Curtains- so many types! Tab top? Pencil pleat? Eyelet? What's best?

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I need to buy curtains for a new house, and have no idea why there are so many types of hanging options. Is it just about aesthetics or are some types better in some circumstances?

The rooms all have curtain poles which will be left. I'll be buying floor length curtains (downstairs) and presumably window length for DC bedroom (?)

Help! Thanks.

(Yes, I've never bought curtains.)

It's about aesthetics and how much buggering about you want really. I can't stand piddling about with tiny hooks...and rings...which is what generally gives a better "hang" so I just choose tab tops...or the ones with holes in them.

My sister who has very posh curtains, gets them made and always has hooks and all that bother....hers look better than mine.

I've got pencil pleat in my living room but I didn't use hooks I just slid them through the hole and they look fab still have the pleat and in the bedrooms I've got the eyelet curtains

Thanks!

This has resurrected memories of threading hooks into just-washed curtains while my mum supervised whether I was leaving the right gap between the hooks. Back then they went on a flat track. Quite happy that things have moved on.

I'm no curtain expert, but it's mainly about aesthetics although some types (pencil pleat) are probably slightly better at blocking out light than others (tab top and eyelet) so might be better if you want your bedrooms a bit darker.

Pencil pleat every time for me.

Pinch/french pleat is very traditional and makes a curtain that hangs very nicely, best only to buy if you know that you are going to be in the house for a long time because they are made to fit a specific track size. They are more expensive than pencil pleat as they are more of a faff to make. French pleats look nice on a pole rather than a track and are good for a full length curtain.

Pencil pleats are good if you might be moving house in a while as you can adjust the tops to fit another size pole. Also good for the DC's room as they are a bit cheaper.

Eyelet top curtains are a bit more modern.

Tab top curtains another alternative...they require a bit less fabric in the width so they might save you a bit of money.

Thanks again- I've seen some nice ones online and am getting some ideas about what I like.

I need something for patio doors and saw a picture of a voile-type panel behind pencil pleat curtains which I thought looked good. No idea if it's practical though.

If I had patio doors I'd go for a wave track system. I love the look of these. They look especially great with voile.

I've found eyelet top ones good, give a modern look, easy to open and shut. Tab top have a tendency to 'stick' when you draw them.

I'm not a fan of curtain poles...
They leave a big gap at the top and sides - makes getting thermal linings a bit pointless ....
(house we bought (being renovated at the moment) had wooden pelmets over tracks in living room ...taken down but I've kept cos I might actually put them back...although they are 3 m long and weigh a ton so might replace some of it with thinner board ...rather than current 2cm thick planks )

Trick for the gaps in curtain hooks - permanent marker - small dot on curtain tape above each hook before you take hooks out (make sure it doesn't go through onto good side though) - no counting required!

I have poles, if you want to get rid of gaps at the side then do this...scroll down to the before and after picture.

It's easier to do if you have your poles mounted onto a wooden baton first (sometimes done when the plaster is not very good around the windows). I hate the gaps at the sides and imo they hang better when you use this method.

That does look better ...doesn't get rid of the gap at the top but should be less draughty at the sides....might even do that to the one pole I have here...

Ha ha, no there is still a gap at the top, but in theory the pole should be 6" above the window as that is how deep a french pleat is...I'd forgotten about that bit. When the pole is higher less light/draught comes through the top. I have been curtain making for my current house so this is all stuff I have been trying to remember from when I used to work making bespoke curtains.