What Causes the Gap at the Side of the Curtains?

Most of the time, it’s simply the distance between the curtain track and the wall.

Your curtains hang from the track, so if the front edge of the track sits several centimetres away from the wall, the outside edge of the curtain needs some way of covering that distance.

This is where the curtain return comes in.

What Is a Return on a Pinch Pleat Curtain?

Look at the outside edge of a pinch pleat curtain and you’ll normally see a flat section of heading after the final pleat.

This flat section is called the return.

The return is commonly around half the width of the flat spaces between the individual pleats, although the exact size will depend on how your curtain maker makes the curtains.

Its job at the outside edge of the window is particularly useful because it allows the curtain to wrap around the end of the track towards the wall.

Ideally, the Curtain Return Should Reach the Wall

In a perfect situation, the return on the outside edge of your curtain will be wide enough to cover the distance from the front edge of the curtain track back to the wall.

You can then wrap the return around the end of the track and secure the outside edge of the curtain towards the wall.

This closes the side of the curtain rather than leaving a wide vertical gap where you can see between the curtain and the wall.

This is particularly important when the ends of the curtain track face directly into the room.

How Do I Check Before Ordering My Curtains?

Once your curtain track is fitted, look at each end of the track and measure the distance from the front edge of the track back to the wall.

It’s worth checking both ends rather than assuming they’re identical.

If it’s only a small distance, a normal pinch pleat curtain return will usually be sufficient.

If the distance is larger, speak to your curtain maker before placing your order and ask what size returns they normally make on their pinch pleat curtains.

If necessary, you can then ask whether they can make the outside returns wider to suit your installation.

Is This a Common Problem With Curtain Tracks?

Not usually. This is only an occasional problem when hanging pinch pleat curtains from a curtain track.

Most curtain tracks fit reasonably close to the wall, so the normal return on a pinch pleat curtain is usually wide enough to close the small gap at the end of the track.

The problem is more common when pinch pleat curtains are hanging from a curtain pole.

Curtain poles normally sit further away from the wall than curtain tracks. This creates a larger distance for the curtain return to cover at each end.

If you’re ordering pinch pleat curtains for a pole, I’d therefore pay particular attention to the size of the outside curtain returns and check with your curtain maker that they’ll be wide enough to reach back towards the wall.

Whether you’re using a track or a pole, the important thing is simply to check before ordering. If you need wider returns, it’s much easier to specify them while your curtains are being made than discover the problem once they’re hanging.

What If My Curtain Track Returns Onto the Side Walls?

If your curtain track itself curves around the outside corners of the bay and returns onto the side walls, the situation is different.

The curtain can follow the track around the corner towards the wall, rather than relying on a wider curtain return to bridge the distance between the end of the track and the wall.

If you’re still deciding how your bay track should finish, this is worth considering before ordering your curtains.

The Simple Check Before You Order

Before ordering pinch pleat curtains, look at where both ends of your curtain track finish.

If there’s a noticeable distance between the front of the track and the wall, measure it and ask your curtain maker how wide the returns on your finished curtains will be.

For most installations there won’t be a problem. But if you do need wider returns, it’s far better to specify them when your curtains are being made than discover the gap after they’ve arrived.

Still Choosing a Track for Your Bay Window?

If you haven’t chosen your curtain track yet, take a look at our made-to-measure bay tracks. They can be made to finish inside the bay or, where suitable, with returns that bring the track out of the bay and onto the side walls.