Wave curtains

What the wave heading is

Wave curtains fall into gentle, even folds and can make a room feel beautifully relaxed. If you're picturing a clean, contemporary finish, we'd be happy to explain the heading and track options.

A wave curtain has a continuous run of soft S-shaped folds along the top. The folds are evenly spaced and the same depth, so a closed curtain looks like a gentle ripple, and an open one stacks neatly rather than bunching into a few fat folds. The effect is orderly without being stiff, which is why it is popular in contemporary living rooms and bedrooms.

It is the track that makes the wave

Good to know: wave curtains hang from a track rather than a pole. The heading tape has fixed, evenly spaced carriers or hooks that attach to a special track, and the track gives the folds their regularity. The spacing between the glides is set by the track system, so the curtain can only be hung with a compatible one. If you would like a pole, eyelet curtains or pencil pleat curtains are lovely options. We cover how the choices differ on our curtain tracks and poles page.

How much fabric a wave needs

To make soft, even S-folds the curtain has to be wider than the track it hangs from. The exact ratio depends on the heading system, but wave curtains are generally fuller than a flat panel and similar to or more generous than other headings. That fullness is what stops the folds looking flat when closed, so we avoid squeezing a curtain narrower to save fabric. We will give you the width that suits your chosen system when we measure.

Choosing a fabric that holds the fold

• Medium weight, soft-draping fabrics usually give the most even waves.
• Very stiff or heavy fabrics can make deep folds that stack bulky.
• Very light, sheer fabrics can look good as voiles but may need extra fullness to look right.
• Lined curtains hang better and help block light and draughts, though how much depends on the fabric and lining.

Pattern matters too. Large repeats can break up the rhythm of the folds, so a plain or small pattern is easier to get right. You can see samples and talk through the options at the measure.

Length and the way it falls

Wave curtains look best when they hang cleanly. Common lengths are just above the floor, just touching it, or with a small pool. Floor-length curtains also need space to move, so radiators, thresholds and furniture matter. It helps to decide the length before the track goes up, because the track position sets the top of the curtain.

Where wave suits best

A wave heading suits a wide window, a patio door, a straight wall or a long run where the curtain will be drawn often, because the glides move smoothly along the track. It is a little less suited to a very narrow window where there is little room for the stack, or a bay where a flexible track is needed and the track has to bend. For bays see blinds for bay windows, which also touches on curtains, and the curtains page for the wider picture.

Wave curtains and blinds together

Many people pair a wave curtain with a blind behind it, such as a roller blind for light control and the curtain for softness. Our article on curtain or Roman blind helps if you are not sure. Curtains are a smaller range for Boro, and we will happily tell you what we can arrange for your windows.

Keeping the folds looking good

Vacuum or dust the heading gently, and check the care label on your fabric before washing or dry cleaning. When drawing the curtain, pull from the leading edge or a wand if fitted, rather than tugging the fabric, so the folds stay even.

Want a second pair of eyes on your window? Book a free measure and we will confirm what suits before you commit to anything.

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