Curtains and Blinds Buying Guide

Ready Made: Fully lined curtains are available to take away or purchase online in up to three standard sizes and a selection of designs. Heal's ready-made curtains can be purchased at all stores except Brighton and King’s Road, and a selection is also available online. Ready made blackout roller blinds can be purchased online in a range of fabrics.

Made To Measure: You'll find a curtain and blind service at all Heal's stores (except Redbrick Mill), offering bespoke or ready-made solutions. With the Heal's Made To Measure service you can choose from over 10,000 fabrics in approximately 350 designer fabrics, plus a wide range of curtain poles, track systems, blinds and sliding panels. Bespoke curtains are usually ready within 6 weeks.

Curtain Poles and Track Systems: Heal’s offers a selection of curtain pole kits in wood or brushed nickel finishes. These come in two different lengths and a selection of finial styles. Track systems are available in store.

Choosing the correct curtain style for your pole/track is extremely important. Below is a list of curtain styles that are suitable for use with curtain tracks or poles and rings:

Pencil Pleats - a classic formal style

Pinch Pleat - for a more formal appearance the sewn-in-pleat allow the curtains to fall in well defined, deep triple folds.

Cartridge - For a more formal but modern appearance the sews-in cartridge allow the curtains to fall in well defined folds

Gathered - The folds are unstructured and therefore give a more relaxed look

Below is a list of curtain styles that are suitable for use with poles only:

Tab Top - A simple, informal curtain style with loops sewn onto the top of the curtain.

Slot Top - As the name suggests, curtains are simply slotted onto a pole

Eyelet - A modern curtain style with eyelets punched into the curtain heading,. We offer two sizes of eyelet, 25mm and 40mm, in a selection of finishes.

You can choose from a range of styles in a variety of fabrics, woods or metals in store, each made to your exact measurements.

Venetian Blinds - Wood Slat: Most of our wood slat blinds are made from Basswood and are available in different finishes. We also offer real ash, real cedar and driftwood. Our wood slat collection is available in 25mm, 35mm or 50mm slats and our Shutter Style wood is available in 65mm slats. Wood blinds are a natural product so slight variations and knots may occur.

Venetian Blinds - Metal Slat : A simple metal Venetian blind. Available in 3 slat widths: 16mm, 25mm or 50mm. A wide range of colours and finishes are available including perforated.

Roller Blinds: A traditional blind operated by a roller with spring mechanism or sidewinder. When lowered, the blind fills the window space with flattened fabric. Also available for Velux roof windows.

Roman Blinds: An elegant and simple blind with enduring appeal, available in self-stacking or waterfall effect. Pulled up, the blind forms a series of crisp, concertina folds. Let down, it flattens neatly to cover the window.

Wood Weave: A traditional French blind made from veneers of wood and reeds woven together in different combinations.

Sliding Panels: A modern, multi-functional panel system, which lends itself perfectly to large floor-to-ceiling windows or as room dividers.

Vertical Blinds: A modern, stylish vertical system available in 89mm, 127mm & 250mm louvres made in an extensive range of colours, textures and wood.

Before measuring you should decide whether your curtains will hang from the track or pole. Ideally, poles or tracks should be fixed about 15cm above the top of the window and extend 15-30cm either side of the window. Curtains are normally floor-length, sill-length or below sill-length. Always measure the drop in at least 3 positions as floors and window sills are rarely level.

Track Fixing:

Width - If you have a continuous track, measure the full length of the curtain track (A-B). If you have an overlapping track, measure (C-D) and (E-F), then add together to give the total measurement. If the track has end returns to the wall, the amount of end return should be added twice (once for each side). See diagram on the right.

Drop - It is usual for the curtains to obscure the track. The drop measurement should be given as the overall finished length, from where the curtains start to where they are to finish.

Pole Fixing:

Width - Measure the width between finials (A)

Drop for gathered, pinch pleat, cartridge and pencil pleat - If you require the pole to be visible, measure from the bottom of the ring to the length you require (B). If you would like the pole covered, measure from where the curtain is to start to where it is to finish (C).

Drop for tab. tie top and slot top - Measure from the top of the pole to where the curtain is to finish (C). For the slot top please state the pole diameter. See diagram on the left.

Drop for Eyelet - With this style the top of the curtain is 3cm above the pole. Curtains will be made to the overall fabric drop given, it is therefore necessary to measure from the top of the pole and then add 3cm to this measurement.

Notes: For full-length curtains we recommend 1 ½ to 2cm clearance from the floor.

Before you choose a blind, decide whether you require a recess or face fixing blind. A recess fixing is where the blind is fitted inside a recess, frame or achitrave. For a face fixing, the blind is fitted directly onto the wall, ceiling or outside of a window frame.

Venetian, Pinoleum and Roman Blinds - Measuring for recess fittings:

Measure the narrowest width (A). Take into account any protrusions such as tiles. Measure the required drop (B). This will include the blind mechanism. Do not make any allowances for fixtures as this will be done when the order is processed. Work out which side you want the blind controls.

Venetian, Pinoleum and Roman Blinds - Measuring for face fittings:

Measure the required width (C). Consider any obstructions either side. It is recommended that the blind is at least 5cm wider (on either side) than the window recess. Measure the required drop (D). It is recommended that your blind starts 5cm above the window recess. Work out which side you want the blind controls.

Roller Blinds - Measuring for recess fittings:

To fit within the recess the fabric width is always smaller than the mechanism width. Therefore light may bleed around the edges.

Measure the recess width at the top (A). Measure the required drop (B). This will include the roller mechanism. Do not make any allowances for the mechanism as this will be done when the order is processed. Consider where the brackets will be fitted (i.e. top, back or side).

Roller Blinds - Measuring for face fittings:

The blind covers the outside of the recess and therefore part of the surround.

Measure the required width of fabric (D). We recommend an overlap of at least 5cm on all sides of the window recess. However you must consider the additional space required for the mechanism and brackets, approximately 3.5m overall (C). NB. There is no need to make any allowances for this in your measurements of fabric. Measure the required drop (E). This will include the roller mechanism. Consider where the brackets will be fitted.

Firstly decide where the pole is to be positioned. This may be on a window frame or on the wall above. Measure the required length. Take into account the space needed for the curtains to be drawn back either side of the window which should be between 15cm and 30cm or more.

Decide on the style of the finial required. Ensure there is space either side of the pole for the finials. Alternatively we can supply 6mm thick stud ends to neatly finish the pole.

When deciding on the number of brackets, you need to consider the weight of the curtains and the overall span of the pole. It may be necessary for the pole to be made in two pieces, joined in the centre with a supporting bracket. The pole can also be made in multiple sections with a passing bracket to support all of the joins. You will then require passing rings which will glide over these brackets.

If you are using heavy curtains on a pole within the above recommendations, it may still be necessary to use a centre bracket.

If required, calculate the number of rings needed, an average of one ring per 10cm is recommended plus 2 extra (one for each end).

Bay Windows: Made to measure curtain poles are available for bay windows. Please ask a sales assistant for a Bay Measuring Form and once measured we will be able to give you a detailed estimate prior to ordering.

For accurate results state measurements in centimeters. Always use a metal tape measure.

Remember, made to measure curtains, blinds and poles are made to each individual customer's measurements, so please take extra care when measuring. Refunds cannot be made on made to measure orders.

Curtains and Blinds can dramatically enhance your room and pull an interior design scheme together. Here are some things that you may want to think about:

Traditional Look – For a traditional look in your room, measure your curtains so that panels exactly hit the floor. For full-length curtains we recommend 1 ½ to 2cm clearance from the floor.

Casual Look – Lengths don’t have to be exact, they can skim the bottoms of the window frames, and create a romantic feel by extra lengths puddling on wooden floor boards.

Create a Colour Scheme – Choose solid colour curtains close to the shade of your walls to create a unified effect, or make a bold statement with a patterned fabric. Pick the pattern and/or colours from the curtains in other soft furnishings (rugs and cushions) to tie everything together.

Create Height and Width – Think about where you will place the curtain pole. If you want to give the illusion of height in your room, then install the curtain pole inches above the window frame. Choose a really wide curtain pole to widen the appearance of a narrow window and at the same time let in more light.

Let in Light – Fix a curtain pole half way up the window frame to let in light, but also to retain an element of privacy . This is perfect for bathrooms or rooms that have street facing windows.

Other Ideas – use curtains and blinds as dividers in large rooms to create flexible living spaces. Make a statement in the bedroom by adding curtains around the bed, similar to installing a mosquito net.

Curtain and Blind Making Service

Bespoke Upholstery Service

Heal's Curtains and Blinds

Do you have a question? Why not email our Product Advisor at productadvisor@heals.co.uk