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Kids Curtains: Explore Drape Styles & Fabrics
Drapes have a soft, inviting look, easy functionality with the right pleat style and hardware, and come in cute and playful designs, as well as sophisticated styles. This all makes them a great choice for kids rooms. When it comes to finding the right kids curtains for your child, it’s important you understand what your options are as well as how to choose the best one for your needs.
To choose the best kids curtains for your space, think about pleat style and fabric option as it relates to both your functional needs and aesthetic preferences.
Cover photo: Ripple Fold Drapery, The Novogratz Family of Cranes in Waverly Blue with Blackout Lining and a Cornice and Inner Layer: Roller Shades, Ava in Birchwood
In this article
Best Pleat Styles for Kids Room Curtains
When thinking about pleat style for kids room curtains, it’s important to start with function. This is because you’ll likely want to adjust the drapery frequently — maybe even multiple times a day — to get the right level of light control and privacy levels. Some pleat styles are functional while others are better used decoratively. Explore the functional pleat styles first and then get a quick look at decorative styles to find the right one for your kids room.
Functional Pleat Styles
Drapery comes in eight main pleat styles, but only four of them are considered to have easy functionality. This is thanks to their compatibility with track system hardware which allows easy gliding of your curtains back and forth.
understanding drapery hardware
Drapery hardware is available in two main styles: rod and rings hardware and track system hardware. Both are easy to use, but track system hardware offers the easiest functionality for your kids curtains. You can also get motorized track systems for truly effortless ease. The following functional pleat styles are all compatible with track system hardware, including motorization.
Ripple Fold Drapery: Modern, Linear Look
Featuring soft S-curves and gentle waves of fabric that create linear highlights and lowlights, Ripple Fold Drapery delivers a more modern or contemporary aesthetic for your kids curtains. The linear design also helps add a sense of height to your room, which can help rooms with lower ceilings feel more spacious.
Ripple Fold Drapery is only compatible with track system hardware — both manual and motorized tracks — giving you effortless ease in adjusting your drapes whenever you need.
Tailored Pleat Drapery: Streamlined & Contemporary
With three-finger pleats pinched at the very top of the panel, Tailored Pleat Drapery offers a streamlined, contemporary aesthetic for your kids curtains. The continuous design with the pleats pinched at the top draws the eye upward, which helps create a sense of height and spaciousness in your room.
Tailored Pleat Drapery is compatible with both rod and ring hardware and track system hardware. Both types of hardware are easy to operate, but the rings may be a little more challenging, especially with wider and taller panels. For the easiest functionality, choose a manual or motorized track system.
Pinch Pleat Drapery: Traditional Elegance
A traditional pleat style, Pinch Pleat Drapery features three-finger pleats pinched four inches from the top of the drape panels. The pleats create a natural visual break between the drapery and your wall or ceiling, which creates a more grounded design.
Like Tailored Pleat, Pinch Pleat is compatible with both rod and ring hardware and track system hardware. For the easiest functionality, choose a manual or motorized track system.
Cubicle Drapery: Casual Simplicity
Featuring small grommets a few inches from the top, Cubicle Drapery attaches to hook carriers in a track system. The result is wide, gentle waves that deliver a more casual, carefree aesthetic. Thanks to its design, Cubicle Drapery uses less fabric than other styles of drapery, and so has a very tight stack (the amount of space the panels take up when pulled fully off your window). A tight stack is especially useful for smaller spaces.
Like Ripple Fold, Cubicle Drapery is only compatible with track systems, so it’s very functional and easy to use.
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Decorative Kids Curtains
Decorative pleat styles offer charming aesthetics, however, keep in mind they’re not the easiest to use regularly due to their hardware compatibility, design restrictions or both. That’s why, if you opt for decorative pleat styles, it’s best to pair decorative pleat styles with a more functional window treatment like Roller Shades or Roman Shades.
goblet
drapery
With goblet-shaped pleats at the top of the panel, this pleat style offers a luxe, feminine look. The goblets don’t stack nicely which is why this style is best used decoratively.
grommet
drapery
Metal rings pressed in the panel fabric one inch from the top give Grommet Drapery deep, dramatic folds. Only compatible with rods, this style is best used decoratively.
inverted pleat
drapery
Featuring flat, crisp pleats across the top panel, Inverted Pleat creates clean angles and lines for a stately look. These pleats don’t stack nicely so it’s best used decoratively.
rod pocket
drapery
With a sewn pocket of fabric at the top to thread a curtain rod through, Rod Pocket Drapery features a charming, casual look. It’s difficult to adjust so is best used decoratively.
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Best Fabric Choices for Kids Room Curtains
Choosing the best fabric for your kids curtains is about finding the right balance between aesthetics and durability. In a kids room, your drapery will likely put up with a bit more wear and tear than in more formal rooms, so the hardiness of your fabric is an important factor to consider.
For the best durability — as well as kid-friendly designs and sophisticated aesthetics — choose from performance synthetic fabrics and hardy natural fibers.
Performance Synthetic Fabrics
Made from engineered fibers like polyester, acrylic and more, these fabrics offer excellent performance in terms of moisture, stain and fade resistance. Plus, they’re less prone to tearing.
Explore examples of synthetic fabrics in attractive solid colors and charming patterned designs.
denim in natural
Made of 100% Polyester
A beautiful and durable twill weave that’s made to endure wear and tear, in a soft warm white.
korinthos in aloe
Made of 100% Polyester
Features the look and feel of a cotton-linen blend in a subtle, inviting sea glass green.
highland in batik blue
Made of 50% Acrylic, 25% Wool & 25% Polyester
A simple plaid pattern with cool blue and grey stripes on an off-white background.
celeste in light pink
Made of 69% Cotton & 31% Polyester
Features tiny, embroidered starbursts in a soft pink for a charming, whimsical look.
Hardy Natural Fibers
Natural fibers vary in terms of performance as some are more durable than others. For the best performance, choose fabrics made of linen, wool or cotton. Silk is much more delicate and not the best choice for kids curtains.
Explore examples of natural fabrics in attractive solid colors and charming patterned designs.
luxe linen in
oyster
Made of 100% Linen
A beautiful heavyweight linen with a textured look and soft feel in an inviting, warm off-white color.
cotton in
sky
Made of 100% Cotton
Features the clean, fresh look and soft touch characteristic of cotton, in a cheery sky-blue color.
nate berkus gemma in
seastone gray
Made of 100% Cotton
Hand-painted white starbursts create a charming, yet chic microprint on a cool blue-grey background.
Holland & Sherry Emerson
in Shea
Made of 100% Wool
An elegant plaid pattern with creamy colors offers a classic appeal that immediately warms your room.
Explore All Fabrics
Discover all the possibilities for your kids curtains. Order swatches of all your favorite colors and patterns to compare at home.
Kids Room Curtain Ideas
With knowledge of your pleat style and fabric options for kids room curtains, get inspiration from curated spaces featuring a variety of pleat style, hardware and fabric options.
Leafy Patterned Drapery for a Playroom
Create a fun forest or jungle-inspired playroom with kids curtains in a lush, leafy green pattern. Pair the foliage-inspired drapery with a Woven Wood Shade made of Grassweave in Khaki for an organic, natural element. The Madison track system hardware in Gold adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to the space—while giving you excellent functionality.
Pictured: Outer Layer: Tailored Pleat Drapery, Kravet C.O.M., with Madison Track Hardware in Gold and Inner Layer: Waterfall Woven Wood Shade, Grassweave in Khaki, design by Benni Amadi Interiors for the 2020 San Francisco Decorator Showhouse, photography by Douglas Friedman
Warm White Drapery for a Neutral Bedroom
Create a sophisticated, neutral design for your kids room with warm white Ripple Fold Drapery, like Claude Stripe in Alabaster, which features a luxe boucle stripe for a sense of casual elegance. Choose a simple white track system for your hardware that blends into the ceiling for a subtle, barely-there look. This type of drapery is ideal for a long-term window treatment solution as the simple, neutral curtains will grow with your child’s changing style as they age.
Pictured: Ripple Fold Drapery, Nate Berkus Claude Stripe in Alabaster, design by Nate Berkus
Drapery & Solar Shades in Neutral Accents
If your child’s room already has bold, colorful elements like a bright pink bed frame, soften the overall look with neutral kids curtains. Drapery made of Linen in White paired with Flat Roman Shaders made of Grassweave in Snow offer soft, off-white accents with a touch of visual interest in their textures. The Acero rod and ring hardware offers modern silver accent and simple functionality.
Pictured: Outer Layer: Tailored Pleat Drapery, Linen in White with Privacy Lining and Acero Rod & Ring Hardware in Chrome and Inner Layer: Flat Roman Shade, Grassweave in Snow design by Marie Flanigan for the Chef Ludo home, photography by Julie Soefer
Alternatives to Kids Room Curtains
Not sure if kids curtains are the right choice for your child’s room? You have additional options for kids window treatments, including Roller and Roman Shades.
Check out these additional ideas for your child’s bedroom.
Playful Pop-Art Punctuations
Go bold in your design and simple in functionality with Blackout Roller Shades made from The Novogratz Painted Lips design. This pop-art-inspired design brings color and character to your child’s room while also providing a room darkening effect and being very easy to use.
Product: Blackout Roller Shades
Material & Color: The Novogratz, Painted Lips in Red Lips
Warm, Southwest-Inspired Tones
Capture a warm, inviting look with a modern southwestern-inspired design. Choose Flat Roman Shades in a desert-inspired color like Lisbon Woven in Bronze. Complement the orange-brown color with ward wood tones like a woven planter and décor. Use soft, warm whites throughout the same in different textures to add subtle dimension while also making the warm Bronze shades pop.
Product: FlatRoman Shade
Material: Nate Berkus, Lisbon Woven in Bronze
soft colors & folds
For a casual, inviting look, choose Relaxed Roman Shades that feature a gentle swoop of fabric at the bottom. While not super functional, Relaxed Roman Shades are character-rich and easily layered with functional options like Roller Shades. A subtle pattern like Zebra Marble in Waverly Pink adds a touch more character to your shades to bring the design to life.
Product: Relaxed Roman Shades
Material: The Novogratz, Zebra Marble in Waverly Pink
Explore Selections for Your Kids Curtains
To continue your search for the right kids room curtains, order swatches of all your favorite fabrics to compare them in your own home. Be sure to observe them all in different light throughout the day to get a true sense of the color. Make sure to order swatches for any layered window treatments as well, such as Roller or Roman Shade materials to see how they complement your favorite Drapery designs.
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