The technicalities of curtains are, as any reader of this blog will know by now, far more complex than the innocent eye might first perceive them to be and that’s as true for ready made curtains as it is for custom made drapes.

After all, who knew that in choosing readymade curtains, it could be possible to be confronted with such an overwhelming number of choices? A simple drape can encompass a wide range of options, from blockout curtains to sheers and everything in between.

From the perspective of the curtain hang, an equally impressive array is also available, and this is perhaps where personal expression comes to the fore. Aside from the fabric itself, the way you hang your curtains, along with the curtain tracking, or rod if applicable, are perhaps the most promising canvas for your creativity.

For example, apart from providing a budget option, eyelet curtains immediately confer contemporary style on any room in which they find themselves. The way in which the curtain rod is threaded through metal eyelets punched through the top of the curtain creates a clean modern look and is also useful where drawback space is limited as the curtain neatly concertinas together when opened.

A great and more unusual take on eyelet curtains are eyelet pinch curtains, in which the pinch creates a uniformly spaced drape with plenty of fullness, while maintaining the modern look of the eyelet hang. This is great for settings in which you’re looking for a contemporary look with a more structured finish.

Meanwhile for more formal settings, a triple pinch pleat is a more traditional heading made up of three pleats grouped together, the style is best suited to long, floor-length curtains particularly as it encourages the curtains to hang in attractive, orderly folds. The pleat depth is typically around 10 centimetres, depending on the length of your curtains. This heading is suitable for hanging from poles or tracks.

Also able to hang from poles or tracks, the goblet pleat heading provides an impressive formal pleat that adds opulence to a room. Also great if you’re looking for a luxurious finish are the somewhat more unusual cartridge pleat curtains. These entail a goblet pleat heading that hasn’t been folded and stitched in at the base, meaning the cylinder runs seamlessly from the pleat into the main body of the curtains. Cartridge pleat curtains offer a more contemporary interpretation of the goblet pleat, which is good for long curtains made from rich, heavy fabric. It’s a type of heading that can take a big stack, and can be hung from poles or tracks.

Perhaps surprisingly, whether or not to use curtain linings is also a critical question in terms of expressing your own style. You may not even have considered lining your ready made curtains, however it’s worth bearing in mind that lined curtains present a much more pleasing visual appeal from the street as well as from the interior of your home. More importantly, a good lining will keep your curtain fabric from fading. Curtains exposed to the rigours of the Australian sun will soon start to look faded and worn.

Everyone seems to be watching The Block, checking Pinterest or scoping out Houzz.com these days and as a result, it seems renewed interest in interior décor is burgeoning. As part of this, the revival of curtains as a window treatment continues apace. With so many different influencers out there, trends are hard to pin down however, so if you’re confused by all this choice, here’s an anecdotal run-down of “what’s hot and what’s not” in curtain retail at the moment.

• Sheer curtains double hung with linings continue to be one of the strongest trends around. These strong sellers are often hung with a blockout lining, sometimes coloured, at the back. Another option is to pair them with a blockout roller blind or similar blind treatment.
• Natural linen looks are also on the rise. The swing towards linens is great for creating earthy, unfussy curtains that work well with a surprising range of décor styles, from classic through to modern industrial. A newer trend within demand for linen is that customers are showing growing interest in ‘linen with a twist’; in other words something with subtle, added embellishment. For example they might go for a subtle stripe or pattern in the linen or possibly a ‘luxe’ style that looks a bit like a cross between linen and shantung silk. A tip for customers interested in linen style fabric is that linen or linen look drapes really do need to be lined, as they tend to be prone to fading.
• Vibrant prints continue to entice customers bold enough to go there, with anything from honeycomb geometrics to tropical florals making the cut. At the top end of the market, collaborations such as that between Designers Guild and luxury brand Christian Lacroix (pictured below) have resulted in a real wow factor that has influenced the whole curtain market.

• In terms of the hang, the S-fold or S-wave is currently attracting a lot of interest; it’s soft and informal but also hangs well when drawn as well as stacking back nicely when open.
• Motorisation is one of the biggest growth areas in curtains, not just because it provides ease of operation, but because of the new trend fora clean look, which is taking emphasis away from traditional decorative rods. Instead homeowners are opting for a ceiling mounted installation with a ripple fold hang. This looks clean and elegant and enlarges the appearance of their windows and curtains.
• Insulation is in demand. One of the reasons for the growing obsession with drapes is that they are great insulators from both heat and cold. Demand for pelmets is also on the rise as a result, due to their insulation properties and partly for their visual effect. Evidence suggests homeowners are spending more and seeing curtains as a real investment. They’re looking for curtains with the appearance of high quality and durability. Drapes, whether readymade curtains or custom made ones are a great way of causing a visual stir when you walk into a room; they also provide a unique cosy feeling in winter and welcome cool darkness in summer.

Time was when if you wanted a pair of curtains, you had them made up by a specialist maker, or, if you had the skill and equipment, as many people did once upon a time, you made them yourself.

A lot of homeowners still like to get their drapes custom made to ensure the hang and quality are right, particularly given that the current trend for hanging curtains high and wide means larger amounts of fabric are often required, however readymade curtains are certainly experiencing strong demand. A relatively new concept in the long history of curtains, ready mades have experienced particularly strong demand in recent years.

One of the reasons for this is convenience. In busy households where both adults are usually working, the ability to purchase curtains that are ready to hang within minutes is very attractive. The other reason is of course cost. Due to the rise of e-commerce, curtains suppliers are now able to keep their overheads relatively low. Many of them also get their products made overseas which also helps reduce costs. The result is that the savings are passed on to consumers.

And certainly those consumers are reaping the benefits of readymade curtains in growing numbers. Because of the low cost of supplying readymade curtains, suppliers are consequently able to have very large ranges of on offer, usually in a broad spectrum of colours, fabrics and styles. Ready made curtains can be offered to meet a number of needs; for example blockout curtains to protect a home from summer heat and glare as well as providing privacy during the day.

So how much should an average pair of readymades cost? They can start at prices as low as $40, ranging up to around $200, with price depending on the quality of the fabric used, whether or not the curtains are lined, as well as the workmanship involved. For example a pair of blockout contemporary jacquard pinch pleat curtains might come in at around $150, depending on the width and drop.

Whatever you end up spending on your ready made curtains, it’s worth taking care of them to optimise their function and durability. Getting the most value out of your curtains means treating them well. Avoid handling them with dirty hands, as this will soil the fabric. Keep your readymade curtains along with other window coverings such as roller or roman blinds dust-free by regular gentle vacuuming. For most blockout curtains it’s advisable to cold or warm hand wash with wool approved detergent. Do not soak or bleach or wring out, rub or tumble dry. Generally for sheer curtains a warm hand wash is best and avoid bleaching or soaking as well as wringing out or rubbing your curtains. Avoid dry cleaning wherever possible.

Some readymade curtains designed for convenience and are therefore washable, but be sure to refer to the ‘care label’ fixed to the rear of your curtains before taking the plunge.

Readymade curtains are a fantastic solution for many homeowners and there are now so many fabrics and print designs in ready made curtains available on the market that there’s usually a product to suit most needs and tastes. Offering the advantage of a lower cost, quick and easy solution, they’re increasingly in demand.

If you’re buying readymade curtains, you also need to think about the kind of curtain rods or tracking you will require and it’s probably advisable to think about this aspect of your purchase from the outset. Curtain rods are often used for a more casual and relaxed look and work well with contemporary or rustic look drapes such as eyelet curtains. Curtain rods can be made of many materials including timber, metal and plastic and they come in a spectrum of styles and designs. As well as straight poles, curved and hinged poles are also available for use in bay windows and on curved walls and corners.

Curtain tracking is often used on somewhat more formal curtains and can be applied to blackout, sheer curtains and more. If you’re trying to achieve a polished effect and a good hang, curtain tracking will enable to fine tune your look effectively.To get the best out of your ready made curtains, it’s crucial to ensure that the track is suitable for the weight of the curtains.PVC tracking tends to be inexpensive, flexible and works well with light and medium weight curtains. Aluminium is more expensive but stronger and more durable. It is also suitable for light and medium weight fabric and results in smoother drawing curtains.

For large, tall windows or a more formal effect, corded tracks are worth considering. They are threaded with nylon cord at the back linked to a system of gliders and pulleys. The curtains are opened and closed using a pull-cord, which is useful as it protects fabric from damage.

When purchasing your readymade curtains and rods or tracking, it’s worth being aware of some technical pointers, including how to deal with outside and inside recesses. With outside recesses, when measuring, allow a minimum of 15cm each side of the window to let in the maximum amount of daylight. For very full curtains allow even greater width. If you’re hanging your curtains inside a recess, the overall length of the track should be slightly shorter than the actual width of the recess. Standard size PVC or slim aluminium tracks can be cut to fit using a hacksaw.

In terms of cutting your tracks to length, PVC tracks are easy to cut with a hacksaw but when bending, work with care. Aluminium tracks are also easy to cut with a hacksaw and bent to shape, however you will need to work carefully since, once bent, an aluminium track will not spring back.

With a wide array of readymade curtains and rods and tracking available you’ll be able to find a relatively low cost solution for almost any window covering need. And if you do your homework before installing your drapes, you’ll be surprised by the great effect you can produce with a relatively small outlay.