“Old house, nothing square, and he handled it without any fuss. The finish is far better than the shop-bought ones we had before.”
Eoin McC.
Limerick · Front rooms
€45 – €220 per window
Fitted nationwide
Curtain Poles
Poles, tracks and finials — the hardware that makes curtains hang properly. Below: what they are, the rooms they suit, the rooms they don't, and a step-by-step fitting guide.
What it is
About curtain poles
A curtain pole is a visible rod with decorative finials at each end, sitting in brackets on the wall. A track is a low-profile channel, often hidden behind a pelmet, that lets curtains stack tighter and turn corners. The choice affects how the curtain hangs, how far it stacks back, and how much light you lose. Most badly hung curtains in Irish houses fail on the hardware, not the fabric.
Best for
- Any room where curtains are the main treatment
- Layering over blinds for warmth and softness
- Bay windows, where a bendable track outperforms a jointed pole
- Wide openings, where a track carries weight better
Think twice about
- Low ceilings, where a chunky pole eats visual height — use a track
- Very heavy interlined curtains on a thin pole, which will bow
- Directly above radiators, where curtains trap heat against the glass
Materials & options
What to specify
Poles come in 19mm, 28mm and 35mm diameters in steel, brass, timber and painted finishes. Match the diameter to the curtain weight: 19mm for light voiles, 28mm for standard lined curtains, 35mm for heavy interlined. Tracks are aluminium or plastic, corded or hand-drawn, with bendable versions for bays.
Cleaning & care
Wipe poles with a dry cloth. Check bracket screws once a year, especially on plasterboard. Lubricate stiff track gliders with a silicone spray, never oil.
Fitting guide
How to fit curtain poles
Follow these in order. Most fitting problems come from skipping the measuring and levelling steps rather than from the blind itself.
Set the height
Mount the pole at least 150mm above the window opening — higher if the ceiling allows. Curtains hung high and wide make a window look considerably larger and lose less light when open.
Set the width
Extend the pole 150–300mm beyond the opening on each side. This is the stack-back space. Without it, open curtains cover a third of your glass permanently.
Mark the brackets
End brackets go 100mm in from the finials. Any pole over 1.8m needs a centre bracket — over 3m, two. Mark all bracket heights from the same reference line, not from the window, which may not be level.
Drill and fix
Into masonry, use a 7mm bit and proper wall plugs. Into plasterboard, use spring toggles or metal self-drill anchors rated for the weight — standard plastic plugs will pull out of plasterboard under a heavy curtain, usually about a fortnight later.
Fit the pole and rings
Thread the rings on before the finials go on, and leave one ring outside each end bracket so the outer edge of the curtain is held back against the wall.
Hang and dress
Hang the curtains, then dress the folds by hand from top to bottom and tie them loosely for two or three days. Trained folds are the difference between curtains that look made and curtains that look draped.
Verified reviews
What customers say
Recent reviews from homes across Ireland.
“Recommended the UV-stable range because of the sun down here rather than selling me the cheapest thing. Two summers on and no fading at all.”
Ciara N.
Wexford · Whole house
“Solid job on a big rear extension. Priced per window so I could see exactly what I was paying for. No complaints.”
Brian F.
Meath · Extension
Questions
Curtain Poles — common questions
How high should I hang a curtain pole?
As high as the ceiling reasonably allows — 150mm above the frame minimum, and up to just below the cornice in a tall Georgian room. It is the single easiest way to make a window look bigger.
Pole or track for a bay window?
Track, almost always. A bendable track follows the bay's real angles in one continuous run, so the curtains draw around the corners. Jointed poles snag at every angle.
What size pole for heavy curtains?
28mm for standard lined curtains, 35mm for interlined or velvet. If in doubt, go heavier — a bowed pole cannot be fixed without replacing it.
Can I fit a pole into plasterboard alone?
Only with proper metal anchors or by finding the studs. Standard plastic plugs in plasterboard will not hold a lined curtain long term.
Get three quotes
Tell us about your windows once. Vetted local fitters come back to you with prices, usually within two working days. Free, and there's no obligation to book anything.
Start my free quoteBrowse the shop
Ready-made blinds, measuring tools, cord safety kits and fitting hardware — hand-picked and delivered to your door if you'd rather do it yourself.
Visit the shopOther types of blind
Wooden Blinds
Warm, tactile slat blinds in real timber or faux wood.
Day & Night Blinds
Twin fabric layers of alternating stripes that slide to control light.
Vertical Blinds
Rotating fabric louvres that stack to the side — built for wide windows.
Venetian Blinds
Slim aluminium or metal slat blinds with precise light control.
Roman Blinds
Soft fabric blinds that fold into horizontal pleats as they rise.
Roller Blinds
A single sheet of fabric on a tube — the simplest and most versatile blind.
Perfect Fit Blinds
Clip-in frames that fit uPVC windows with no drilling at all.
Roof & Skylight Blinds
Tensioned blinds with side rails, made for sloped and roof glazing.
Pleated Blinds
Concertina fabric blinds, including insulating honeycomb cells.
Plantation Shutters
Hinged louvred panels fitted to the window — the most permanent option.
Electric & Smart Blinds
Motorised blinds on remote, app or timer control.