Question about curtain width

atw_uss

I need to replace the bedroom curtains in a house I’ve recently moved to. The good news is that they’re a standard drop of 137cm, but the width is not. The pole (excluding finials) is 127cm. I’ve seen some ready-made curtains I like but the width options are 117cm or 168cm per curtain pane, bought as a pair.

The advice seems yo be to go for the bigger rather than smaller size but it seems a big jump. I’ve seen 2x or 2.5x the pole length recommended for a more luxurious gather but it seems to vary from site to site. The curtains I’m replacing are 2x127, so likely made to measure.

I’m unsure if the 117 pack would be too relaxed a gather but the 168 could be overly full (pencil pleat). Any advice welcome from the wise! (Trying to avoid tge expense of made to measure if possible!)

GlitterMedusa

How much wider than the window is your existing curtain pole and do you have space on the sides? Depending on that, you could either change the curtain pole to a shorter one and go for the 117 curtains or change to a longer one and go for the 168 curtains.

Alternatively, do you know anyone who could lend you a sewing machine? In which case go for the 168 and if you find it's too much fabric, you can just adjust to suit

silvercar

I’d go for the 168cm. Pencil pleat looks better when fuller.

twopenny

My friend who made and sold curtains used to say 2-2.5 but I've not used more than 2.

I've even used almost single width when it was a curtain I loved and didn't come any other size. It was fine pulled back but not when closed. However most visitors don't come when they are drawn.

I agree with the above. If you could find some in a width of the size you mentioned in a charity shop going cheap you could try those for gathering size so you get an idea. Length for the experiment won't matter. Then resonate them.

Don't forget that each curtain only needs to be half the width of the pole when gathered so 127 and if each is 117 that would probably be fine.

gwynlas

If you have measured the pole including finials as 127cm then the ones you have seen at 117cms each will be fine.

Double width or slightly more is good for a room where curtains are on show but this is a bedroom where presumably you spend most of your time asleep

silvercar

for pencil pleat, I still maintain that more is better, googling around suggests a minimum of 2x

EssexExile

Having recently moved I had curtains professionally made and fitted. She did some at 2x and some at 1½x, I didn't ask why but they all look fine.

Spikeygran

If its pencil pleat or just taped I would usually go for the larger width, the usual guide is 1.5 to 2 times the window width, and I've never found x 1.5 quite enough. The only caveat to that is if the reveal at the side of the window is very slim, as the thicker curtain will obscure more of the window when opened, so should be considered.

If its the grommit (large ring) heading IMO they dont suit the extra curtain width, if you go for the full width the header doesn't expand evenly when drawn. I have a set in the back room which I initially though to be skimpy (bought in a sale), but look good and hang nicely. I bought some for the bedroom and went for the wider width but they just looked messy, the folds dont drape as with the pencil pleats, they seem to stick out in bunches,

Ectophile

I had the same problem looking for curtains for my bedroom. The window is unusually letterbox-shaped. Not very tall, but wide.

So wide that there weren't any standard curtains to fit. After discovering how expensive custom made curtains were, I bought the widest one I could get at Dunelm. It fits fine. Maybe the pleats aren't quite as pleated as they should be with the curtains drawn, but I've had no problems.

So in your position, I would go got the 117.

Spikeygran

I use 2 pairs together if I cant get the width or as with my current front room curtains, nice quality curtains bought in a clearance sale but only available in the narrower widths. I swap the curtains hooks over between one sides pair, to form an overlap and draw as one curtain. They still hang nicely.

You can mix and match colours in the same range too.

atw_uss

Thank you everyone for your incredibly useful comments. In the end, and with some trepidation, I went for the 117cm (narrower) ones and they look great! Definitely not too stretched out, look good open and closed 😊