What is drapery width is one of the most frequent questions we are asked. Drapery width is a behind the scenes technical term used in the workroom for how much fabric is needed to start a drape or curtain fabrication. However, the term is often used by industry professional in conversations with their clients. We also use the term for ordering decorative drapes or panels in specific departments on our site.

Fabric is manufactured by the mills and the machinery used to make decorative fabric for drapes and home decor is primarily 54″ wide. So when we speak of a width of fabric, we are talking about 54″ wide. In making drapes, 8″ of the 54″ is needed for the hems on both sides, so we are left with 46″ of face fabric. Then in the fabrication of the drape, we use a minimum of 2 to 1 fullness to create the beautiful drape header. That simply means if you want a finished drapery panel to be 50″ wide, we will need 100″ of face fabric or two widths of fabric (54″ x 2 widths = 108″ less 8″ for hems = 100″).

Fortunately, you as the customer do not need to know the gory details of how the workroom determines the width and the math behind it. However, when you order decorative drapes on our site where we use width specifications, you should know what the finished product is going to look like. Below you will find the finished width measurement for common decorative sizes. We have also provided a chart to help you determine what width is right for your particular window.

Finished Drapery Width

1 Width Panel – the finished width of a single 1 width panel is approximately 20″ to 27″ wide. The width of two panels (pair) is approximately 40″ to 54″ wide.

1-1/2 Width Panel – the finished width of a single 1-1/2 width panel is approximately 25″ to 40″ wide. The width of two panels (pair) is approximately 50″ to 80″ wide.

2 Width Panel – the finished width of a single 2 width panel is approximately 36″ to 54″ wide. The width of two panels (pair) is approximately 72″ to 108″ wide.

Window Size Recommendations
Below is a general guideline for ordering the right drapery width for your window sizes. If your window is outside these measurements, stationary panels will still work, but you may want to call us to discuss your project.

We often get asked if it is “ok” to use one pair of drapes on two separate windows on the same wall. Well the answer is yes. Many decorators would only consider a pair of panels for each window, however, we believe one pair for both windows not only saves you money, but they look terrific.

Our favorite look for this situation is shown in the picture below. By pulling the drapes back, you create a swag effect and it frames the two windows very nicely. The insider tip here is the 12″ rule. If you have more than 12″ of wall space between the windows, you should pull them back as shown. If you have less than 12″ of wall space you can opt not to use the drapery tie-backs and have them hang straight down. Many custom drape styles such as pinch pleat, rod pocket, goblet pleat look great with drapery tie-backs. The room setting below show an elegant silk fabric in a rod pocket drape style using beautiful tassel tie-backs. A pinch pleat drape in nearly any fabric would work equally as well in this room setting. We highly recommend using drapery tassel tie-backs for a very decorative accent to your custom window treatments.

If you are looking for a window treatment for your French doors, you have come to the right place.  Fabricworkroom.com offers many options to treat your French doors from fabric roman shades to  wood blinds to roller shades and bamboo woven shades.

Based on your budget and your personal style here is a quick guide to selecting the best custom window treatment for your French Door. Note: this is a general guide and all style pricing is based on price of fabric selected.

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When you are about to begin your decorating project and selecting your window treatments, just getting started can be an overwhelming experience. Where do you begin? I suggest you go to one of the large chain book stores. They carry most of the decorating publications and the owner won’t scold you for “reading” them in the store. You’ll have a few dozen to pick from. Flick through the ones that reflect your style and taste. Magazines can be very inspiring but don’t get too nervous. These are all staged for inspiration only. It’s not natural. You don’t see dog bowls, television remotes or kid’s dirty socks. Magazine shoots have a team of people who work on the scene staging. However, you can recreate what you see – at a fraction of the cost of hiring a decorator.

Understanding what you want to accomplish with your window treatments can help you narrow done the choices. Here are the questions you need to answer:

• Do I need privacy or decorative?
• Do I need light control?
• Do I want a layered look? (Multiple treatments on one window)
• What window treatment styles do I want? (formal, casual, contemporary, etc.)
• Do I want silk, faux silk, cotton, linen, or blended fabrics?

The room that you are decorating will help you answer many of these questions. If you are decorating a living or dining room, you might lean towards formal. If it’s your family room, you should be thinking more casual with light control for your media center. Your bedroom can be casual or formal, but privacy should be at the top of your list. If you have young children, room darkening should be important for afternoon naps.

Budget is also a strong factor in your decision. We have put together a simple chart as a guide. We are using a typical window that is 35″ wide by 58″ long. For pricing fabric products, we selected a popular cotton print that can work in just about any room setting. We haven’t added any of the different product upgrades and options such as trim to make this easier to present.

Here is the conclusion. You should create a window treatment budget for each room in the house. Generally speaking, the public rooms on the first floor are where you should invest the most. Your friends will see these rooms and when they are talking behind your back, it just might be positive. Upstairs you can focus on shade and blind options that give you privacy and light control at a great price. To add fabric to a shade or blind window treatment, we recommend adding a fabric rod mounted valance. They look great and there are many styles available for under $100. Remember this can all be done in stages. Set your priorities and stick to a plan.

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