At Curtains Made Simple, every pair of curtains is individually crafted, ensuring a perfect fit and a beautifully finished look for your home. From fabric selection to the final stitch, our made-to-measure process combines expert craftsmanship with your personal style choices.
1. Choose Your Fabric
It all starts with your choice of fabric. We offer hundreds of designer fabrics from leading brands, available in every colour, pattern, and texture imaginable. Whether you prefer light and airy cottons, luxurious velvets, or timeless linens, each fabric is carefully inspected before being cut to size.
2. Select Your Heading Style
Next, choose the curtain heading that best suits your space and track or pole — from pencil pleat and pinch pleat to eyelet or wave headings. Each style is sewn with precision to ensure even pleats, perfect drape, and smooth movement when opened or closed.
3. Measured and Cut to Perfection
Once your order is placed, our experienced makers cut the fabric to your exact measurements. We take into account the pattern repeat and fabric grain to ensure a flawless finish with perfectly aligned designs.
4. Expertly Sewn
Your curtains are then sewn by our skilled curtain makers, who take care with every seam, lining, and hem. We offer a choice of standard, blackout, or thermal linings — each tailored to enhance the look and performance of your curtains. All of our curtains have mitred corners and corner weights to ensure your curtains hang and drape impecibly.
5. Generous Gather
All of our curtains have a generous minium fullness (or gather) to ensure that they look their best when hung.
Pencil Pleat 2 Double Pinch Pleat 2.2 Triple Pinch Pleat 2.5 Eyelet 1.8 Tab Top 1.6 Goblet 2.2 Roman Blinds 1 Wave Tape 2.2 Single Pinch Pleat 2 Hidden Tab Top 1.6 Cartridge Pleat 2 Double Inverted (Euro) Pleat 2.2 Triple Inverted (Euro) Pleat 2.5 Flat Panel 1 Box Pleat 3 Spaced Box Pleat 2.6 Rod Pocket 1.5
6. Ready-to-Hang Out of the Box
No need to add hooks or pull pencil pleat tapes. We do all of this, so you can waste no time hanging your curtains once you receive them.
7. Quality Checked and Finished
Before dispatch, every pair of curtains goes through a thorough quality inspection. Hems are hand-finished, threads trimmed, and seams pressed to ensure your curtains arrive ready to hang straight out of the box.
8. Delivered to Your Door
Finally, your made-to-measure curtains are carefully packed and delivered direct to your door. All you need to do is hang them up and enjoy the transformation they bring to your room.
Curtains Made Simple offers a wide range of heading options, from the standard 3-inch pencil pleat to the triple inverted (Euro) pleat. Each heading is expertly made by our seamstresses, and we’re proud of the excellent customer feedback we receive. You’re not limited to the usual styles — try something different.
For older, traditional homes we offer:
For modern homes we offer:
Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference, so choose the style that suits you best.
How To Measure For Curtains - General Tips
Note: For pinch pleat, goblet, cartridge pleat, box pleat, spaced box pleat and double inverted (Euro) pleat we add 15cm (spring back) to each set of curtains so that the curtains do not need to be pulled tight to ensure that they meet in the middle.
Measuring the Track or Pole Width
Hook Position
The hook position is the distance from the top of the curtain to the top of the hook. All curtains come with hooks and ready to hang, apart from eyelet and tab top curtains, as they don't have hooks.
The recommended hook position will depend if the curtains are hung using a track or a pole:
Note: No hook position is required for eyelet, hidden tab top, rod pocket and tab top curtains. Eyelet curtains automatically have a stand up of 3cm above the top of the pole and hidden tab top curtains automatically have a stand up of 2cm above the top of the pole. Tab top and rod pocket curtains by their very nature do not have any part of the curtain above the top of the pole.
Finished Length
For Box Pleat, Cartridge Pleat, Flat Panel, Goblet, Inverted (Euro) Pleat, Pencil Pleat, Pinch Pleat, Spaced Box Pleat, Wave Tape Heading Styles (see below)
For wave tape styles:
For Eyelet, Hidden Tab Top, Rod Pocket and Tab Top Heading Styles (see below)
For tab top heading styles:
The measurement for a curtain track is taken from one end of the track to the other.
For a curtain pole, the measurement is the distance from one end of the pole to the other, not including the decorative finials.
There is no need to adjust for curtain pleating or fullness, as we account for these factors when calculating the amount of fabric required to make your curtains.
For all pleated curtains, we add a 15cm spring back. This ensures that when the curtains are drawn together, they remain together and do not spring apart.
For more information on measuring, please see our How to Measure guide.
The finished length of the curtain, is the end-to-end length of the curtain.
Where appropriate, our made-to-measure curtains come with the hooks fitted, so you can hang them as soon as you receive them.
This allows you to both enjoy them immediately and reduce the risk of your curtains creasing.
The hook position is the distance from the top of the hook to the top of the curtain.
The minimum and maximum hook positions by heading style are as follows...
Poles - Suggested Hook Position
The typical hook position when curtains are hanging on a pole is either 0cm or 1cm.
This is for two reasons...
However if you want to hide the pole fully or partially, then enter a hook position greater than 1cm.
Track - Suggested Hook Position
The typical hook position on a track, where the track is to be hidden, is at least 5cm.
However, there are also popular tracks where the curtains hang underneath the track and the track is slim, therefore seen. In this case the hook position might be only 1cm.
With four sizes of eyelets to choose from and eight colour combinations, we definitely have you covered. We press-fit our high-quality, long-lasting metal eyelets.
You can choose from our standard 40mm or 25mm or 50mm or 66mm. The eyelet size refers to the internal diameter of the eyelet.
The maximum pole sizes for each eyelet size are as follows…
25mm Eyelet – 18mm is the largest pole diameter.
40mm Eyelet – 32mm is the largest pole diameter, but for optimal sliding performance, 28mm is recommended.
50mm Eyelet – 42mm is the largest pole diameter, but for optimal sliding performance, 35mm is recommended.
66mm Eyelet – 55mm is the largest pole diameter, but for optimal sliding performance, 50mm is recommended.
Choosing the right lining is an important consideration when ordering your curtains. Curtain lining protects the fabric from the sun’s damaging UV rays and enhances the drape of the curtains.
All of our linings are made from high-quality polycotton. Polycotton is preferable to 100% cotton, as it is more durable and less prone to creasing.
The choice of curtain lining depends on the specific room and the overall style of your home.
Standard (or plain) lining is suitable for all rooms except bedrooms, where blackout lining is recommended.
Blackout lining is ideal for bedrooms or rooms that receive strong direct sunlight, as it blocks out 100% of light. Additionally, it helps minimise draughts from windows.
Thermal lining, as the name suggests, helps reduce heat loss and mitigates the impact of draughts from old or non-double-glazed windows. We recommend thermal lining for all rooms except bedrooms.
The no-lining option is appropriate for voile or sheer curtains, where allowing some light to filter through the fabric is part of the intended design.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to email or call one of our curtain specialists.
With increased concern about energy bills and the environment, we now offer two energy-saving linings. In addition, they will help keep your home toasty warm.
Energy-saving thermal and blackout linings both have a silver reflective coating that helps to reflect heat back into the room. As well as keeping your home warm in the winter, they will also help keep it cooler in the summer.
In laboratory tests, an energy-reflective lining has been shown to reduce energy loss by up to 5 times when compared to a conventional standard lining.
The reflective silver side is used face-inwards to maximise the amount of energy reflected back into the house. The outer side of the thermal or blackout energy-reflective lining is white or ivory. So your curtains will look no different from standard curtains.
You can go one further and opt to have your curtains interlined. If you have selected our energy-saving thermal or blackout option, we will use a high-performance insulating Thinsulate interlining, which will trap additional warm air in its very fine fibres.
What is Thinsulate?
It is a polyester microfibre with excellent insulating properties.
For the technically minded, the Thinsulate we use has a thermal resistance of 0.21 m² °K/W (1.36 clo).
It achieves this by having very fine fibres with a diameter of 15 micrometres that are about 10 times smaller than other synthetic fibres.
This results in a denser material that can trap warm air much more efficiently.
You will probably have heard of Thinsulate being used in outdoor and ski clothing. Where the insulating properties of Thinsulate are important due to the extreme climate conditions this type of clothing is used in.
You will not be able to tell the difference between a Thinsulate interlined curtain and a standard interlined curtain. It is no bulkier and it drapes just as well as standard interlining.
Having a Thinsulate interlined curtain will help keep your house warm and snug, with the added benefit of saving you money on your heating bills and doing your bit for the environment.
Our high-quality fire-retardant lining is available in both plain (standard) and blackout lining. Both linings drape well. There is no perceptible difference between standard and fire-retardant lining.
These linings can be used in conjunction with an inherently fire-retardant fabric or a non-fire-retardant fabric that we can arrange to have fire-retardant treatment.
If you would like to discuss fire-retardant curtains further, please email or call us.
Our standard lining colour is ivory. It is both practical and contemporary.
If you have a light-colored fabric and have selected the standard (or plain) lining, it is our recommendation that you select white. This is because the light shining through the ivory standard (or plain) lining can cause the main fabric to darken in colour. Selecting white will not cause this phenomenon, as the light does not change colour as it passes through the lining.
If you have selected a blackout lining, choosing ivory makes no difference when you have light-colored fabric, as no colour passes through the lining.
Interlined curtains have an additional layer of fabric that is placed between the main fabric and the lining fabric.
This makes the curtains look more luxurious and sumptuous. Other benefits include the curtains providing better insulation.
All of our interlined curtains have hand-sewn side hems, which ensure the curtains drape correctly. The incorporation of interlined curtains represents a sophisticated choice for those seeking to elevate both the aesthetic and functional qualities of their windows. By introducing an additional fabric layer between the main and lining materials, these curtains exude a sense of opulence and significantly improve insulation, contributing to a more comfortable indoor environment. Furthermore, the meticulous craftsmanship involved in hand-sewn side hems ensures that each curtain drapes beautifully, enhancing the overall elegance of any space. This blend of luxury and practicality makes interlined curtains a compelling option for discerning homeowners looking to achieve a harmonious balance between style and utility.
Selecting the interlined option is one you are unlikely to regret, giving you years of delight every time you see them.
We pride ourselves on offering a full range of make-up options, including the traditional hand-sewn option. Both the handsewn and non-handsewn options will result in high-quality curtains, and to the untrained eye, there will be no difference.
The only difference between the machine-sewn and the hand-sewn option is that the side hems are hand-sewn. Traditionalists believe that this allows the main fabric and the lining to find their own levels.
Our interlined curtains are hand-sewn by default. This is because the ‘tightness’ of machine sewing three layers of material (main fabric, interlining and lining fabric) will not allow the curtains to drape as well as they would have had they been hand-sewn.
Tiebacks add the perfect finishing touch to your curtains. Designed to frame your windows with effortless elegance, our tiebacks bring style and structure to your drapes while letting natural light pour in. Adding a hint of sophistication that completes your room’s look.
Our tiebacks are made in a scalloped or curved design, using the same fabric as the curtains.
The tiebacks can be made piped or unpiped. The tiebacks are self-piped using the same fabric.
The tiebacks have either a brass or a chrome D-ring as an option. The option you choose will depend on the colour of the hook used to hold the tiebacks in place.
Fullness refers to the ratio of the finished width of curtains to the pole or track width. This factor determines the look of the curtain folds.
For example for a fullness of 2.1x, 2.1 metres of fabric will be used per metre width of finished curtain. Typically 2x to 2.5x is recommended for pleats and gathered headings, less for eyelets or tab tops.
We never skimp on fabric and our Normal fullness is recommended for most settings. If you prefer a fuller more opulent look, choose “More full”, for a simpler more minimal look “Less full” could be appropriate.
This is a summary of our policies, the full terms can be found here: UK & Int Delivery Returns & Refunds.
In most situations, cut-length fabric will be delivered within 7 days or less and made-to-measure orders 2-4 weeks. Where this cannot be achieved, you will be informed by email.
Delivery within mainland UK is £9 for all orders except cut-length fabric, where it is free on orders over £90. Delivery charges to other countries can be found here.
Refunds are generally not possible, due to the majority of the goods we sell being made-to-order or cut-to-order items and thus not subject to the Distance Selling Regulations. However, where errors have been made due to incorrect measurements or specifications, we will try to find a satisfactory solution to the issue.
Cancellation of orders will result in a 100% refund if no work has started or the fabric has not been sent by the supplier. After this, refunds will be the value of the order less costs incurred up until this point.
This is a summary of our FAQS, the full FAQS can be found here.
Linings – We offer the full range of linings in both ivory and white plus FR.
Fabric Samples – We recommend that you order a sample prior to placing your order, rather than relying on the colour appearance on your screen.
Measuring – We have comprehensive measuring guides that are straightforward to understand.
Fabric Joins – Where necessary, your made-to-measure product will have fabric joins. This is because the product is wider than the width of the fabric.
Pattern Matching – Where fabric is to be joined, we will pattern match.
Receipt of Fabric – All fabric is sent out on a roll.
Receipt of Made-to-Order Items – These are sent out carefully packed on a next-day courier service. We recommend that you unpack your items as soon as you receive them to minimise creasing.
Payment – Payment is at the point of order via our secure Opayo checkout process and can be made using all major debit and credit cards, plus PayPal. With prior arrangement, it can be made via bank transfer.
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