Can curtains be made to fit an arched window?
Updated
Yes. For an arched window the main question is where the track goes, because the curtain hangs from it. The choice depends on the arch, the room and what is around the window. Your retailer can look at the window, advise on the track position and fixing, and take the measure the curtain is made from.
An arched window has a curved top above a straight sided opening. A curtain hangs from a track, and the finished drop of a curtain is worked out from where the track is installed. So with an arched window, the main question is where the track goes.
Where the track can go
The answer depends on the arch, the room and what is around the window, and your retailer or installer can advise once they have seen it. They check the window, handles, blinds, pelmets, cornices and anything else in the way. They confirm whether the track is top fixed or face fixed, and whether there is suitable structure to fix into.
| Fixing | What it means |
|---|---|
| Ceiling fix | The track sits on the ceiling, a bulkhead or the top of a window recess. The curtain can run from ceiling to floor, and it closes most of the gap above the track where light escapes. |
| Face fix | The track is held off the wall, the architrave or the window frame on brackets. Brackets come in different lengths, so the curtain can clear handles, sills and blinds. |
What shapes the choice
- How much wall there is on each side. The track usually runs wider than the window so the open curtains clear the glass.
- Whether there is something solid to fix into where the track needs to go. Plasterboard alone should not be relied on to hold a loaded curtain track.
- A cornice, bulkhead or other fitting in the way.
- Whether you want the curtain to clear the floor, touch it or puddle.
What your retailer does
Your retailer is responsible for the measure on the order, and the curtain is made from their final measure, taken at your window once the track position is decided. Your own figures are enough for a first estimate, but the order is made from the retailer's own measure. Tell them early that the window is arched, and send photos of the whole wall. Photos answer questions a number cannot. The finished drop is worked out from the installed track position, not from a ceiling to floor measurement.
A made to order curtain is made for one window, so it is worth settling what suits your arch before the order goes in. Speedy Blinds makes curtains and tracks for retailers.
Other ways people ask this
Where should the track go on an arched window?
That depends on the arch, the room and what is around the window. Your retailer or installer checks the site and confirms the fixing.
Who measures an arched window for curtains?
Your retailer. They are responsible for the measure on the order, and the curtain is made from their final measure.
Can a ceiling fixed track be used with an arched window?
It can suit some windows. A ceiling fixed track needs something solid to fix into, and the installer finds the structure behind the ceiling. Ask your retailer what suits yours.
Should I send photos of my arched window?
Yes. Photos of the whole wall answer questions a number cannot.
This answer is general information. For your own windows, your retailer's advice and your order with them come first.