Pleated Window Treatment Ideas
- Pleated window treatments are commonly used as room-darkening draperies.draperies image by Pavel Losevsky from Fotolia.com
Pleated curtains are arguably the most stylistically classic of all available window treatments. By nature, they use more yards of fabric than non-pleated treatments, which accounts for their full look. Pleated draperies, valances and sheers can be made formal or casual through fabric and pleating choices; a floor-length drapery made from velvet and constructed with goblet pleats is far more formal than single-pleated cotton curtains. - The most classic of all long, pleated draperies is the single pinch pleat, which is one fold of material tented out from the fabric panel and sewn in the "pinched" position. Double-pinched pleats are two single pleats placed side by side; triple-pinch pleats are three side-by-side pleats. All pleats are pinched together at the top of the drapery and fall open along the panel's length. Between each section of pleating, a flat expanse of fabric allows the drapery to be stacked back when open, but because pleats don't take up less space when the drapery is stacked, a high number of pleats result in a wider stack. A grouped pinch pleat is made by grouping single, double or triple pleats alongside one another into a pattern---two double pleats placed close together is a grouped pleat. Grouped pinch pleat drapes are often used as room-darkening curtains in bedrooms or family rooms. They offer a very rich look, especially when made out of silk, velvet, fine linen or other luxurious textiles.
- A classic pleated valance is basically a short version of a pleated drape---it's constructed in the same exact way as a long drapery, but only acts as a window topper. Pleated valances are most often utilized to hide window shades, blinds or the hardware of long curtains. One type of pleated valance that uses less fabric and has a more streamlined, contemporary look is the box pleat valance. The biggest difference between box pleats and classic pinched pleats is that box pleats are inverted and don't have a gathered look---the fabric between each pleat is taut and smooth. Due to their lack of gathering, box pleat valances are an ideal way to showcase large prints or bold plaids. On a standard-size single window, the typical box pleat valance may have as little as one pleat or as many as three. Each pleat creates a single vertical line; the edges of the valance mirror the pleat lines and hang straight and crisply from the mount. Box pleats are easier to clean than gathered pleat styles because there's less fabric and no gathering.
- Oftentimes, simple pleated sheers are used beneath pleated draperies or valances to maintain some degree of privacy without sacrificing window light. The gathers provided by the pleats also lend texture, fullness and visual interest to an otherwise plain fabric. A single pleat works especially well on sheer fabrics such as organza, lace, gauzy silk, open-weave cotton or linen and embroidered chiffon sheers. Placing the pleats close to one another results in a sheer that provides an even higher degree of privacy. The fabric for a single pinch pleat sheet should measure about three times its finished width, or more if the panel has a lot of gathers. As with other pinch pleat draperies, a sheer with more pleats results in a wider stack-back while open. Used alone in a bedroom or bathroom, pleated sheers achieve a less formal look.
