Curtain poles,curtain tracks ,poles with tracks,double tracks .HELP!!

[Onagoldenautumnday]

Zero experience despite being in my 70s.
Large room,3 large uvpc sash windows
One tight against wall. Unequal spaces above ie between top of window and ceiling.
I think I'd prefer neat and minimalist
I think I don't want poles but I think this is because I'm stuck in the 1960s and still following my dad's advice to get swish curtain track.
And I'm just not sure about implications for the actual curtains.
Which will need to be bought.
Please send help before head explodes.

Interesting @MoodEnhancer .
I would love solid wooden Edwardian/ Victorian shutters but I think you need deeply recessed windows for that .
Plantation shutters aren't my cup of tea as I'd like to retain as much light as possible.

@Onagoldenautumnday Shutters are a good call by @MoodEnhancer and you could keep them closed, or if the slatted ones partially close which may help with the heat. There would also be options for the single window.

I have curtains and muslin curtains at my sash windows, some also have roman blinds. In sunny weather I close the muslin curtains which stop the sun coming in but do not stop the light, however my house is very old with its original single glazed sashes so getting too warm isn't a problem ever encountered!

There are similar muslin roman blinds which may work - the trick with sash windows in the heat is to have them open top and bottom the same amounts, it allows the air to flow through and keep things cooler - it was what they were designed for.

The key for you will be if you wish to reflect the heat which is easily done with blinds but normally at the cost of light.

I’m with you on plantation shutters.

I think it’s worth you getting someone to have a look in person because from the pics it looks to me like you can have slatted shutters (which is what I have for my sash windows.) They build a narrow box for any windows which aren’t deep enough and they are less intrusive than I thought they might be. I can’t recommend them enough and, despite having pure wood ones, they were cheaper than having curtains made.

@Onagoldenautumnday Speak to a few joiners about shutters, sometimes they can help in addition to the shutter companies themselves, but as @MoodEnhancer has said there are a lot more options for fitting shutters now than just the original box ones.