The Complete Guide to Wave Curtains | 247 Blog
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Posted 16/09/2024
Welcome to the world of wave curtains! This sleek, modern curtain heading is known for creating signature, symmetrical waves, and makes the perfect option for anyone looking for a clean, contemporary curtain finish. In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know from 'what are wave curtains' to 'how do I measure for them' and 'which windows are they suitable for' to give you all the information you need to help you decide whether wave curtains are the perfect style for you vs other made to measure curtain options.
What are wave curtains?
Wave curtains get their name from the soft, continuous folds they form, creating a neat and symmetrical wave effect when hung. Unlike traditional pleated or eyelet curtains, wave curtains are designed to glide effortlessly along a track, ensuring perfectly spaced folds every time. This unique design means you can get a minimalist, streamlined look without the fuss of adjusting curtain pleats to keep things tidy.
Thanks to their uniformity and sleek profile, wave curtains are ideal for wide windows and doors, like sliding or bifold doors. The fabric gathers into satisfying, uniform fods when drawn back, with lots of fabric sitting inside the folds resulting in a reduced stack depth. This means that wave curtains take up less room when pulled back compared to other heading types, making them perfect for windows of all sizes where you want to maximise light filtering into the room as they won't obstruct views or clutter your space when open. The wave system also minimises bunching, making these curtains low-maintenance and perfrect for large windows which require more fabric.
How do wave curtains work?
The magic behind wave curtains lies in their specialised track system. The curtain fabric is hooked onto wave gliders, spaced at regular intervals on the track and connected by cords, ensuring the uniform wave pattern stays intact no matter the position your curtains are in.
This clever system guarantees that wave curtains maintain their satisfying shape with minimal effort. Simply pull them open or closed, and the waves will remain neat and even, no need for fussing with folds or using toilet roll tubes between eyelets to keep your waves evenly spaced (A* for creativity!).
What types of fabric do wave curtains come in?
With over 800 fabrics available with wave headings, you're guaranteed to find a wave curtain to suit any room in your home at 247 Blinds! When it comes to looks, we have plenty of colours and shades, available in minimalist plains or bold statement patterns. The variety doesn't stop there, you can also browse by texture, from rustic woven textures, to luxurious options like velvet and faux silk.
Our range of fabrics can then be further customised with your choice of lining:
Standard lining: Light-filtering lining, perfect for living areas or spaces where you want a gentle filter of light.
Blackout lining: Light-blocking lining, ideal for bedrooms, ensuring you get that perfect night's sleep!
Bonded interlining: Adds a touch of luxury with its plush thickness, providing additional thermal properties to keep rooms cosy.
Or opt for our 'unlined' blackout curtains - these fabrics have all the benefits of blackout lined curtains, minus the need for lining, thanks to the fabrics' inherent blackout quality. Providing a great, light-weight alternative to lined blackout curtains.
Not sure which fabric to choose? At 247 Blinds, you can order free curtain samples to test out different materials against your existing decor and feel the quality in person before committing! Simple press the 'Free Sample' button on any of our curtain products you like the look of on our website and we will send them out First Class and free of charge!
What types of windows do wave curtains go best with?
Thanks to their streamlined design, wave curtains are a particularly popular choice for large expanses of glass. Whether it's bifold doors, sliding patio doors, or floor-to-ceiling windows, wave curtains provide the coverage needed without the bulk of traditional drapes or busyness of blinds.
With reduced stack depth, wave curtains won't block out too much light when drawn back, making them perfect for covering large windows where you want to let in as much light as possible whilst still enjoying the look and functionality of curtains.
Althought wave curtains are an excellent choice for large windows and bifold doors, they can be added to any size window, and with our made to measure service, you'll get the perfect fit every time.


Wave curtains for sliding, patio, and bifold doors
Wave curtains are an ideal choice for sliding and bifold doors. The gliders allow the curtains to glide effortlessly across the track, making it easy to open and close them without fuss, no matter how large. Plus, their sleek, uniform waves compliment the clean lines of modern doors creating a seamless flow from indoors to out.
For bifolds, wave curtains are especially practical because of their minimal stack dept. Thanks to the S wave fabric folds, wave curtains can cover larger widths without creating the bulkiness of traditional drapes. Not only does this mean they offer a sleek and modern finish to complement the slick design of bifolds, but it also makes them less likely to block your doorway or take up unneccessary space when opened.
What are the benefits of wave curtains?
Sleek and modern design
Wave curtains offer an undeniable sleek and satisfying look, with neat, uniform folds that stay symmetrical. Convenient and chic, they add elegance to any room without the hassle of constant adjustment.
Easy-to-use
Thanks to their smooth-glide track system, wave curtains are incredibly easy to adjust. Open or close them with ease, and enjoy the consistently perfect folds.
Versatility
From living rooms to bedrooms, wave curtains are perfect for any room. With customisation options, such as linings for light control and thermal benefits, they're practical as well as stylish.
Wave curtains; factors to consider
Curtain track compatibility
When installing wave curtains, it's important that the track you use is compatible with wave curtains. Not all tracks work with this heading type, but don't worry! Our wave curtains come with a specially designed wave track included in your choice of gloss white or semi-matte black, made to measure for your windows!
Room functionality
Consider how you'll use the room when choosing the right wave curtains for you. For bedrooms, opt for blackout fabrics. For living spaces or over bifold doors, go for a light-filtering fabric to maintain a bright and airy atmosphere. If you're dressing a window that tends to get draughty, opt for bonded interlining to reap the thermal benefits, keeping your rooms cosy in winter and cool in summer.
Maintenance requirements
Different fabrics have different care needs. If you want low-maintenance curtains, opt for fabrics that can be easily dusted or vacuumed. Most wave curtains are dry-clean only to protect them from warping, but the fabric can be easily unhooked from the track without having to take the whole thing down!
How to style wave curtains
When styling wave curtains, consider the room's overall aesthetic. Opt for neutral tones if you like to update your decor often, or go bold with contrasting colours to make your made to measure wave curtains a statement piece.
If you're fitting your wave curtains outside the window recess, you have free reign over both the width and the drop of your curtains, two things that can dramatically change the overall look and feel. To make your windows and rooms feel bigger, add 15-25cm of extra track to either side of your window frame, this will allow more light to enter when your curtains are open as well as creating an optical illusion where your window appears larger.
When it comes to deciding on drop, there are traditionally three options - just below the window, just above the floor, or for the maximalistss - a 'puddle' effect.
Shorter wave curtains
Just below the window is a good choice for windows situated above radiatiors, as this way your curtains won't block the heat from the radiatior from warming up your room - we recommend letting the curtains fall at least 15cm below the bottom of the window to ensure good coverage.
Floor length wave curtains
A popular length for curtains is allowing them to 'kiss' the floor, finishing just a centimetre or so above it - this gives a feeling of grandeur to the room - especially when paired with a track placed 15cm or so above the window itself, or even to the ceiling for a dramatic look!
'Puddle' effect wave curtains
Finally, 'puddling' is perfect for a dramatic look, this is where an extra 5-12cm is added to your floor-length drop measurement, allowing the fabric to form an elegant pool or puddle on the floor. Although not the most practical when it comes to operation and cleaning, puddling creates a real statement finish, perfect for curtains that serve more of a decorative function.
How to clean and maintain wave curtains
To keep your wave curtains looking their best, give them a regular dusting using a duster, cloth, or a vacuum with a soft brush attachment. Most wave curtains will need to be dry-cleaned to prevent shrinking or warping that can occur with machine washing. Be sure to check your fabric's specific care instructions!
How to measure for wave curtains
First decide whether you'll be fitting the curtains inside or outside the window recess. Outside the recess is the most popular choice for wave curtains, allowing the fabric of the curtains to gather at either side of the window when open so as to not block out too much light. Inside the recess is still a great choice if you don't want the curtains taking up too much space in the room.
Measuring for wave curtains to be fitted inside the recess
First make sure you have plenty of room in your recess to fit wave curtains - you’ll want to ensure you can give at least 7.5 cm of clearance between the window frame and where the track will be fitted to ensure your curtains won’t be obstructed by window handles!
Measure width: Measure the width at the top of the recess, going from wall to wall, don’t make any deductions here as we’ll take care of this!
Note: If you’re measuring a recess that is part-tiled, commonly seen in kitchens or bathrooms, measure between the tiles and use this width to order as it will be the narrowest part of your recess.
Measure drop: Measure the wall-to-wall drop inside the recess, again there’s no need to make any of your own deductions here as we’ll handle this for you!
If you’d prefer to make your own deductions, do so and select ‘Exact’ when ordering.
Measuring for wave curtains to be fitted outside the recess (exact)
Measure width: Measure the desired width you’d like the track to cover. We recommend adding 15 cm to each side of the window frame - this allows the curtains to sit neatly beside the window when open, giving you more light and making the window feel bigger.
Measure drop: Measure from where the top of the track will sit (we recommend placing this slightly above the window frame, at least 5 cm or higher for a grander look), to your desired drop length. Allow the curtains to extend at least 15cm past the bottom of the window frame for the best coverage.
For more help, visit our complete how to measure for wave curtains guide.
How to fit wave curtains
Fitting wave curtains yourself is a breeze, made even easier by the fact that we supply both the curtains and the wave track itself, both made to measure to fit your windows or doors perfectly, saving you the trouble of finding compatible tracks and gliders.
The first step is deciding whether you’d like to ‘face fix’ the curtain track directly to the surface of the wall - most common when fitting wave curtains outside a recess, or ‘top fix’ the brackets to the ceiling or top of the recess.
Once you’ve made your choice, position your brackets a minimum of 10 cm from where each end of the track will sit. If fitting inside a recess, ensure you allow 7.5 cm of clearance for window handles! Once you’re happy with the position, fix the brackets to the wall, then attach the track to the brackets by hooking it on. A handy screw is located underneath each bracket to allow you to secure the track into place.
The final step (and the most satisfying!) is to hang your curtains onto the track. Our wave curtains come with pre-installed hooks, simply loop these through the hook holes on each wave glider on the track to create those signature waves. Ensure the end of each curtain is hung so the backing faces in towards the rest of the fabric, hiding it from view.
For detailed step by step instructions, check out our how to fit wave curtains guide!
Find your perfect wave curtains with 247 Curtains
Ready to transform your space? At 247 Curtains, we offer a wide selection of fabrics and customisation options to ensure you find the perfect wave curtains for your home. From free samples to expert advice, we’re here to help every step of the way. Shop wave curtains today and give your home the upgrade it deserves!