Window Drapery Styles

Mention the word drapery to window treatment shoppers and most of them will assume you mean curtains, thinking the terms interchangeable. Though both describe decorative fabric panels, curtains have the same width at the top and bottom until hung. Draperies have narrowed tops, called headers, which make the panels drape in even folds no matter how they’re hung. Most drapery headers fall into four basic types, while styles within each category make draperies an appropriate choice for nearly any room.

Pleated Drapery

Pleating remains the most used method for narrowing drapery headers, with pinch pleats--also known as French pleats--the most common of all the drapery styles. Tacked at the bottom, pinch pleats have two to five pleats per pinch, depending on the desired fullness below the header. Similar in construction to pinch pleats, X-pleats have tacked centers and Euro pleats have tacked tops.

Other structured styles include knife, accordion, tuxedo, box and inverted box pleats. Goblet, fan, butterfly and cup styles have relaxed, less structured pleats. Bell, cartridge and pencil pleats feature cylinder shapes.

Smocked Drapery

Smocking means patterned tacking of continuous pleats running the length of the header. The effect of smocking depends on the size of the pleats. Choose drapery with small smocking pleats for a dressy, feminine look. Combine larger pleats with solid fabric for a sophisticated, geometric statement. Smocked draperies typically have single, double or triple-diamond patterns.

Shirred Drapery

Shirring means gathering the header into soft folds. Once hung, shirred drapery panels look similar to curtains with a rod or casement pocket. Unlike casement curtains, which remain stationary at the header, you still can open and close shirred draperies, unless you board mount them.

Cuffed Drapery

Cuffed draperies have decorative bands of fabric on the front of the header, in matching or contrasting fabric. Cuffed draperies may have a single, flat layer of fabric pleated with the header. Other styles feature ruched, rolled and shirred cuffs.

Variations

Change the look of any pleated drapery by adding swags, scallops or scoops between the pleats. Make draperies feel relaxed and casual by forgoing the stiff buckram typically attached to the back of the header. Raised double headers let you include contrasting fabric, as well as such details as rosettes inside goblet pleats. Add interest with integrated flags or valances, or by adding buttons, rosettes or decorative cording.

References

• "The Design Directory of Window Treatments"; Jackie Von Tobel; 2007
• "The Encyclopedia of Window Fashions"; Charles T. Randall; 2006

Resources

• Drapery Connection: Drapery Pleating Styles
• Elle Decor: 5 Dos of Drapes