Choosing Curtain Rods and Tracks: Your Guide on How to Choose the Right Curtain Rods & Curtain Tracks

To install your curtains, it's important to ensure you're prepared with the right curtain hardware. Curtains are installed on curtain tracks or rods, with the type of hardware influencing the operation of your curtains. These curtain tracks and rods bring more than just practicality to your window furnishings. They also enhance interior design, add decorative appeal and ultimately form part of the finishing touches to your window furnishings. This makes it important to always carefully consider your curtain hardware when updating your home with new curtains. Although it may be tempting to choose your curtain hardware as an afterthought, taking care in choosing the right curtain tracks or rods for your curtains ensures consistency of your design vision as well as a seamless installation of your window dressings.

In this guide, you'll find an in-depth breakdown of the difference between curtain tracks and curtain rods. We also explore the types of accessories you'll need to complete your installation, and of course, which curtain type is best suited to installation with rods, tracks, or in some cases, suitable for both curtain rods and tracks.

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Quick Links:

• The Differences Between Curtain Rods & Curtain Tracks
• Choose The Right Material For Your Curtain Rods Or Tracks
• Hardware Options For Curtains
• The Best Curtain Hardware For Different Types Of Curtains
• Curtain Heading Types & Curtain Hardware Quick Guide
• Maintenance Tips For Curtain Rods & Curtain Tracks
• Curtains & Tracks FAQs

The Differences Between Curtain Rods & Curtain Tracks

While both curtain rods and curtain tracks are used to hang curtains from windows, they differ greatly in the way they function and the types of curtains they are used to hang.

Curtain Rods & Curtain Poles

Curtain rods are essentially a length of either hollow metal pipe or solid timber and offer a decorative option for installing curtains. Curtain rods and poles can be used for displaying a variety of different curtain header types, including eyelet curtains, rod pocket curtains, tab top curtains, pencil pleat curtains and pinch pleat curtains. To open and close curtains installed on a rod, simply pull the curtain across the length of the pole by hand.

This selection of hardware is often finished with decorative ends called finials, which also help to prevent the curtains from sliding off the end of the pole or rod.

At Spotlight, you can find a great range of expandable curtain rods, which means there's no cutting to size required. Constructed from lightweight metal poles that nest one inside the other, all you need to do is simply telescope the curtain rod out to the length you require.

Curtain Tracks

When compared to curtain rods and poles, curtain tracks offer a more discreet style of installing your curtains. Curtain tracks contain what are known as track gliders. These sit inside a groove in the track and move along its length.

Curtain tracks are compatible with a variety of curtain headers, most often pleated curtains such as pinch pleat or pencil curtains. These curtains are attached to curtain hooks that loop through the back of the curtain and are secured by placing the hook through a hole in the bottom of the curtain track glider.

At Spotlight, you can find curtain tracks in two main styles:

• Hand Drawn Tracks: As the name suggests, curtains installed on this track type are opened and closed by hand. You can attach curtain flick sticks or curtain pull wands to the carrier arms on the track to aid with opening and closing the tracks. Using a flick stick will also help prevent any dirty marks from building up on the curtain fabric.
• Cord Drawn Tracks: This track type contains a series of cords and pulleys as part of the hardware. To open and close your curtains, pull the operating cord at the side. This option offers ease of operation but takes a little more work to install, and you must ensure the cords are secured at least 160 cm above the floor to comply with child safety standards.

Choose The Right Material For Your Curtain Rods Or Tracks

When choosing your curtain hardware, you may want to accentuate a colour theme or material as part of your home decor and select a curtain track or rod colour accordingly. In addition to style, the material of your curtain rods or tracks directly influences the ability to hold certain curtain types. For instance, heavier drapes such as blockout and room darkening curtains require sturdier curtain hardware such as those made from stainless steel or brass. On the other hand, for lighter window dressings such as sheer curtains, curtain rods made from lightweight materials such as light aluminium, slim steel or timber are great choices.

Hardware Options For Curtains

Curtain hardware (i.e. curtain rods and curtain tracks) is both functional and stylish, often making a visual statement in your home. When choosing your ready-made curtains, you will need to factor in the type of hardware needed to install your preferred curtain type. At the same time, consider whether you want the curtain hardware to be visible or not.

Curtain tracks, on the other hand, offer a more discreet choice in curtain hardware. These are used when you want your curtain hardware to be invisible. Tracks can also be hidden under a window pelmet for a classically traditional finish.

When it comes to choosing your curtains and coordinating curtain hardware, it ultimately comes down to your taste and design objectives.

The Best Curtain Hardware For Different Types Of Curtains

Not all curtain heading types are compatible with both curtain rods and tracks. Understanding which types of curtain hardware are suitable for your curtains is integral to a successful installation of your curtains. Let's take a look at the best curtain hardware to use for different curtain heading types.

Eyelet Curtains: Use a Curtain Rod

Eyelet curtains have metal or plastic ringed "eyelets" (sometimes called grommets) at the top of the curtain. They are hand operated and easy to open and close. You can find blockout eyelet curtains, room darkening eyelet curtains, thermal eyelet curtains and sheer eyelet curtains in Spotlight's extensive ready-made curtains range.

With eyelet curtains and a curtain rod, no hooks or tapes are needed! Simply gather the curtain in an "accordion" style, thread the rod through the eyelets, and you're ready to go!

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Tab Top Curtains: Use a Curtain Rod

Tab top curtains have exposed loops of fabric (tabs) that you can see on the curtain. You can also find concealed tab top curtains, where the tabs are stitched at the back of the curtain header. Concealed tab top curtains have an elegant, folded style top that will conceal a little more of the curtain rod. Tab top curtains are available in sheer, blockout and room darkening materials.

Tab top curtains work best when you're wanting to style your home with a decorative rod, as the tab top header allows the rod to shine. With no hooks, eyes or other fixings required to install, this curtain and rod combination is both practical and stylish.

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Pencil Pleat Curtains: Use Curtain Tracks or Rods

Pencil pleat curtains take their name from the closely gathered folds of the fabric that look like pencils laid out side by side. Three drawcords at the back of the heading tape create the gathering. This means you can tighten or loosen the folds, so they perfectly fit the width of your window. Typically, pencil pleat curtains are installed on curtain tracks for a sleek, modern look. In this case, curtain hooks are inserted into the pockets of the curtains then attached to the gliders of the curtain track.

Pencil pleat curtains offer great versatility when it comes to styling. In addition to curtain tracks, these curtains can also be installed on curtain rods. To display pencil pleat curtains on a curtain rod, you will need to thread curtain rings onto your curtain rod. These curtain rings feature small eyelet hoops for you to connect your curtain hooks to.

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Pinch Pleat Curtains: Use Curtain Tracks or Rods

Pinch pleat curtains have two or three folded pleats sewn into the header of the curtain. As such, they cannot be adjusted to the width of your window, so make sure you choose a pair that fits as closely as possible to your window width. Much like pencil pleat curtains, you have the versatility of using rods or tracks for hanging pinch pleat curtains.

When installing your curtains on a curtain track, simply thread your curtain hooks into the curtain header and attach them to the gliders of your curtain track. Similarly to pencil pleat curtains, if installing on a curtain rod, thread your curtain rings onto your curtain rod and insert your hooks into the back of your curtains. Connect the curtain hooks to the eyelets of the curtain rod rings to complete your installation. Pinch pleat curtains add a formal yet classic touch to home interiors and are perfect if you want to make a focal point of your decorative rod.

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Rod Pocket Curtains: Use a Curtain Rod

As the name suggests, rod pocket curtains are specifically designed to be threaded onto curtain rods. It features a narrow opening or pocket at the, and once in place will create a lightly gathered curtain heading. Rod pocket styles are typically found in lightweight or sheer fabrications.

Rod pocket curtains are best suited to hanging on windows where you don't want to draw the sheer curtains open regularly, as the bunched-up fabric can be difficult to glide along the rod.

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Curtain Heading Types & Curtain Hardware Quick Guide

Maintenance Tips For Curtain Rods & Curtain Tracks

To keep your curtain rods and curtain tracks operating effectively, you should take care in their maintenance. For curtain rods, regularly dusting with a microfibre cloth or duster will help prevent rust, keeping your curtains moving along the rod smoothly. In caring for curtain rods, although a regular dusting is a good habit, for a deeper clean, you'll need to remove your curtains entirely. Gently vacuum your curtain track with a crevice tool to completely remove any dust, pet hair or dirt from your curtain tracks.

For stubborn grime on your curtain rods or tracks, you can wipe your curtain hardware down with a cloth, warm water and a mild dish soap, however, make sure to dry your hardware with a cloth and ensure it is completely dry before hanging your curtains back up.

Curtains & Tracks FAQs

How Do I Install My Curtain Tracks Or Rods?

Many of Spotlight's curtain rods and tracks are supplied with instructions, brackets, screws and other accessories needed for installation. You can also find individually sold rods and brackets such as 16 mm conduit curtain rods and stayed brackets, which are perfect for installing sheer or lightweight curtains. To complete your installation, you'll need a drill, screwdriver, spirit level and marking pencil. Check out our guide on how to hang curtains for tips on correctly securing your curtains to your curtain hardware!

What Diameter Rod Do I Need For My Curtains?

Curtain rods come in a range of different diameters, with some being more suited to different weights of curtains than others. Expandable rods will list two diameter sizes, indicating the diameters of the telescoping poles. The larger the diameter, the better the rod will support heavy drapes such as blockout curtains. 19/22mm, 22/25mm and 25/28mm sizes are all great options for heavy/wide curtains and ideal for any kind of eyelet curtain.

What Length Rod Or Track Do I Need?

Determine the length of the curtain rod or curtain track you'll need by accurately measuring your windows. Check out our handy guide on how to measure your windows here! For expandable rods or extendable tracks, adjust the hardware to a final length that extends 15 cm - 25 cm past each side of the window frame. This will help maximise the amount of light you get into each room.

What Is A Curtain Pole Track?

Otherwise referred to as a decorative track or a multifunctional curtain pole track, this curtain hardware style offers you the decorative aspect of a curtain rod combined with the smooth operation of gliders from a curtain track. They're the perfect option for when you want to add colour or texture to your decor while still showing off both curtain and hardware to their full potential.

Shop Curtain Rods, Curtain Tracks & Curtain Accessories Today!

At Spotlight, there's a huge range of ready made curtains and hardware to discover for every room in your home. Find the right curtain rods and curtain tracks for your drapes and complete your installation with curtain hooks & rings to suit any pleated curtain header style. You can also find curtain accessories like tiebacks & holdbacks to add a stylish and practical touch to your window furnishings.

For extra-large or tricky-to-fit windows, Spotlight has a comprehensive Made to Measure service, where you can have your curtains custom-made in any size, colour, heading type and finishing of your choosing. Find out more about made-to-measure curtains and book a FREE measure and quote today!