Curtain Rods and Tracks

A curtain rod is a metal or timber pole held on brackets, with finials at each end that stop the curtain sliding off. Black, white, brushed silver and brass tones are the common finishes. A centre bracket is added on wider spans.

Rods suit pinch pleat curtains hung on rings with eyes that take the hooks, and rooms where you want the hardware to be part of the look. S-fold curtains need a track.

Pinch pleat curtains

A curtain track is a slim channel with gliders that run inside it. The hooks or S-fold carriers clip onto the gliders and the track stays out of view. Tracks fix to the ceiling for a clean floor-to-ceiling line, or to the wall on short brackets. S-fold tracks have gliders joined at a fixed spacing so the curtain makes an even wave; standard tracks take pleat hooks. White or black.

S-fold curtains

A double track holds two runners on one set of brackets: a sheer on the front and a blockout or lined curtain behind. Each curtain moves on its own, so you get daytime light from the sheer and darkness at night from the blockout.

Sheer curtains

A motorised track has a belt inside the channel driven by a motor at one end. The curtain opens and closes from a remote, an app or a voice assistant. Battery motors avoid an electrician. Many existing S-fold tracks can take a retrofit motor.

Motorised curtains

A bay window or a corner is where tracks beat rods. A track can be bent to follow the angles so one curtain runs around the whole window. Rods can be joined with corner connectors, but the curtain cannot pass the brackets, so each section needs its own panel.

Choose a rod when you want the hardware on show and you are hanging pinch pleat curtains on a straight window. Choose a track for a clean line, a ceiling fix, an S-fold heading, a double layer, a motor or a bay window.

All curtain styles