Add the perfect finishing touch to your windows with our beautifully crafted made-to-measure curtain valances. Designed to complement your curtains and enhance the overall look of your room, each valance is custom-made to your exact measurements for a flawless, tailored fit.
Whether you prefer a classic gathered style, or one of out many other heading styles, our valances are available in a wide range of fabrics, colours, and patterns to suit any décor. Every piece is carefully handmade to order, ensuring premium quality and attention to detail throughout.
A made-to-measure valance not only hides curtain headings and fittings but also adds depth, elegance, and a polished appearance to your window treatment. You can coordinate your valance fabric with your curtains for a seamless look or choose a contrasting fabric to make a stylish statement.
Why choose a made-to-measure valance?
Complete your curtains with a made-to-measure valance that reflects your style and transforms your room into a beautifully cohesive space.
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.
General Tips
Measuring the Track or Pole Width
Hook Position
The hook position is the distance from the top of the curtain valance to the top of the hook. All curtain valances come with hooks and ready to hang.
The recommended hook position will depend on if the curtain valance is hung using a track or a pole:
Note: No hook position is required for eyelet, hidden tab top, rod pocket and tab top curtain valances. Eyelet curtain valances automatically have a stand up of 3cm above the top of the pole and hidden tab top curtain valances automatically have a stand up of 2cm above the top of the pole. Tab top curtain valances by their very nature do not have any part of the curtain valance above the top of the pole.
Finished Length
Typically the length of curtain valances can range from 15cm to 30cm, depending on personal preference.
For Eyelet, Hidden Tab Top, Rod Pocket and Tab Top Heading Styles (see below)
For tab top heading styles:
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 curtain valances. Curtain lining protects the fabric from the sun’s damaging UV rays and enhances the drape of the curtain valances.
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.
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 curtain valances have an additional layer of fabric that is placed between the main fabric and the lining fabric.
This makes the curtain valance look more luxurious and sumptuous. Other benefits include the curtains providing better insulation.
All of our interlined curtain valances have hand-sewn side hems, which ensure the curtain valance drapes 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 curtain valances 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 valance 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 curtain valances, 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 curtain valances 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 curtain valances to drape as well as they would have had they been hand-sewn.
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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