rules,’ then we’ll discuss breaking them. Generally, a contemporary, new-build apartment is likely to suit the look of tracks. The enviable floor-to-ceiling windows that characterise these apartments often mean there’s limited space above the windows for curtain hardware.
Full-length curtains on ceiling fixed or recessed tracks offer the cleanest, most architectural solution, with tracks disappearing into the ceiling, creating the illusion that the curtains float effortlessly in the space.
Full-height curtains on tracks in a designer flat can help accentuate the ceiling height and are much more in tune with the overall aesthetic.
On the other hand, period homes and especially their main ‘feature’ windows, often suit poles better. But saying that, a modern extension to a period property may suit the tracks better. The reality is that most homes would have a combination of poles and tracks, depending on the room and window.
We specify and fit the track or pole as part of every pair of made to measure curtains, and we pair tracks with Roman blinds where blackout matters. For a sense of budget, see real prices from recent projects.
Curtain tracks and poles: your questions answered
What is a curtain track?
A curtain track is a rail fixed to the wall or ceiling that carries the curtains on gliders, so the hardware disappears behind the fabric and the curtains themselves are the star. Tracks can be bent to follow a bay window, corded or motorised so you never handle the fabric, and they carry heavy interlined or blackout curtains with ease. In contemporary flats a ceiling-fixed or recessed track lets full-height curtains float from the ceiling.
What is the best type of curtain track?
It depends on the window and the job. For a bay, a bent track is almost always right. For heavy, interlined or blackout curtains, a corded track, ideally finished with a covered lath and fascia or pelmet so no light escapes over the top. For a wave heading you need a wave track, because the wave only forms on a gliding system. For floor-to-ceiling windows with little wall above them, a ceiling-fixed or recessed track gives the cleanest, most architectural finish. Motorisation can be added where you want it.
Can a curtain track go around a bay window?
Yes. A bent curtain track is the answer for almost every bay: it is shaped to follow the angles or the curve of the window, so the curtains glide smoothly around the bay and stack back neatly. Poles fight the corners, which is why we rarely recommend them for bays.
READ: Bespoke Curtain Designs for Contemporary London Flats
READ: Blinds for Victorian and Edwardian Homes
