Custom drapery is an elegant way to enhance the look and feel of your home. We offer a wide selection of draperies—including the incredibly popular pinch pleat drapery header style. This stunning finish at the top of your windows invites upscale design into your home. Come on a journey with us as we share all the details about custom window treatments—and discover which look you love best of all!
What Does Pinch Pleat Mean?
The phrase “pinch pleat” describes the origin of the method that was used create variations of this custom drapery header style. Fabric folds were pinched together and then stitched—or tacked—in place for a consistent look and tailored design. Within the category of pinch pleat drapery, there are a number of fold styles, gathers, and stitch methods to create customized looks.
An Overview: Pinch Pleat Header Styles
We’ve put together nine looks so you can see how they compare to one another, and we’re grouping them by similarity so you’ll have an easier time narrowing down your choices.
Single, Double and Triple Pleats
1. Single Pleat: Fabric is folded once for each pleat, structured with buckram to keep the folds consistent when opened, closed and adjusted. This is a simple style with a polished finish.
2. Double Pleat: Two folds of fabric are brought together, then tacked approximately 3–4 inches down from the top. This technique results in “V” shaped folds above and below the tack point for a tailored look.
3. Triple Pleat: Three folds of fabric are gathered, then tacked approximately 3–4 inches down from the top. This method allows the folds to fan out from above and below the tack point, resulting in a “W” shape.
Double Pinch Pleat and Triple Pinch Pleat are some of the most popular ways to finish draperies, commonly known as a French pleat style.
The Euro Pleat or Inverted Pleat Style
In the Euro pleat header style, fabrics are gathered in folds, but they are tacked at the very top of the draperies, or a small measurement down—sometimes a half inch. This finishes the drapery with a unique look, but allows for a more casual feel to the window treatments, as the folds open down from the top and flow freely.
4. Double Pleat Inverted: Two folds of fabric are structured and stitched together, tacked at a half inch down from the top.
5. Triple Pleat Inverted: Three folds of fabric are structured and stitched together, tacked at a half inch down from the top.
6. Natural Euro Pleat: Three folds of fabric are stitched together at the top, tacked at a half inch down from the top for a more casual appearance.
The Euro pleat has been taking the interior design scene by storm, as homeowners find that they love the sophisticated finish at the top with the ability to create either formal or casual style in their homes.
Other Pinch Pleat Varieties
7. Goblet Pleat: Rounded folds are made to look like goblets, with structured consistency, sometimes referred to as “cup-shaped pleats.” With the top open, the base of the cylinder is tacked together, with pleats extending downward. This is considered a formal style.
8. Relaxed Pleat/Box Pleat: A soft, rounded fold is visible on the front side, with fabrics stitched along the back, inside the rounded fold and out of sight. The name “relaxed pleat” comes from the soft folds relaxing downward into the the rest of the drapery. Although consistent and tailored, this unstructured cylinder is meant to be more casual.
9. Tuxedo Pleat: This pleat style features folded, flat fabrics that are structured and stitched into place along the back of the header, out of sight.
Do Pinch Pleat Drapes Fit Modern or Traditional Homes?
The beauty of pinch pleat draperies is that they can cross over into so many style statements, elevating a space to coordinate with a home’s existing design elements.
From farmhouse to modern, and from contemporary to traditional, pinch pleats have a place in all styles. Why is that? Because while the header style makes a statement, it doesn’t define the style. When you choose the fabrics for your drapery, the colors, textures and patterns all come into play.
The hardware you select will influence the overall look. And, you can decide to layer your draperies with shades, adding in dimension and further design elements.
Pinch Pleat VS Other Drapery Headers
Yes, we have more to offer! Not only do we offer a wide variety of pinch pleat draperies, but we have other header styles that you might also consider. If you’ve seen a header style you love, we can do it! Two of the most popular types are grommet and ripple fold. These styles are very different from pinch pleat, and we’re sure you’ll see why!
Ripple Fold Draperies
These draperies are known for the consistent curves of fabric across the top of the entire drapery. The specialty track they attach to is responsible for maintaining a consistent look and feel. Ripple fold draperies glide smoothly across the track–simple to open, close and adjust. The track can stand out as a design element, or it can blend into the wall or ceiling for a seamless look. Because you can’t see the hardware that connects the draperies to the track, ripple fold drapes tend to look as if they are floating across the window.
Grommet Draperies
These draperies are easy to spot! Metal rings are embedded into the header across the top of the drapes, and the drapery rod is woven through the rings. This system allows the curtains to adjust easily. The metal grommets are an added design element, so when you select your grommets, make sure to choose a coordinating material for the rod, since both will be visible in the room. Grommets are considered more casual, due to the free-flowing fabrics. They can be styled more formally with the right fabrics, or they can be designated casual with lightweight, airy selections. The grommet header style will require slight adjustment maintenance when the draperies are opened and closed, as the fabrics are not typically trained or consistent.
Motorized Control of Pinch Pleat Drapes
Adding Hunter Douglas PowerView® automation to the window treatments you order is a *smart* call. And, yes, pinch pleat drapery is capable of being controlled with motorization. Choose remote, app, or smart home control for effortless operation. The convenience and energy savings you’ll experience when you can adjust your motorized window treatments with the touch of a button—or even when you’re not at home—is simply life-changing.
Are Pinch Pleat Drapes in Your Future?
Specialty folds, tacked fabrics, and consistent shape give pinch pleat drapery its own unique personality. But, there are many to choose from. At Timan & Co., our design team is ready to help you decide which drapery header style will be the best fit for your home. Stop by a showroom to see everything up-close, and browse fabrics to discover how we could start styling your windows. Invite a window covering specialist into your home where we’ll take measurements, offer window solution advice and let you browse your favorite fabrics right from the comfort of your home—deciding which hues and patterns look best with your furnishings. Get in touch with us for your free design consultation.