Are Made-To-Measure Curtains Worth It? Everything You Need To Know Before Purchasing
Sponsored content: This post has been sponsored by Just Furnishings. All thoughts and honest opinions are by Melanie Lissack.
There’s no doubt about it: buying larger soft furnishings like curtains, blinds and rugs are big investments that you don’t want to get wrong. These items should last you for many years, so it is important to buy well and choose designs that are practical to your lifestyle and fit in with your home decor.
The soft furnishings that you add to a room are just as important as the furniture as they soften and layer the space, making it feel inviting and homely. Curtains in particular can add visual interest and give depth to a room, breaking up the wall space with the inclusion of a tactile or patterned fabric. Purchasing made-to-measure curtains online for the home has increased in popularity in recent years for several reasons; here are just some of the main ‘pros’:
- You can browse a range of fabric choices at your own pace, in the convenience of your own home.
- Ease: you can source fabric and get your curtains made without having to scour multiple fabric manufacturer websites individually and source a maker in your own time.
- Speed: Leading bespoke soft furnishings provider Just Furnishings will make and deliver your made-to-measure curtains in just 10 working days.
- Bespoke: Choose your favourite fabric, lining and heading style to have your curtains exactly how you want them, without compromise.
- Cost: You cut out the extra cost added by interior design retailers when purchasing fabric to pass over to your maker.
- You can use an online visualisation tool to see how the final product will look.
While made-to-measure curtains may be the only option if you have irregular shaped or sized windows, there are also many benefits to buying made-to-measure curtains online for standard-size windows or doors. Often, ready-made curtains are only available in plain, neutral tones, rather than on-trend, colourful, or interesting fabric designs. They can also feel flat, let light and heat through and ultimately become the uneconomical option as they don’t do what they are supposed to!
Of course, there can be some reservations when it comes to buying made-to-measure curtains online. Often, people are concerned about taking their window measurements or installing their curtains themselves, which is why it is important to choose the right retailer in order to source your made-to-measure curtains.
Recently, I ordered some hallway curtains from Just Furnishings, who offer a made-to-measure service for high-quality and bespoke curtains, blinds and cushions. On their website, they feature a detailed guide to measuring up and installation, which was easy for me to follow. Utilising the finest materials (the fabric I chose for my curtains from the website was by Sanderson) and with a strong focus on quality and attention to detail, Just Furnishings products are all made in the UK (the company has a strong commitment to local craftsmanship and ethical production).
I was so pleased with my new curtains and I learnt a lot about ordering made-to-measure curtains in the process. So, here are my top tips on ordering made-to-measure curtains online:
Choosing The Right Fabric
When choosing to buy made-to-measure curtains via a website, choose a retailer that can offer a wide range of fabrics in a whole host of colours and patterns. When I ordered my hallway curtains from Just Furnishings, I could select from over 1500 high-quality curtain fabric options that I filtered by price, colour, pattern and fabric style.
Small print designs are really on-trend at the moment, as are patterns featuring waves, curves and squiggle patterns. For colours, earthy-toned burgundy, terracotta and tan colours are currently popular in high-end design as they feel luxurious and warm.
If you are not sure where to start, evaluate the room in which the curtains are to be hung. Is there a colour in the room that you’d like to complement? A sage green sofa may benefit from touches of sage green in the curtains. A room with no other pattern may feel more interesting by adding some detail via the window treatments. If you are not a fan of vibrant patterns or colours, look to add interest via texture within your curtain material.
It’s imperative that you obtain a sample of your chosen fabric before you order your curtains so that you can make sure that you love the look of the fabric in real life as much as you liked it on screen! Just Furnishings offers up to five curtain fabric samples for free, enabling you to make the right choice for your home.
Picking A Curtain Header
The heading of your curtains can completely transform how your curtains will look in the room. Eyelet curtains (whereby holes are cut into the top of the curtain fabric, finished with metal rings that are then threaded through the pole) offer a casual, relaxed look, whereas pleated curtains offer a more formal look. Pleated curtains suit spaces like dining or living rooms, while you may want to choose eyelet curtains for teen bedrooms.
What lining is best for your window?
Think about the room where the curtains will be hung and how the room is used. For a bedroom, it is a good idea to get a blackout lining to stop any light filtrating through the curtains, ensuring a good night's sleep. For a curtain covering a door or a draughty window, a thermal lining will stop air travelling through the fabric, keeping the room warmer for longer and saving you money on your energy bills.
How To Measure For Made-To-Measure Curtains
Install your curtain track or pole or make markings exactly where your track or pole will be hosted. This is your starting point for taking your curtains measurements.
Use a metal tape measure that will provide an exact reading. Floppy plastic tape measures can give inaccurate readings as they may not be taught or completely vertical.
Measure for the curtain width: If you have an existing pole, measure the length of the straight pole between the two end caps/finials. If no pole is erected, measure your window width and add 30 cm on top.
Measure for the curtain length: Your curtain pole should be hung 10-15 cm above the window recess. If you are choosing pleated curtains, measure from the underside of the eye on the ring to your desired curtain finish point. If you choose an eyelet heading on your curtains, measure from the top of the pole to where you want your curtains to finish. If you are ordering full-length curtains, measure 1cm up from the floor for your desired length.
Check your measurements at least three times! As the old saying goes in DIY, measure twice and cut once. For made-to-measure curtains, I would advise measuring at least three times to be confident that you provide the right readings. Also, remember to check your submission online before heading to checkout - make sure that you have converted your measurements correctly if required and that there are no typo mistakes!
It’s best to ask any questions before ordering. If you purchase made-to-measure curtains via Just Furnishings, they have a UK-based customer service ready to answer any queries.
Installing Made-To-Measure Curtains
Installing your made-to-measure curtains should be a simple process. Simply lift off your pole in order to loop through eyelet curtains, while pleated or wave-headed track curtains come pre-installed with curtain hooks from Just Furnishings.
In my opinion, buying inline made-to-measure curtains from a reputable UK seller is so worth it! I’m delighted with the new hallway curtains that I recently ordered from Just Furnishings and I have a discount code for you to get 30% off any made-to-measure curtain order! Simply type MELANIELISSACK in at the checkout.