Drapery Panels
Custom Drapery Panels - Pinch Pleat, Grommet, Rod Pocket, Back Tab, and Soft Wave Styles for Every Room
No other window treatment can transform a home like custom drapery panels. A window drapery is all about the room’s architecture, it brings height, warmth, texture and even some degree of detail which no other window covering can. By customizing panels to your exact window size, choosing the type of hardware system, panel length, lining and fabric type, and the type of heading, you can have custom drapery panels installed in your home at BuyHomeBlinds in Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC.
Whether you’re choosing floor-length pinch pleat drapes for your formal living room, grommet drapes for your modern bedroom or a motorized soft wave fold track system for your smart home, our drapery collections have it all.
All orders are shipped free. All products come with a limited lifetime guarantee. All homes in our service area are eligible for a complimentary in-home consultation.
Drapery Heading Styles: Which Panel Type Is Right for Your Room?
The way the fabric attaches to the rod, track, or ring system influences the way your drapery panels hang, move and appear from the inside and out of the room. Below are well defined examples of the 6 styles of headings that are provided on BuyHomeBlinds:
Pinch Pleat Drapery Panels
Pinch pleat panels are the most traditional and popular drapery headings. Three fingers of fabric are pressed together and stitched about 4" from the top to form uniform, tailored folds that cascade down the panel. Pinch pleat drapes are attached to curtain rings or to decorative hooks and are very practical for frequently opened and closed windows. The organized fold pattern is ideal for traditional, transitional and formal interior design. Pinch pleat drapes with 2.5x fullness provide the most luxurious, rich drape.
Pleated Drapery Panels (Euro / French Pleat)
The euro-style and French pleat styles are modern variations on the pinch pleat. The pleats are sewn in at or very close to the top edge of the panel, not four inches down, which gives a cleaner more streamlined look compared to the pinch pleat. This heading style is ideal for modern and transitional interior spaces where a sleek and understated aesthetic is desired. These panels are completely functional for everyday opening and closing, similar to pinch pleats.
Grommet Drapery Panels
Grommet panels have metal rings directly punched onto the top edge of the fabric that the curtain rod runs through. This is the reason that there are large and soft uniform waves of fabric on the face of the panel. If the windows are opened and closed several times a day, the grommet drapery panels roll along the rod smoothly and easily. They fit clean, graphic heading suits to modern, industrial and minimalist interiors. It comes in various metal finishes, such as brushed nickel, matte black, antique bronze, and gold.
Rod Pocket Drapery Panels
Rod pocket panels feature a fabric sleeve at the head that is sewn into the panels so that the curtain rod runs directly through it and forms soft, gathered folds without any rings or other hardware showing. The fabric that is collected is full and stationary on the rod and is used primarily for decoration, not for daily use. They are ideal for romantic, cottage, coastal and casual interior styles and they are especially appropriate on either side of a functional shade or blind, with a window opening.
Back Tab Drapery Panels
Back tab panels are those with hidden fabric loops on the top edge of the panel, with the rod going through them. The rod is hidden completely and the top of the fabric face is completely even, with no rings, no gathering and no hardware visible. This provides a clean and well-fitted front look with even and neat folds when the panel is extended. Back tab drapery panels are ideal for modern, transitional, and minimalist room styles where cleanliness and simplicity are desired.
Soft Wave Fold Drapery and Track System
Soft wave fold drapery, sometimes known as ripple fold drapery, is a system of evenly spaced carriers that produce a ribbon of continuous consistent waves down the length of the material. No individual pleats, the wave is built into the track spacing and the panel's construction. Soft wave fold draperies roll smoothly on their rail and are most practical when used in large panels, floor to ceiling applications, and motorized drapes. In this style, a contemporary and transitional home with high ceilings or large windows will look modern and architectural.
Drapery Panel Lining Options: Privacy, Blackout, and Thermal
Lining affects the performance of your drapery panels, not only what they look like. The right lining enhances privacy, light control, energy efficiency and weight and drape of the panel.
Unlined Drapery Panels will let light slip through the drape, giving it a soft and glowing look. Ideal for sheer or semi-sheer fabrics to be used as decorative accent panels where the light control is achieved by a functional shade below.
Privacy Lining is a semi-opaque layer that reduces glare and obscures the view from the outside during daytime. It’s the most sought-after lining for a living or dining room that requires a more inviting but not fully transparent ambiance.
Blackout Lining blocks 99.8% of the light coming in and offers total privacy during the day. Crucial for primary bedrooms, nurseries, guest rooms and home theaters. Another important factor in older Maryland and DC-area homes is heat gain during the summer and heat loss during the winter, and blackout-lined drapes help with both.
Thermal Interlining is a layer of softness in between the front cloth and the back lining. This provides bulk and shape to the drape, enhances draping lines and greatly increases the drape’s R value. Thermal interlined drapery panels are the warmest and heaviest, perfect for formal rooms and drafty windows on period houses in the DC metro area.
Drapery Panel Length Guide
The length of your panel can impact not just the appearance but also the performance of your drapery. The basic lengths are:
Sill Length — Panel hem at the window sill. Ideal for kitchens, bathrooms and informal areas where long length panels would be hard to install.
Below Sill / Apron Length — Panel hem 4-6 inches below the sill. Ideal for application in windows that are directly below furniture or radiators.
Floor Length — Panel hem is approximately half to one inch above the floor. Most common room sizes for living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms. Makes a neat and stylish look.
Puddle Length — Panel hem is pushed three to six inches over floor to form soft puddles. For formal rooms, master bedrooms and design-focused spaces, it’s a bold statement.
Layer Drapery with Shades for Full Light Control
Custom Drapery Panels are best when used with a functional shade. This two-in-one treatment is the most common window treatment enhancement homeowners opt for in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia:
Drapery Panels with Roller Shades
The shade mechanism controls the amount of light and privacy, while the drapery panels provide softness, color and insulation
Drapery Panels with Cellular Shades
Cellular shade provides energy efficiency and room darkening; the drape adds a finished, designed look
Drapery Panels with Solar Shades
Solar shade controls glare and UV, drape frames the window and obscures the view when pulled up.
We can fit, fit and finish the entire treatment package, including panels, shade, hardware and track, all in one consultation with the customer at BuyHomeBlinds.
Visit your home for a free in-home consultation to view the various drapery and shade layering options through which you can place your custom order.
Motorized Drapery Track Systems
We have a fully motorized track system for our soft wave fold drapery collection. Motorized Drapery Tracks make it easy to open and close your custom panels from a distance using remote, wall switch, smartphone app, and voice control with your smart home system. Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit integration is available.
Motorized drapery tracks should be installed on:
- Oversized windows and floor-to-ceiling panels
- Primary bedrooms with a focus on quiet, easy use
- Whole-home smart window treatment systems
- Windows that have a larger or higher drapery panel than can be easily moved by hand
Two different motor options are available – battery-powered and hardwired. Installation service includes track measurement, motor installation, and smart home programming.
Why Maryland, Virginia, and DC Homeowners Choose BuyHomeBlinds for Custom Drapery
We are located in Beltsville, MD and have a wide 15-mile radius of service that includes Bethesda, Rockville, Silver Spring, Chevy Chase, Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, and the Washington DC area. Each of our supplied drapery panels is handcrafted to order based on your window dimensions, lining, preferred window heading and panel length.
- On each and every order, custom fabrication to your exact specs
- No minimum purchase required for free shipping
- Limited lifetime warranty for all drapery panel products
- Free in-home design consultation – a specialist comes to your house, takes measurements of all your windows, brings fabric samples and offers advice on style, lining and hardware
- Wood, metal, and acrylic finishes for decorative drapery hardware that will complement your panels
- Track systems programmed and installed by our staff using motorized technology
Call 301-847-7000 or book your free in-home consultation online to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions About Custom Drapery Panels
What is the difference between drapery panels and curtains?
Drapery panels are usually constructed from heavier, lined materials and intended to hang to the floor from a rod or track. They are a structured, custom-made window treatment designed to fit a window of a particular size. Curtains are typically lighter, unlined and come in standard off-the-shelf sizes. Custom Drapery Panels at BuyHomeBlinds are created to your exact size, fabric type, heading style, and lining, offering you a fit, weight, and finish that ready-made curtains just can’t beat.
Which drapery heading style is best for daily use?
Pinch pleat, grommet and soft wave fold headings are the most useful window hangings for windows that are opened and closed regularly. Grommet panels move the best with a rod. Pinch pleat and Euro pleat panels are smooth functioning on ring and rod systems. The easiest of all panels to be folded are the soft wave fold panels on a motorized or manual track. Pocket and back tab panels are not very functional, more decorative and appropriate for stationary panels as accent pieces.
What lining should I choose for a bedroom?
Primary bedrooms, guest bedrooms and nurseries should be blacked out with blackout lining. It cuts off almost all of the light coming in during the nighttime hours and offers total privacy at night. To get the best performance from blackout panels, use an overlay type blackout outer mount so the panels overlap the window frame all the way around and for added daytime/nighttime light control, use blackout cellular shades under the drapes.
What is drapery fullness and how does it affect my panels?
Drapery fullness is the ratio of the width of the material to the width of the window that the material is covering. A 2x fullness panel is when the panel width is doubled so there are large amounts of folds, 2x fullness. Built into two and a half times the amount of fabric, a 2.5x fullness panel creates an even more luxurious and deeper drape. Fullness at 1.5x will give a leaner, more streamlined look with less fold depth. Pinch pleat and pleated drapery panels made at 2.5 times fullness for maximum drape quality. Specialists will recommend the level of fullness during your design consultation for your chosen heading style and fabric.
Can drapery panels be motorized?
Yes. Available with full motorized drive, our soft wave fold drapery and track system can be controlled by remote, wall switch, smartphone application or smart home voice command via Amazon Alexa, Google Home, or Apple HomeKit. Motors that are battery-powered do not need to be hardwired. As experts who provide full service throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC, our staff installs the track, programs the motor and integrates the system with the smart home.
How do I choose the right panel length for my room?
Living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms consider the floor length which leaves the hem half an inch to one inch above the finished floor, the most popular and versatile style. Three to six inches of water in the puddle makes for an interesting, formal appearance. Lengths of below-sill and sill are practical for bathroom and kitchens. During the consultation we will measure the finished floor height of your window, so that your panels come at an exact length.
What drapery fabric works best for living rooms?
Fabrics for living room drapery panels have a number of options including linen and linen-blend fabrics which offer warmth, natural texture, and a taste of natural yet casual elegance with which to create living room drapes that span from transitional to contemporary to traditional décor styles. Cotton and cotton-blend fabrics are available in the largest variety of colors and prints. Velvet drapery panels are extremely warm and absorb light, and are ideal for a formal living room or dining room where a luxurious, lush, tactile feel is wanted. Request complimentary fabric samples to help assess texture and feel of the fabric in the lighting of your own space before ordering custom.
How long does it take to receive custom drapery panels?
Production time will differ depending on fabric and heading style. Call our team at 301-847-7000 to check with us for the lead time on your choice. We offer competitive custom production times for customers in Maryland, Virginia and DC in our Beltsville operation. If you are in need of panels earlier than expected, be sure to discuss some of the quick-ship possibilities available to you with our team during your consultation.
Transform Your Windows With Custom Drapery Panels From BuyHomeBlinds
Whether you want a formal draping drape with pinched pleats, fabric pleats for a modern bedroom, or a motorized soft wave fold track system for a smart home installation, BuyHomeBlinds has all of the above in one convenient package.
Shop our full drapery panel collection above, order free fabric samples, or call 301-847-7000 to book your free in-home design consultation today.