Summary: Made to measure curtains are made to the exact width and drop of your pole or track, in the fabric, heading and lining you choose. They suit bays, tall windows and awkward shapes that standard pack sizes rarely fit. The price depends on fabric, window size, lining, heading and fitting, which is why we quote after measuring. Every pair we sell is made in our own Coventry workroom and fitted by our team.
Made to measure curtains are curtains cut and sewn for one specific window, rather than bought off the shelf in a fixed size. You choose the fabric, the way the top is gathered, the lining and the finished length, and the maker builds the pair around the pole or track it will hang from.
Warren, our Managing Director, has worked in curtains and blinds since 1996, and our family-run team has measured, made and fitted curtains across Coventry, Kenilworth and Warwickshire since 2014. Below, we compare made to measure with ready-made, look at the windows that gain most, and explain what drives the cost.
What are made to measure curtains?
Made to measure curtains are made to order for your window, using measurements taken from the pole or track they will hang from. Ready-made curtains come in a small set of standard widths and drops. Most windows end up with a compromise: too narrow to close, or too short for the floor.
With made to measure, the decisions are yours. You pick the fabric, heading and lining, then set the length to the sill, just below it or to the floor.
Ours are sewn in our own workroom in Coventry, which opened in 2017. Dee and Sarah, our in-house seamstresses, each have more than 20 years’ experience making bespoke curtains, blinds and soft furnishings.
Made to measure vs ready-made curtains
Ready-made curtains are quicker to buy and cost less at the till. Made to measure curtains fit the window properly and let you choose every part of the finish. The window usually decides which makes more sense.
| Ready-made curtains | Made to measure curtains | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | A few standard widths and drops | Made to your pole or track width and chosen drop |
| Fabric | Limited to the retailer’s range | Chosen from fabric books, including Morris & Co., Romo and Harlequin |
| Heading | Usually eyelet or a pencil pleat tape | Pencil pleat, pinch pleat, eyelet, wave or tab top |
| Lining | Often light or unlined | Thermal, blackout or interlined to suit the room |
| Bays and shaped windows | Rarely fit well | Made around the track, with shaped windows templated |
| Measuring and fitting | Done by you | Measured and fitted by our team |
For a standard window in a spare room, ready-made can be a sensible choice and we would say so. The problems start when a window is not standard. A pair that is too narrow cannot close, and once a curtain is made short it cannot be lengthened without a visible join.
Should you make your own curtains instead?
If you sew, making your own saves on labour, though fabric, lining and heading tape still have to be bought. For a small, simple window it can work well. Lined curtains for bays or tall glazing are heavy to handle on a domestic machine, and uneven hems are hard to hide once the curtains are up.
Windows where made to measure curtains make the biggest difference
Made to measure curtains earn their keep on windows that standard sizes were never designed for.
Bay windows
A bay needs curtains made to run on a bent track fitted to the shape of the bay. Pencil pleat, pinch pleat and wave headings all work on the correct bay track. Eyelets do not, because the rings cannot travel round the curve. You can see one of our bay projects in the Rossi Studios bay window case study.
Apex and gable-end windows
Sloping glass at the top of a gable rules out off-the-shelf curtains almost completely. We template these windows first, then make the curtains to the shape. On one asymmetric apex window we made full curtains for blackout and sleep, added motorised blinds for daytime privacy, and finished the room with luxury tiebacks. The apex window case study shows how it came together.
One customer with a gable-end window told us: “We ended up with custom curtains very neatly fitted and with a better look and more effective blackout than blinds three or four times the price.” (Tango Foxtrott)
Tall windows, wide windows and bifold doors
Floor-to-ceiling glass and bifold doors need plenty of fabric, and that fabric has to go somewhere when the curtains are open. We check the stack-back space either side before recommending a heading. Wave curtains on a Silent Gliss track suit large windows particularly well, because the folds stay even and compact.
What affects the cost of made to measure curtains?
There is no single price for made to measure curtains, because each pair is built from a different set of choices. These are the factors that move the figure most:
- Fabric. Price per metre varies a long way between plain house fabrics and designer collections.
- Window size. Wider windows need more fabric across, and floor-length drops need more fabric down.
- Heading. Gathered and pleated headings use more fabric than eyelets, and pinch pleats are finished by hand.
- Lining. Thermal, blackout and interlined curtains each add material and making time.
- Tracks, poles and motors. A bay track or an electric curtain system is priced alongside the curtains.
We don’t publish prices for that reason. After a free home visit, we send a clear, itemised quote and talk it through with you. We are happy to swap fabrics or linings to reach a figure that works. The gable-end customer above also mentioned Clare, our Retail Sales Manager, helping them reach a combination that suited what they wanted to spend.
Choosing a curtain heading
A curtain heading is the way the top of the curtain is gathered. It decides how the fabric folds and whether the curtain hangs from a pole, a track or either.
| Heading | Look | Pole or track | Works well for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pencil pleat | Tightly gathered, soft cascading drapes | Either | Most windows; the most versatile choice |
| Pinch pleat | Evenly spaced pleats, hand-finished | Either | Tailored rooms, traditional or modern |
| Eyelet | Smooth, even folds; modern and relaxed | Pole only | Straight windows, medium to heavyweight fabrics |
| Wave | A continuous ripple | Specialist track | Large windows and contemporary rooms |
Dee and Sarah often suggest eyelets for heavier fabrics, because the weight spreads evenly across the rings. Eyelets are no good on a curved bay track or a track recessed into the ceiling, though, so the window can make the decision for you. Tab tops are another pole-only option for a relaxed, informal look.
Our curtain headings guide goes through every style in more detail, and we have a separate article on eyelet curtains. Both showrooms have working curtain displays, so you can open and close each heading before you choose.
Choosing a lining for made to measure curtains
Lining sits behind the main fabric. It affects how a curtain hangs and how much light and cold it keeps out, and it protects the face fabric from sun.
Thermal lining
A thermal lining adds insulation, helping a room hold its warmth in winter and stay more comfortable in summer.
Blackout lining
Blackout lining blocks as much light as a curtain can, which makes it the usual pick for bedrooms and nurseries. Some light can still creep round the edges, so how far the pole or track extends beyond the window matters as much as the lining itself. Our article on blackout curtains in a child’s bedroom covers this in more depth.
Interlining
Interlining is a soft extra layer sewn between the fabric and the lining. It gives curtains a fuller, heavier drape, adds warmth and helps absorb sound. Richly interlined drapes are a favourite for lounges.
Unlined voiles
Voiles are sheer curtains that filter daylight and give privacy without darkening the room. They work well in sunlit bay windows, on their own or behind a heavier pair.
How made to measure curtains are measured
Made to measure curtains are measured from the pole or track, not from the glass. The width comes from the length of the pole or track, and the drop runs from where the curtain hangs down to wherever you want it to finish.
Three things shape the final measurements:
- Where the curtains finish. Sill length, just below the sill and floor length each change the look of a room. Our guide to choosing the right curtain length helps with that decision.
- Room for the curtains when open. The pole or track usually needs to extend past the window so the curtains can stack back off the glass. We check that space before suggesting a heading.
- The shape of the window. Bays are measured section by section to suit a bent track, and apex or asymmetric windows are templated.
Measurements need to be accurate, because a curtain made too short cannot be lengthened without a visible join. That is why we take every measurement ourselves on a free home visit within 20 miles of our showrooms. We bring fabric samples too, so you can see them in your own light.
From showroom to fitted curtains: how our process works
Every project is personally managed from start to finish, and the steps are the same whether it is one bedroom window or a whole house.
- Showroom visit. Browse fabrics and working displays in Coventry or Kenilworth, which carries our widest range of samples.
- Advice. Our team helps you choose fabric, heading and lining for each room.
- Free home visit. We check the light and layout and take precise measurements.
- Quote. A clear, itemised quote, adjusted with you before you commit.
- Making. Dee and Sarah make your curtains in our Coventry workroom.
- Fitting. Our fitters hang them and leave the room tidy.
Timings depend on the fabric and the work involved, so we confirm them with your quote. The same team that dresses cruise ship suites and hotel rooms makes and fits curtains for homes across Coventry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are made to measure curtains worth the money?
For any window that isn’t a standard size, usually yes. They fit properly, close fully and hang the way the fabric was meant to. For a standard window in a spare room, a good ready-made pair can be enough, and we will say so if that is the case.
Are made to measure curtains more expensive than ready-made?
Generally, yes. You are paying for fabric chosen for your room, a heading and lining of your choice, skilled making and fitting. We quote after a free home visit, with every item listed, so you can see exactly where the cost sits.
Can you make curtains for a bay window?
We can. Pencil pleat, pinch pleat and wave headings all work on a bay track fitted to the shape of the bay. Eyelet curtains are not suitable for curved bay tracks, so we will guide you towards a heading that runs properly.
Can I get made to measure blackout curtains?
Any of our curtains can be made with a blackout lining, which suits bedrooms and nurseries. Fitting the pole or track wide enough and high enough makes a real difference to how much light gets round the edges.
Can made to measure curtains be motorised?
They can. We supply and fit electric curtains on motorised rails, controlled by a wall switch, a handheld remote or a smartphone app. They suit tall or hard-to-reach windows and anyone with limited mobility.
Do you offer free home visits in Coventry and Warwickshire?
We do, within 20 miles of our Coventry and Kenilworth showrooms, which covers Coventry, Kenilworth and much of Warwickshire. We can also travel further afield depending on your requirements.
Book a free home visit
If you are weighing up made to measure curtains for a bay, a tall window or a room you use every day, come and try the working displays. Visit our Coventry showroom (024 7771 7517) or Kenilworth showroom (01926 359096). Or book a free home visit within 20 miles, and we will bring samples, measure up and send you a clear, itemised quote. You can see our full range on the curtains page.
Written by Faith Plevin, Interior Design Advisor at Aquarius Interiors. Faith holds a Diploma in Professional Interior Design and has managed curtain and blind projects across the UK. She is based at our Kenilworth showroom.
