Types of Drapery Styles

Draperies are available in a variety of styles and fabrics.

Window treatments define the style of your living area, whether it is a living room or a bedroom. Like most window treatments, draperies are available in a variety of shapes, colors, sizes and fabrics, and you can either purchase or fabricate your own draperies. The style of drapery you select depends on your personal taste.

Pinch Pleat

The pinch pleat drape adds a sophisticated look to your living area. Standard, goblet or European uniform pleats accent the top of your draperies. The pleats are spaced evenly to control the fullness of the drapery. Manufacturers place weights at the bottom of pinch pleated drapes to ensure smooth and even pleating. You should hang pinch pleat drapes either on hooks, ring clips or pins. Pinch pleat drapes are available with lining to add privacy to your window treatments.

Tab Top

Drapes with tab tops add either a sophisticated look or a country look depending on the décor you currently display in your living area. These drapes hang freely by evenly spaced loops at the top of the drapes. You don't need rings, hooks or loops to hang these curtains. You simply weave the loops over a decorative curtain rod of your choice. Tab top drapes also have weights installed at the bottom corners to ensure they hang evenly.

Grommet Top

Grommet top drapes complement any décor. The circular, heavy-duty grommets come in either brass or silver. Simply weave the grommets over a decorative curtain rod of your choice. Because of how grommet top drapes hang, no weights at the bottom corners are necessary. The weight of the drape fabric allows the drapes to have naturally rounded folds or pleats. The pleats and folds continue all the way down the drape to the top of the hem.

Clip Top

Consisting of metal loops with small spring-loaded clips, or ring clips, clip top drapes attach to the top of the drapery and slide around a decorative curtain rod of your choice. These drapes offer a classic look to modern homes. The top of the drapery consists of a stiffening fabric that gives the top of the drape a sturdy place to attach the clips. The amount and spacing of rings you place at the top determines the fullness of the drapes.

Pocket and Ruffled Pocket Top

Pocket top drapes provide a simple yet stylish accent to your living area. A pocket at the top of the drape allows you to weave the drape onto a decorative curtain rod of your choice. You can determine the fullness of your pocket top drapes by either pushing the fabric closer together or pulling it further apart. Because pocket top drapes do not require any clips or rings, they are one of the easiest drapes to install.

Tie Top

The simplest of drapes are tie top drapes. You simply tie the top of the drapes to a decorative curtain rod of your choice. The top of the drapes consists of strips of fabric that are sewn into the drape and reinforced for support. You can place the ties as close to one another as you see fit.

References

• Factory Direct Drapes: Drapery Styles and Curtain Styles
• Levolor: Choose Your Drapery Style