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Selecting new curtain panels may not be as simple as it seems. Drapery size and fabric may be the most important pieces, but choosing a drapery header will drastically impact both the look of your curtains and how they function every day.
First, what are drapery headers? The top of a drapery panel where the curtain connects to the rod is called the header or the heading. Eastern Accents offers many styles of drapery headers, each with a different function and decorative aesthetic. Let’s take a deep dive into each style to discover which is right for your home.
Rod Pocket
Rod pocket draperies feature a sewn-in channel at the top of the curtain for the drapery pole to thread through. This creates a soft, gathered look that hides the drapery rod from view. The effect is minimalist and casual—perfect for modern spaces or children’s rooms. Eastern Accents panels have a standard 3.5” rod pocket, which fit up to 1.5" diameter poles. Working with a larger drapery pole? Custom rod pocket sizing is available in our online Design Lab.
Pro Tip: Rod pocket curtain panels can also be hung using drapery hooks and rings for a more elevated look!
Tab Top
Tab top curtain panels are crafted with fabric loops at the drapery header to hold the curtain rod. The tabs/loops are typically made with a matching fabric to the rest of the panel. This drapery heading creates a casual look that is easier to open and close than a rod pocket panel. Tab top draperies are not recommended for blackout panels, as some light will peak through the top by design.
Wavefold
Also called “ripple fold drapery”, our wavefold curtain panels are a recent addition to the Eastern Accents window program. This style features hidden tabs on the back of the header, creating smooth folds that hide the curtain rod from view. Streamlined and modern, wave folds are more uniform than rod pocket panels, while also being easier to open and close.
Grommet
A tried and true classic, grommet drapery panels are made with metal rings embedded in the header fabric to hold the curtain rod. The drapery pole passes back and forth through the grommets, creating folds and ensuring that these panels never look flat. The easiest style to open and close, grommeted curtains are good for kids rooms, guest suites, or other casual spaces. Eastern Accents offers four grommet finishes to match every color of our Acero drapery hardware.
Antique Brass
Nickel
Black
Satin Smoke
If you are ordering one of our grommet panels, you can customize the metal finish for no additional charge!
Pleated Panels
At Eastern Accents, pleated curtain panels are our bread and butter. Pleated drapery panels are made by gathering fabric at the header and sewing it together to create permanent folds. These curtains appear fuller than other styles, as the pleats require more fabric. Since the pleats are stitched in pace, the folds are neat and consistent—perfect for an elevated and tailored space. Pleated panels are hung with drapery hooks on the back, and attached to the rod with decorative rings. There are several different types of drapery pleats, each with their own unique flair…
Pinch Pleats
Three-Finger Pinch Pleat
Three-finger pinch pleat curtains, sometimes called triple pinch pleats, are gathered in groups of three folds to create pleats along the drapery panel. The folds are stitched in place four inches from the top of the curtain, creating decorative fan shapes. Spaced about three inches apart, a standard single width panel has 5 pinch pleats, while a double width panel has 10 pleats. Custom pleat sizing and spacing is available in our online Design Lab.
Two-Finger Pinch Pleat
Two-finger pleats, or double pleats, are created using two folds instead of three. This is a new style for Eastern Accents this year, showcasing a more contemporary, streamlined look.
Inverted Pleats
Inverted pleat curtains, also called reverse pleats, are pleated panels that have been gathered and stitched on the back side, rather than the front. This technique creates a flat-fronted panel with the elegance and fullness of other pleated styles—but with a more sleek and streamlined look. These drapery headers are crisp, tailored, and modern.
Parisian Pleats
Parisian pleats, French pleats, or Euro pleats create an elevated look without frills or fuss. Very similar to pinch pleat drapery headers, these panels are gathered in groups of three folds, but are stitched along the very top edge. This allows the drapery fabric to flow seamlessly from the drapery rod all the way to the floor.
Goblet Pleats
The last drapery headers we offer are goblet pleats. Also very similar to pinch pleats, drapery fabric is gathered to form a distinct cylindrical shape at the top of the panel, resembling a wine glass or goblet. The result is a very elegant and formal curtain aesthetic.
Now that you are well-versed in each of Eastern Accents' drapery headers, you are ready to explore our full window program!
FAQs
How do I measure my windows for curtain panels?
Every window is different! Click here to learn about how to measure curtain panels for your specific needs.
How many drapery rings/pins do I need?
Pleated drapery panels require a set of pins and decorative rings to hang on a rod. Single width (20 inch) panels require 7 pins per panel, one for each pleat and one for each end. Double width panels (40 inch) require 12 pins each. Pleated drapery panels include pins free of charge, but the decorative rings must be purchased separately.
Click here to learn how to use and insert drapery pins.
