Custom Pleated Curtains Look from Grommet Panels

Grommet panels get dismissed as dorm-room curtains, but the grommet itself is fine. What makes them look cheap is a thin rod, too little fabric, a short drop and folds that go flat. Fix those five things and a budget panel reads as custom drapery.

Below are ten adjustments, in the order I'd do them. If you only have time for three, choose a sturdier rod, more fabric width and a higher mount.

Save

Can grommet curtains look like custom pleated curtains?

Yes, to a point. Custom pleated curtains are sewn with a heading that fixes the folds in place. Grommet panels have no such heading, so they make soft, round waves instead of crisp pleats. Those waves look deliberate when the fabric is full, the rod is solid and the hem is weighted.

It helps to know the types of pleats for curtains so you know what you're imitating. Pinch pleats are sewn folds pinched together at the top in groups. Pencil pleat curtains have narrow, tight folds pulled up by a gathering tape. Ripple fold gives an even S-curve and usually hangs from a track. Grommets come closest to ripple fold, so that's the look to aim for.

Start with the rod

Choose a rod with some visual weight

Grommet openings are often around 1.5 to 2 inches wide. On a skinny rod the panel wobbles and looks loose. A rod about 1 to 1 3/8 inches thick fits the rings better, and it's stiffer, so it won't bow.

Any rod over about 60 inches needs a center support bracket. A sagging rod makes even expensive fabric look sad.

Match the finish to the grommets

Hold a panel next to the rod before you buy. Matte bronze rings beside a glossy black rod look mismatched. Brushed nickel next to antique brass does too.

How to make curtains look pleated

Grommet curtains flatten out when you pull them shut, which is why they lose that tailored look. You can train the folds.

1. Hang the panel and arrange the waves by hand so each one is the same depth.
2. Loosely tie ribbon or fabric strips around the top, middle and bottom of the folded panel.
3. Steam it, following the care label, and leave it tied for a couple of days.
4. Untie it and re-form the waves when you open and close the curtains.

Polyester holds this memory better than natural fibers, which relax sooner. A wall return helps too. Fix a small hook or bracket to the wall or casing and catch the last grommet on it so the panel turns toward the wall and blocks the side light gap.

Save

If you also use rings or hooks on other windows, this guide to putting curtain hooks on a rail covers that setup. For the basic grommet install, see how to hang curtains with grommets.

How much fabric do you need?

Fullness is the biggest factor in curtains that look custom. Plan on a combined panel width of 2 to 2.5 times the width of the window. For a 60-inch window, that's about 120 to 150 inches of fabric. A single 50-inch panel on a 40-inch window pulls nearly flat, and the waves disappear.

Fuller curtains also soften echo in a room with hard floors, which you'll notice in a bare living room.

Save

Where should you mount the rod and how long should the curtains be?

Mount the rod well above the window, at least 4 to 6 inches over the frame. Halfway between the frame and the ceiling works in many rooms. Let it extend roughly 8 to 12 inches past the window on each side, so the open curtains stack on the wall and leave the glass clear. That keeps daylight coming in, and you can still close the curtains to control unwanted glare and heat.

As an architect, I'd choose 96-inch panels for a standard 8-foot ceiling and mount the rod just under the crown molding. Shorter 84-inch panels on a tall wall look stunted. Measure from the bottom of the grommet opening, not the top edge of the fabric, since that's where the curtain hangs from.

Kiss, float or puddle?

A hem that just touches the floor (a kiss) or hovers about 1/4 to 1/2 inch above it (a float) looks crisp and is easy to vacuum around. A puddle collects dust and pet hair. If you live with a dog or cat, I recommend the float.

Save

Weights, fabric and hem

Lightweight panels tend to flare at the bottom into a triangle. Slip a small drapery weight, or a flat washer, into each bottom corner of the hem and stitch it closed. The extra gravity pulls the folds straight. If the panels are too short, sewing a contrasting band of fabric to the hem adds length and weight at once.

Pick a tight weave for homes with pets, since loose weaves snag on claws. Velvet is a good choice for the same reason, and our guide to cleaning velvet covers the upkeep. Grommets slide along a rod when a pet tugs, which is gentler on the wall than a fixed heading.

Small finishing touches

• Tighten and level the finials.
• Open the curtains fully and check that they clear the glass.
• Steam out the packaging creases before hanging.
• Slide the panels by a hidden grommet or an acrylic wand rather than the fabric edge, so hand oils stay off light fabrics.
• Add a liner if light shows through unevenly in the daytime.

Save

Want a trim border? A band of contrasting fabric or ribbon sewn along the leading edge adds a tailored detail, and it's a manageable sewing job on a store-bought panel.

Frequently asked questions