Table of Contents

• Why Getting Your Curtains and Poles Right Matters
• Types of Curtain Poles: Materials and Styles Explained
  • Metal Poles
  • Wood and Resin Poles
  • Extendable Poles for Awkward Widths
• Types of Curtain Headings and Which Pole They Need
  • Eyelet Headings
  • Pencil Pleat Headings
  • Tab Top and Other Styles
• How to Measure for Curtain Poles Accurately
  • Pole Width
  • Drop and Mounting Height
• Curtain Pole Fitting Guide: Step-by-Step Installation
• Choosing the Right Curtains and Poles Together
• Finishing Touches: Finials, Rings and Brackets
• Conclusion

Last Updated: August 27, 2026

Getting your curtains and poles right is one of those home decisions that looks simple until you're standing in a room with sagging fabric and a pole that's 20cm too short. At The Curtain and More Co, we know this from the questions we hear every week: which pole suits which curtain heading? How do you measure accurately? What weight of fabric can a standard bracket actually hold? This guide answers all of it, clearly and practically, so you can shop with confidence rather than guesswork.

A good curtain and pole combination does more than cover a window. It defines the proportions of a room, controls light, and sets the tone for everything else in the space. Get it wrong and even beautiful fabric looks awkward. Get it right and a relatively modest investment transforms a room entirely.

According to the British Standards Institution guidance on domestic window treatments, correct installation and appropriate weight-bearing capacity are the two most commonly overlooked factors in curtain pole selection.

Why Getting Your Curtains and Poles Right Matters

Curtain and pole selection is not just an aesthetic decision. The wrong pole for a heavy fabric will bow in the middle within weeks. The wrong heading for a slim pole will bunch unevenly and never hang straight. The relationship between curtain weight, pole diameter, and bracket spacing is the structural backbone of the whole arrangement.

There is also the question of proportion. A pole that extends too little beyond the window frame forces curtains to cover part of the glass even when open, reducing natural light. One that extends too far looks ungainly.

Types of Curtain Poles: Materials and Styles Explained

Curtain poles come in three broad material categories, each with distinct advantages depending on the room, the fabric, and the look you are after.

Metal Poles

Metal poles are the most versatile option for most homes. They are available in steel, aluminium, and iron, with finishes ranging from brushed nickel and chrome to matt black and antique brass. Steel poles handle heavier fabrics well, making them a sensible choice for velvet, lined curtains, or heavyweight woven fabrics. Aluminium poles are lighter and easier to cut to size, though they are better suited to medium-weight fabrics.

The silver metal curtain pole from The Curtain and More Co is a practical starting point for most rooms. At £8.99, it extends up to 140cm and comes with three-piece brackets and nickel end cap finials. The 2.5cm diameter suits most ready-made eyelet curtains without modification. Metal poles suit contemporary, industrial, and Scandi-influenced interiors particularly well and clean easily, which matters in kitchens and bathrooms.

Wood and Resin Poles

Wooden poles bring warmth and a more traditional feel, suiting country, heritage, and maximalist interiors. Solid wood poles are heavier than metal equivalents, which can work in their favour for hanging heavier fabrics, provided the brackets are correctly rated. Resin poles mimic wood or wrought iron but are significantly lighter, making them a good choice for rented properties or situations where drilling into structural walls is not desirable.

The main limitation of wood poles is that they are harder to cut to non-standard lengths without the right tools.

Extendable Poles for Awkward Widths

Extendable poles solve one of the most common problems in curtain hanging: windows that fall between standard sizes. The extendable curtain pole from The Curtain and More Co adjusts from 76cm to 210cm, covering the vast majority of domestic window widths. At £12.99 with nickel end cap finials and three-piece brackets included, the steel construction with aluminium finials handles a reasonable fabric weight without deflection at full extension.

Types of Curtain Headings and Which Pole They Need

Curtain headings determine how fabric gathers, how much fullness you need, and critically, which type of pole or track will work.

Eyelet Headings

Eyelet headings thread directly onto the pole through large metal rings punched into the fabric. The pole diameter must be small enough to pass through the eyelet ring. Most ready-made eyelet curtains are designed for poles with a 28mm or 35mm diameter. The eyelet style produces a relaxed, contemporary wave when drawn closed and requires less fabric fullness than pencil pleat, typically 1.5 to 2 times the pole width.

The Vibrant Mustard Yellow velvet curtains from The Curtain and More Co use 4cm metal eyelets and are designed to fit most standard curtain poles. At £26.99 for two panels, each measuring 117cm wide, they pair naturally with the silver metal poles in the range.

Pencil Pleat Headings

Pencil pleat is the traditional British standard. The heading tape gathers into tight, even pleats and hooks onto curtain rings, which then slide along the pole. This heading requires more fabric, typically twice the pole width, to achieve the full, gathered look. Because pencil pleat uses rings rather than threading directly onto the pole, it works with a wider range of pole diameters.

Tab Top and Other Styles

Tab top curtains use fabric loops that thread over the pole, producing a casual, unfussy look suited to kitchens, reading rooms, and garden rooms. Other heading styles, including pinch pleat, goblet pleat, and wave tape, all require rings and are typically used with more formal or bespoke installations.

How to Measure for Curtain Poles Accurately

Accurate measurement is where most DIY curtain projects go wrong. A few centimetres in the wrong direction creates problems that are difficult to fix without starting again.

Pole Width

The pole width should extend beyond the window frame on each side, not just to the edge of it. The standard recommendation is 15cm to 20cm of overhang on each side. This allows curtains to stack clear of the glass when open, maximising the light entering the room. For a window frame that measures 120cm across, the pole should be at least 150cm to 160cm wide.

Add the two overhangs to the frame width to get your minimum pole length. As Which? guidance on measuring for curtains notes, underestimating overhang is the single most common measurement error homeowners make.

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Drop and Mounting Height

The drop is the vertical distance from the pole to where you want the curtain to finish. Floor-length curtains should end approximately 1cm to 2cm above the floor to avoid dragging. Sill-length curtains should end 1cm below the sill.

Mount the pole 10cm to 15cm above the window frame as a general rule. Higher mounting makes windows appear taller and rooms feel more generous. Measure from the top of the pole down to your chosen end point. This is the drop measurement you use when selecting ready-made curtains.

Curtain Pole Fitting Guide: Step-by-Step Installation

Fitting a curtain pole is straightforward for most people with basic DIY experience. The key is accurate marking before any drilling begins.

What you will need: a pencil, a spirit level, a tape measure, a drill with appropriate bits for your wall type, wall plugs if fitting into masonry, a screwdriver, and your pole kit.

1. Mark the centre point of your window frame on the wall above it.
2. Measure outward from the centre to each bracket position. For a standard two-bracket pole, brackets sit 15cm to 20cm from each end of the pole. For wider poles, add a centre bracket.
3. Hold the first bracket in position and mark the screw holes with a pencil. Use a spirit level to confirm the bracket is horizontal before marking.
4. Mark the second bracket at the same height, using the spirit level to ensure both brackets align precisely.
5. Drill pilot holes at each marked position. For masonry walls, use a masonry bit and insert wall plugs before screwing. For timber or plasterboard, use appropriate fixings for the wall type.
6. Screw the brackets into position and check they are firm.
7. Slide curtain rings onto the pole if using pencil pleat or hooked headings.
8. Rest the pole in the brackets and secure according to the bracket design, usually a small grub screw or clip.
9. Hang your curtains and adjust the gathers or hooks as needed.

According to the Health and Safety Executive guidance on safe DIY practices, using a detector before drilling into walls is a basic precaution that prevents the majority of DIY electrical and plumbing incidents.

Choosing the Right Curtains and Poles Together

The best curtain and pole combinations share a consistent visual weight. A delicate sheer fabric on a heavy wrought-iron pole looks incongruous. A dense velvet panel on a flimsy chrome rod looks precarious and often is.

Match fabric weight to pole strength first. Lightweight fabrics, sheers, voiles, and light cotton, pair well with slim metal or resin poles. Medium-weight fabrics suit most standard metal poles. Heavyweight fabrics, velvet, herringbone, and bouclé, need a pole with a larger diameter and brackets rated for the additional load.

Match finish to room tone second. Brushed nickel and chrome read as contemporary and cool. Antique brass and bronze read as warm and traditional. Matt black suits industrial and modern interiors. Wooden poles suit country and heritage schemes.

The Luxury Heavyweight Herringbone Woven Curtains in Blush Pink from The Curtain and More Co are a good example of a fabric that demands the right pole. At £39.99 for two 229cm by 229cm panels, the thick herringbone weave has genuine weight to it. These curtains need a steel pole with a centre bracket for any width beyond 150cm, and a brushed or warm-toned finish will complement the blush pink far better than a cool chrome.

Finishing Touches: Finials, Rings and Brackets

Finials are the decorative end caps that sit at each end of the pole. They serve a practical purpose, preventing curtains from sliding off, but they also give a pole its character. Ball finials are clean and contemporary. Faceted or jewel finials suit maximalist or eclectic interiors. Cylinder or flat-cap finials read as minimal and modern.

Most curtain pole kits include finials as standard. The extendable poles from The Curtain and More Co include nickel end cap finials, which suit many interior styles.

Curtain rings should match the pole finish and be sized correctly for the pole diameter. Most manufacturers specify compatible ring sizes in their product listings. Brackets are the most structurally significant component. A bracket that pulls away from the wall under load brings the entire pole down. For masonry walls, use the correct masonry anchors for the wall density. For timber-framed walls, screw directly into the studs where possible.

As the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors guidance on domestic fixings notes, the wall type determines the appropriate fixing method, and using the wrong anchor in a hollow wall is one of the most common causes of fixture failure in domestic settings.

Choosing the right curtains and poles is genuinely one of the more satisfying home improvements to get right. The Curtain and More Co brings together a carefully selected range of ready-made curtains and extendable poles designed to work together, from the lightweight silver metal poles at £8.99 to heavyweight herringbone curtains that transform a room at £39.99. Shop the full range and find combinations that suit your windows, your fabric weight, and your interior style.

This article was written using GrandRanker