Across the huge landmass that is Australia, trends in custom curtains may vary slightly according to local demand, but overall they seem to unite the nation, primarily, it seems, due to the huge influence of TV shows such as The Block! Key among the demand trends are a keen interest in insulation and solar protection and a tendency towards neutral colour palettes.

One retailer in coastal Victoria confirms cooler local temperatures are impacting sales. “Drapes have certainly picked up in the last 12 months. Insulation is a big part of this and people are seeking out heavier drapes with pelmets to fend off the cold in winter. Tastes tend more to the conservative, with customers choosing natural and neutral colour palettes that will stand the test of time.”

“At the same time, sheers are also very much on trend due to the influence of TV shows like The Block, and we’re busy trying to keep up with demand.”

A retailer in Melbourne says he is catering to the rapid growth of new apartments and display homes, typically with eyelet grommet custom curtains that are both simple to look at and economical, as well as easy to install.

On the west coast, a retailer in Perth says curtains are among the strongest sellers in the company’s portfolio. “We tend to cater to a residential clientele who are quite selective and not necessarily influenced by price. Curtains are making a comeback for aesthetic reasons but one of the things we’ve noticed is that acoustic insulation is becoming increasingly important, in light of the growth of industrial harder edged looks and finishes in homes.”

Meanwhile in regional New South Wales, one retailer says the local cold winters and hot summers have created demand for custom curtains that offer both block out and insulation properties, creating highly versatile window treatments that serve homeowners well throughout the year.

There’s also a fashion element to it too, with many homeowners opting for the recessed look that’s seen in new builds and hotels, where there’s a bulkhead and the curtain is hung behind it. And if that isn’t achievable, they’ll invest in the next best thing, which is to install a sleek slimline pelmet to achieve a similar contemporary, pared back look.

Indeed while drapes are essentially a ‘traditional’ window furnishing, many homeowners are finding ways to inject them with new life and modernity. That’s one reason why S-fold hangs for custom curtains are a sought after look that’s also significantly cheaper to achieve, requiring a lot less fabric than other types of curtain hang.

One high end retailer in Queensland echoes widespread sentiment about the market influence of certain TV shows. “People are indeed watching The Block and it’s definitely led to more curtain sales,” he says. Given Queensland’s warmer climate, lighter looking custom curtains such as sheers are a particularly strong seller, although homeowners will often opt for another block out curtain behind the sheer for added protection from solar glare when needed.

Investing in custom made curtains can have a huge impact on the overall look and function of your home. Curtains not only work as ‘fashion’ for your windows, they also have important functional benefits. So it’s no surprise that customers are often full of questions about how to get the most out of their custom made curtains. Here at Curtains On The Net we get a lot of queries from customers about fabric and hang. Here are some examples and some of our tips in response.

What kind of fabrics should I use for my custom made curtains?

Weight is an important consideration when choosing your fabrics. Lighter weight or sheer curtains create a breezy ambience and are generally more affordable for the average homemaker. Disadvantages include that they can also let too much light into a room. Meanwhile medium to heavier weighted curtain fabrics add a classy appearance to a room and work well in formal areas such as a living room or dining room. Lightweight curtains might be made of cotton, muslin or silk, while medium weight custom made curtains might work well in chambray, damask, brocade or jacquard, and heavyweight curtains might be made from lined velvet.

How much should I spend on fabric for my custom made curtains? 

Of course this is a bit like the “How long is a piece of string?” question; it all depends on your budget and requirements. However if your budget is limited then as a rule you don’t need expensive fabric for custom made curtains as they don’t undergo much wear and tear compared to say floor coverings or soft seating items such as armchairs, ottomans and couches. Linen look curtains are particularly strong sellers at the moment; the linen look is very on trend, but it also ties in with a timeless neutral aesthetic that won’t go out of fashion. By contrast, it’s advisable to avoid high maintenance fabrics such as dark velvets that will fade unless lined. Shiny fabrics like satins or silks can also be demanding to maintain and hang.

Having said that, there is a school of thought that suggests if you’re investing in custom made curtains it’s worth spending your money on something truly unique! It might be worth considering a daring print inspired by classic design. Even if you end up opting for something more neutral, at least you’ve explored all the options.

How do I know how much fabric to use?

It’s usually best to assume that each panel is around 275 cm for a standard height window of 200 cm or so, allowing extra for generous hems at the top and bottom. If you want pleating to add more volume you should probably double these dimensions, but again, this should be carefully considered if you are on a budget.

What kind of pleats work best for custom made curtains?

There are a number of commonly chosen options in terms of pleats. Pencil pleat curtains are a classic and work well in a wide range of fabrics including full blockout. Pinch pleat curtains add style to any window offering a traditional look that’s also very elegant. Box pleat curtains or inverted box pleat curtains create a clean modern look and suit most window sizes. Meanwhile for a more functional, less fussy look, many customers opt for simple eyelet curtains, which are a very affordable form of custom made curtains and can be made to fit any rod width and height.

A note about pleating for your custom made curtains

If you are opting for a tightly pleated hang, a word of warning about how the pleats affect the look of your fabric. Ideally most suppliers of custom made curtains should consider attention to detail very important; pleating to the design of the fabric is one example of this kind of perfectionism that can make a significant difference to the look of the final product.

Pleating to the design of the fabric ensures that the repeat pattern on your custom made curtains will be shown to best effect; in other words if the pattern consists of red and pink flowers, the pleat will show these evenly distributed across the width of the window. A poorly pleated curtain might hang in such a way that only the red flowers are visible. Correct pleating does cost more, as it requires more fullness than the normal amount, sometimes as much as three times fullness.

The idea is that every fold of fabric within in the curtain falls in exactly the same part of the pattern, particularly important when using a fabric like a stripe. Not pleating to the design of the fabric can result in unsightly and slightly chaotic looking curtains.

Should I use trimmings and tiebacks for my custom made curtains?

True enough, Victorian opulence has not been in style for some time, however there’s a new interest in luxury and exoticism in some quarters of interior design that lends itself well to add-ons such as trimmings and tiebacks. In terms of the strongest selling products, tie-backs are still in demand, because they play a specific role in holding your custom made curtains open! If heavy brocades, silk ropes and tassels aren’t your style, there are more pared back alternatives available; coarse natural rope on a linen curtain can look eye catching and very on trend.

Interest in opulent drapes and trimmings to match is very much in line with a move back towards a more formal look in the home, with the emphasis on warmth, colour and texture. Tassel fringing and bullion fringing for curtains and cords and brush fringes for cushions are making a comeback in some areas, while for more modern tastes there are alternatives; beads, feathers, crystals and anything ‘bling’ are certain to attract interest and enthusiasm. Tiebacks can also be custom made from drapery fabrics to match your custom made curtains, with the fabric also frequently echoed in other smaller soft furnishing items such as cushions.