Curtain Poles Vs Curtain Tracks – Which Is Best For Your Home?

It is easy to consider curtain poles and curtain tracks as the same thing, but there are some important differences which can heavily influence how the final result will look once installation is complete.

Experienced curtain installers in London can help customers make the right decision between curtain poles or tracks in their home, based on factors such as window shape, the curtains you have chosen and the wider interior scheme of your home.

What is the difference between curtain poles and curtain tracks?

Although curtain poles and tracks are both used to secure and operate your curtains, they are fundamentally different:

• Curtain poles – These are designed to be more prominent and hence are as much of a decorative statement as the curtains themselves. Curtain poles are usually designed to carry rings through eyelets or curtain loops in the upper heading of the curtains. Curtain poles can be wood or metal and often carry an ornamental finish.
• Curtain tracks – These are more discreet and are not designed to be visible, they are a purely functional item and have no decorative features and are often made from thin, flexible plastic. Curtain tracks are usually designed as a type of rail system where clips attached to the curtain heading travel along the track when the curtains are opened and closed.

When would you use a curtain pole or a curtain track?

Curtain poles are more often used for standard windows with a straight design. Usually, curtain pole installation is within the recess of a window. This is because the curtain coverage can’t extend to the very end of the pole and therefore will leave gaps around the edge of the curtain. When fitted outside a recess, this ensures all the window and any incoming light is blocked by the curtains.

A curtain track installation is much more flexible in that it can be bent around the recess of bay windows or where you have awkward curves in a window setting. This makes curtain tracks more useful for non-standard windows. Light and privacy control is also much better with curtain tracks as the curtain can extend to the left or right extremity of the track.

In summary, you should choose a curtain pole if you have standard, straight windows and window hardware is important to the overall interior scheme. You can match this with a decorative curtain pole. You should also use a pole where your curtains have eyelets or fabric loops. You should choose a curtain track if flawless functionality and contemporary minimalism is more important than decorative hardware. Made-to-measure curtain tracks are also more suitable for bay windows and any non-standard window.