Unless you already have one fitted (and if it ain’t broke…), you will need to choose between a pole or a track to hang your curtains. They both do the same thing but choosing one is partly down to your preference and partly determined by the type of window you have.

Poles

A pole sticks out from your window and is very visible, so it can add to the aesthetic look and feel of your curtain. They come in a range of materials and colours, with various decorative endings. You can hang certain curtains directly onto the pole, or use rings.

Poles are good for:

• Making a statement: choose the best material and colour to suit your room. Poles most commonly come with round endings but there’s a wide range of different endings to choose from.
• Smaller windows: when we say “smaller” that’s actually anything up to 3 meters wide (around 10 ft) but this also depends on the weight of the curtains you want. This is because poles attach to the wall using a bracket at each end (and maybe one in the middle) so there’s a weight limit. So a pole may not be a great idea if you want thick blackout curtains on a large french window.
• Flat windows: poles are not good at turning corners. So if you have a bay window or a curved window, then a track will give the most flexibility in getting a snug customised fit.
• Versatility: almost all kinds of heading styles (see our guide to heading styles here) will work with a pole so they’re a bit more versatile than a track and allow you to be much more creative than with a track.

Tracks

A track is made from metal or plastic and attaches directly to your wall or ceiling with several brackets. They’re subtle, and not designed to be seen. They have built in hooks that glide along the track, and your curtain would be hung onto these hooks.

Given that tracks only use hooks - they are only suitable for certain heading types (our pleated headings can be hung on tracks).

Tracks are good for:

• Being subtle: more invisible than a pole, a track will let your curtain stand out.
• Easy glide: a well-made track will let your curtain glide smoothly, so opening and closing can be more effortless than with a pole. Certain tracks can also be fitted with drawstrings, or be motorised.
• Really big windows: since tracks use multiple brackets to attach to your wall, there’s really no limit to how long they can be (just attach more brackets to support the weight!)
• Bay windows: unlike poles, tracks can easily turn corners! So you can shape them in any way you want. Got a mansion with a 15ft curved bay window? No problem.
• Really blackout: tracks can fit inside the window (as opposed to poles that typically fit on the wall outside the window). So you can get a more snug fit. Combined this with a heavyweight fabric, and our darkest lining material, and you’ll be able to sleep all day!