21 Feb Pleats, Please! Discover the Top Pleating Styles to Add Style and Function to Your Drapery

Pleats reinforce the décor aesthetic of a room by adding an architectural element to drapery. The pleated drapery style affects how your curtain drapes and falls, as well as the look of the header (where it hangs from the rod).

When ordering custom drapery, think about the look you’re after. Different pleated drapes channel different looks, from casual to formal, contemporary to traditional. Here’s the lowdown on four of our top picks.

	Pinched pleated drapery The look: This is a tailored, transitional style that works well in contemporary and classic rooms alike. Emphasize the classic with a heavy wood rod, or go modern with a sleek metal pole. Best for: Pinch pleated panels maintain their neat look in any position, making them a versatile choice for draperies that are drawn daily, whether a bedroom or public area like a living room.
	Pencil pleated drapery The look: The smocking effect of pencil pleats makes them an attractive option for both casual and formal spaces, depending on scale of smock. Best for: Relaxed, casual spaces such as a child’s bedroom, playroom, casual living area or mudroom. This pleat style looks good short: sill-length or even café curtains. Alternately a larger scale smocking looks great in a formal room in a beautiful lush, silk fabric.
	Goblet pleated drapery The look: This voluminous pleat stacks perfectly and is inherently a more classical look, although definitely more feminine than formal. Best for: Owing to its design and structure, goblet pleating is best for a full drapery style. It’s a natural for a pretty bedroom, study, or to-die-for walk-in closet if you are lucky enough to have one with a window!
	Box pleated drapery The look: This über-tailored look is crisp and sophisticated. The strong, graphic geometry of the pleats enhances solid fabrics, although it can also be used on patterned materials, too. It works for all periods, so long as the overall aesthetic is formal. Best for: Formal, high-ceilinged rooms such as a dining room, living room, or master bedroom.

Want to see all the complete list of pleating options we offer? Visit our Custom Drapery and Romans page for examples of eight different styles.

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