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Laura Ashley Pencil Pleat Curtains: Your essential buying guide
Pencil pleat curtains have a gathered heading created by pulling cords in the header tape, forming neat vertical folds that resemble a row of pencils. They are commonly hung using curtain hooks on a track or on rings attached to a pole.
Measure the full width of your curtain track or pole, excluding finials, then choose curtains with enough combined width to allow for gathering. For drop, measure from the track or ring position to where you want the curtains to finish, such as the sill, below the sill or the floor.
Yes, pencil pleat curtains can be used on a curtain pole when paired with curtain rings and hooks. They can also be used on many curtain tracks, making them a flexible choice if you want a more traditional heading.
Choose unlined or lightly lined pencil pleat curtains for a softer decorative finish, blackout lining for reducing incoming light, or thermal lining to help add insulation at the window. The best option depends on whether your priority is style, privacy, light control or warmth.
Pencil pleat curtains can suit living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms and home offices, provided you choose the right fabric, lining and length. For humid areas such as bathrooms or kitchens, check the fabric care details and consider whether a blind or washable window covering may be more practical.
Pencil pleat curtains offer a classic gathered heading with plenty of flexibility around tracks, poles, fabrics and linings. Use the key details below to compare pairs more confidently and narrow down the best fit for your windows.
Pencil pleat curtains use heading tape with pull cords, allowing you to gather the fabric to the right width before hanging. They are usually fitted with curtain hooks, which makes them suitable for many curtain tracks and for poles when used with rings.
If you are comparing pencil pleat with nearby styles, eyelet curtains give a more modern ringed finish, while tab top and slot top curtains create a simpler pole-only look. Pencil pleat is often the more flexible option when you want a traditional gathered appearance.
For pencil pleat curtains, measure the full usable width of your track or pole rather than the window glass alone. The combined curtain width should be greater than this measurement so the fabric can gather properly when the heading cords are pulled.
A fuller gather gives a richer, more traditional look, while a lighter gather can appear simpler and less bulky. Always compare the stated curtain width, whether it is for a single curtain or a pair, before deciding.
Curtain drop affects both the appearance and practicality of the room. Sill-length curtains can work well where furniture sits beneath a window, below-sill drops add extra coverage, and floor-length curtains create a more finished look in living rooms and bedrooms.
When measuring, use the hanging point that matches your fitting: from the track position for tracks, or from the ring or hook position when using a pole with rings. This helps avoid curtains sitting too high or dragging on the floor.
Fabric weight changes how pencil pleat curtains hang. Lighter fabrics can create softer folds, while heavier materials usually give more structure and a cosier feel. Consider how the texture and colour will work with your walls, flooring and existing furnishings.
Lining is just as important as the outer fabric. Blackout lining can help reduce light in bedrooms, thermal lining can add an insulating layer at the window, and standard lining may be enough for general privacy and a neat finish.
Your curtain choice should work with the existing pole, track and surrounding décor. If you are updating more than one room, comparing pencil pleat curtains alongside other curtain headings and window covering options can make it easier to keep a consistent style across the home.
For a broader look at window treatments, the wider curtains and blinds category can help you compare curtains with blinds and other solutions where a different level of privacy, light control or space-saving practicality may be needed.
