There is a growing trend in interior design for simple elegance. People are looking for serenity, quiet spaces with clean lines, neutral palettes and flowing forms that promote relaxation and happiness. S-fold curtains and wave-fold curtains fit comfortably with this aesthetic with their flowing shapes and elegant design. They give your space a contemporary look without being too flashy or ostentatious.
While similar in look, s-fold and wave-fold curtains are a little different in design and construction, which can influence your choice on which style to get. In this article, we will discuss what those differences are to help you understand which style best fits your decor and home.
While similar in function and placement, there are a few subtle differences between curtains and sheers. Curtains are designed to block light entering a room and to provide privacy. They’re made with heavier fabric and are more substantial in construction than sheers.
Sheers, on the other hand, are translucent in creation, made to diffuse natural light rather than block it. Being made from a lighter fabric, making them more whimsical and bringing an airy and breezy aesthetic to your home.
S-fold and wave-fold sheers, also called s-fold, ripple-fold or ripple-wave, have a distinct s-curve when they’re hung. Using evenly spaced hooks, or pendants, on a specialised curtain rail, they have that distinctive wave pattern when hung.
Another great feature of these styles of sheers is when they’re drawn open they stack away neatly to the sides, maintaining that s-shape aesthetic, not appearing to bunch up or look messy.
The main difference between these two kinds of sheers is the construction.
S-fold sheers use a small, 3cm tape to support the fabric. They have pendants attached to the rear of the tape to help hang the curtain fabric. These pendants can be tricky to install.
If you’re someone who likes to wash your curtains and sheers often, this can eventually lead to the pendants rusting.
With the thinner style of tape being used, this lacks some support for the ends of the curtain. This can lead to the ends of the curtains drooping and looking a little sad.
Wave-fold curtains and sheers have a broader tape support with hooks inserted into this backing tape to hang the fabric. These hooks are much easier to install, if you’re doing it yourself, and make removing the curtain for washing much easier too.
The hooks are usually plastic, not metal, so they won’t rust over the years from the washing of your curtains.
The broader tape used for Wave-fold curtains provides much more support, meaning the ends will stay proper and true, unlike the s-fold curtain ends.
Both s-fold and Wave-fold curtains can create the illusion your windows are larger than they actually are. If these curtains are hung higher than the top of the window, and allowed to fall to the floor and drape, it can give your home some grandeur and truly transform the feel of a room.
One of the biggest benefits of S-Fold and Wave-Fold sheers and curtains is their aesthetic appeal. Such a simple design and look gives an elegant feel to any room. They soften the edges of windows and bring a relaxed feeling to your living spaces.
The specialised tracks you need for these curtains means they slide open and closed smoothly. You require very little effort to draw them open or closed.
They are easy to maintain as well. The uniform style of these curtains means the fabric maintains a constant shape and consistency. This lowers the instances of uneven wrinkling or creasing, reducing the need to iron your curtains.
They look good anywhere. This style of sheer can be used in any window in any room to bring a feeling of class and refinement. They can be hung ceiling to floor to give the illusion of size and space and give the feeling of height in a room.
Depending on the material used to create an S-fold or Wave-fold curtain, you can control the amount of light entering a room. The lighter materials used for sheers will diffuse light, while the thicker, heavier fabrics can block out the light. Plus, when drawing them open just a little way for some light, the s-shaped design is maintained, rather than having a curtain scrunched up and looking unsightly.
S-fold curtains also stack neatly to the sides when drawn. This is great if you have limited window area or small spaces for window dressing.
Of course, nothing can be truly perfect. There are some drawbacks from having these style of curtains in your home.
S-Fold curtains need specialised rails installed to operate correctly. They have unique spaced gliders to help maintain the shape. This means you cannot hang s-fold curtains on standard curtain rods.
Because of this the initial installation cost would be higher than putting up regular curtains.
Your choice of fabric is also less than if you hung regular curtains. Not all fabric works with the curving, flowy nature of a Wave-fold curtain. Heavy fabrics such as velvet would not fall into an s-shape smoothly.
You will also need professional installation, especially for measurement and fit for windows that are not standard size and shape. This ensures correct alignment and hanging of the curtains the first time.
When considering which style to get, S-fold or Wave-fold, consider how much room you have for hanging, and if you will be washing the curtains frequently. This could have you leaning for a thinner holding tape, or a broader tape with hooks for easy curtain removal.
On the whole, there is minimal difference between these two styles of curtains and sheers. What we do know is they look wonderful and make your home feel soft and serene. They add a dash of elegance and sophistication to your home, to your windows, a small touch with a big impact.
Our experienced team is ready to chat to you about hanging S-fold curtains and sheers in your home. Contact us now for a free measure and quote. Let's start the conversation on how we can style your home with the latest curtain trends.
No, you need a specialised curtain track with evenly spaced gliders for s-fold curtains. You wouldn't achieve the s-effect with standard curtain rails.
S-fold and Wave-fold can block out significant amounts of light, depending on the fabric used. There may be some leakage of light around the top of the curtain due to the curved nature of the fabric. If you hang s-fold sheers, then no, you won’t block the light, you will diffuse the light for a soft-lit effect.
Yes they do due to the hardware involved- the specialised curtain rails, and the potential specialist measure and quote for installation. We encourage you to give us a call and discuss the costs involved to help you make a decision.
Absolutely you can. We can make curtains to fit any window you have, no matter the size or shape. Speak with our team to discover how we can dress your windows to look fantastic.
Yes you do. You need more fabric to cover a window space due to the wavy and curving nature of the curtain’s hang. It uses more fabric to cover the same space.
