Should curtains open in the centre or stack to one side?
Updated
Curtains that open from the centre split into two stacks, one each side, and suit most windows. Curtains that draw one way put the whole stack on one side, which suits a sliding door or a window hard against a wall or corner. Wall space and use decide it.
A curtain can open in two main ways. A centre opening pair meets in the middle and parts to both sides. A one way curtain is a single panel that draws across and stacks at one end. The right choice depends on the wall space either side of the window, how you use the window and the look you want.
Centre opening
The fabric splits into two smaller stacks, one on each side. Each stack is half the size, so it needs less wall on each side than one big stack would. The pair looks balanced and suits most windows and wide windows. It also leaves the middle clear when open.
One way
A one way curtain draws to a single side and puts the whole stack there. This suits a sliding door where you want the doorway clear, a window hard against a corner or wall, or a window with a handle or piece of furniture on one side. It needs more wall on the stack side because all the fabric gathers in one place.
| Centre opening | One way | |
|---|---|---|
| Stack | Two smaller stacks, one each side | One larger stack on one side |
| Wall space | Some each side | More on the stack side |
| Best for | Most windows, wide windows | Doors, corners, one sided walls |
| Returns | At both outer ends | On the stack side only |
Returns and uneven ends
A return is a fixed section of curtain at the end of the track that carries the fabric back to the wall. On a centre opening pair there is a return at each outer end. On a one way curtain the return is on the stack side only, so the two ends do not look the same. That is a normal result of a one way stack.
How to choose
- Measure the wall either side of the window. If one side has no room, stack to the other.
- Think about how you use the window or door every day.
- Check what is in the way: handles, furniture, a corner or a heater.
- Choose a lighter fabric or less fullness if wall space is tight.
Your curtain retailer will look at the walls and tell you where the stack will sit before anything is ordered. They measure, quote and place the order with their workroom.
Other ways people ask this
What does one way stack mean?
The whole curtain gathers at one end of the track when open.
What does two way mean for curtains?
Another name for centre opening: the curtain parts in the middle and stacks each side.
Which is better for a sliding door?
A one way curtain is often chosen so the doorway stays clear, but wall space decides.
Do one way curtains need a longer track?
The track usually runs past the window on the stack side so the fabric sits on the wall.
This answer is general information. For your own windows, your retailer's advice and your order with them come first.