Pinch pleated drapes are different to a regular style of curtains due to the way the fabric is pinched together by the heading tape at the top. The curtain is then hung using rings, hooks, or clips. This creates pinched pleats, which are spaced at even intervals and weighted from the bottom of the seams. The even pleats along the top of the curtain give pinched pleat drapes a very formal appearance, which can look very stylish in period homes or rooms decorated in a formal manner.
Pinch pleat drapes are generally made from heavy fabrics and come with fitted linings. This gives the drapes excellent insulation properties and they are far more elegant than other curtains made from cheap cottons mix fabrics. During the summer, they are very good at preventing the light from entering the room, which helps to keep rooms cool and prevents light damaging expensive furnishings. In winter, the curtains are very useful for insulating rooms from the cold outside. When these curtains are open, they can enhance the view from any room, and when they are drawn, they provide a very elegant backdrop to the room.
Pinch pleated drapes are a custom made design of curtain and once they have been fitted for a particular window, they cannot be moved to a different sized window. As such, they should be considered a long-term investment. Fortunately, with their classic good looks, they are unlikely to go out of style, unlike many modern types of curtain design.
Pinch pleated thermal drapes are exceptionally thick versions of pinch pleated drapes. They are treated with special acrylic foam to give them maximum insulation and are ideal for older properties with windows that are unlikely to be double glazed. By installing such curtains, you can save a great deal of money on heating bills through the winter by drawing the curtains at dusk and keeping your rooms free from chilly drafts. This type of curtain is often seen in period homes where they provide some elegant style in floor to ceiling windows.
For some curtains with an exceptionally luxurious appearance, pinch pleated silk drapes offer the rich lustre of silk combined with the elegant good looks of the pinch pleats. They are thinner than traditional pinch pleated curtains, and therefore not as good at providing insulation in older style windows, but what they lack in thermal properties, they more than make up for in style. This type of curtain would look beautiful in a formal dining room or reception room and is the style of curtain often seen in upmarket hotels and period stately homes. The only real disadvantage of silk drapes is that they are not always easy to take care of and once marked, they can easily be spoilt.
Pinch pleated sheer drapes are an attractive option for informal windows. Like silk, these curtains are made from a thinner material and are less effective at insulating against heat and cold. However, they look very attractive and can provide an elegant backdrop to any room in the home.