Introduction to Curtains: Styles, Fabrics & Design Applications

Curtains are more than just decorative accents—they’re an essential layer in any well-dressed room. Whether you’re dressing a heritage home, a modern apartment, or a multifunctional workspace, curtains play a vital role in creating ambience, controlling light, and enhancing comfort. 

This guide is a reference for industry  professionals seeking flexible, made-to-measure curtain solutions. At Blind Fashion, we work collaboratively with Interior Designers and trade professionals to deliver high-spec window dressings.

Curtain Style: From Understatement to Architectural

Curtain headings dramatically influence how a curtain reads in a space through the volume, flow and tone.

• Wave Heading: Contemporary and architectural. Creates uniform, fluid folds that stack neatly. Ideal for large and manual schemes. 
• Double/ Triple Pinch Pleat: Structured and formal. With consistent fullness. Often specified in boutique hospitality and luxury residential.
• Pencil Pleat: More relaxed, gathered finish. A transitional style that works across all property types.
• Box, Goblet and Cartridge Pleat: Deep folds for a tailored look – clean, weighty and ideal for heavier fabrics or a more formal finish.
• Eyelet: Typically used for decorative treatments or less formal schemes. Sleek but limited in stack efficiency.

All styles are available with custom track or pole solutions – manual or motorised.

Fabric Selection

Choosing the right types of curtain fabrics is key to achieving both your functional and design goals. At Blind Fashion, we work with a vast range of fabrics to suit every space:

Within Blind Fashion, we endeavour to produce a solution from whatever fabric is specified. Whether you’re working with your own FF&E specification or require advice selecting materials that align with your design language, we deliver expertly tailored curtain solutions across all styles and applications.

Our in-house team has extensive experience working with natural fibres, performance blends, and decorative weaves—from relaxed linens and textured voiles to heavier silks, velvets, and wools.  Every fabric is carefully assessed to ensure a consistent finish, clean tailoring, and appropriate scale for the space.

Curtain Functions in Commercial and Design-Led Projects

While aesthetic goals are paramount, curtains also perform a range of functions that support the needs of both client and end-user.

• Light Management – Precision light filtering from full light resist to soft diffusion, depending on layering and fabric density.
  
• Privacy Solutions – Essential in urban apartments, hotel rooms, and open-plan developments.
  
• Material Contrast – In projects with extensive glass or hard surfaces, curtains bring essential softness and material contrast.
  
• Automation Compatibility – Integration with systems like Lutron, Silent Gliss, Q Motion and Somfy ensures seamless smart control for high-end clients.

Smart & Modern Curtain Features

Motorisation & Control Options

We offer fully integrated curtain systems compatible with voice, switch, keypad, and app control. Whether you’re specifying for high ceilings, large glass expanses, or automation-first projects, we provide scalable motorised solutions using:

• Lutron
  
• Silent Gliss
  
• QMotion
  
• Somfy
  

From hidden tracks to ceiling-recessed wave systems, our curtain packages are as technically refined as they are visually coherent.

Working with Blind Fashion

We understand the demands of high-end residential and commercial design—from lead times and trade pricing to flexibility in finish and fitting.

Our curtain offering includes:

• Bespoke curtain production (single window to large-scale developments)
  
• Professional fitting service across the UK

Project management from first enquiry to total delivery.

• Sampling and specification support
  

Whatever your requirements we can help, from a simple curtain to a whole scheme, manual or motorised. We will advise, supply samples, provide quotations and install or simply supply a beautifully made curtain to your exact specification. Reach out to us today!