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Life On Virginia Street

Life On Virginia Street

DIY . Home Decor . Travel . Style . Life

Affordable Pinch Pleat Drapes

Decorating Ideas, Tips and Trends

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Sharing all about pinch pleat drapes and how they can elevate your design. You can also see the affordable option we selected for our bedroom!

Affordable pinch pleat drapes hung in a coastal bedroom with a brass curtain rod. The bedroom has white and blue bedding, a white jute rug, wood beach chandelier, and coastal accents.

This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. You can read my full disclosure policy here.

Since the day we moved in a year and a half ago, I knew I wanted drapes in our bedroom. We already had plantation shutters for function, so I just wanted something to soften the space – particularly with the tall ceilings. After months of searching, I finally ordered these affordable pinch pleat drapes from Amazon in the Beige White color. If you prefer to see the content in video, you can check out my Instagram Reel here.

What are Pinch Pleat Drapes

Pinch pleat drapes are a classic and elegant window treatment known for their tailored, structured appearance. They feature evenly spaced pleats at the top, which are sewn or pinched together to create a permanent, crisp fold. This design allows the fabric to drape beautifully, offering a polished look that complements both traditional and modern interiors. Pinch pleat drapes can be hung on decorative rods with rings or on a track system for smooth operation. They come in various styles, including two-finger, three-finger, and even four-finger pleats, with the number of pleats affecting the fullness and overall aesthetic.

One of the biggest advantages of pinch pleat drapes is their sophisticated and timeless appeal. They provide a high-end, custom look that elevates any space. Additionally, because of their structured folds, they maintain their shape well and create an even, consistent appearance when drawn closed or open. They also offer excellent light control and insulation, especially when lined with blackout or thermal fabric.

However, they do have some downsides. Pinch pleat drapes tend to be more expensive than other curtain styles due to the extra fabric and labor required for the pleats. They are also less adjustable than rod pocket or grommet curtains, as the pleats determine the spacing when drawn. Additionally, they may require professional cleaning or careful maintenance to preserve their structured look. Despite these drawbacks, pinch pleat drapes remain a popular choice for those seeking a refined and functional window treatment.

How To Hang Pinch Pleat Drapes

Hanging pinch pleat drapes properly is essential to achieving their elegant and structured look. These drapes require drapery pins, which are inserted into the back of each pleat, allowing them to be hung on either a curtain rod with rings or a traverse rod with carriers. To begin, insert the drapery pins into the reinforced pleat pockets, ensuring they are evenly placed to maintain uniform spacing. If using a decorative rod, attach the drapery rings to the rod first, then hook each pin into the rings. For a traverse rod, slide the pins into the carriers, which allow the drapes to open and close smoothly with a pull cord.

When determining the height for your drapery rod, consider how much clearance you want above the window and whether the drapes will brush the floor or hover slightly above it. Ideally, pinch pleat drapes should just kiss the floor for a polished look. I’m also a huge believer in hanging drapes “high and wide” in comparison to your window. We were working with a challenge in this one corner because of how close the window was to the corner. I found this rod that allowed us to get as close as possible while still allowing the curtains to be pulled if necessary.

If the drapes are new, “training” them by tying them loosely in place for a few days can help them hold their pleated shape more effectively. Properly installed, pinch pleat drapes add a sophisticated, tailored finish to any space. Thankfully these drapes I found on Amazon were pre-trained! Not only that, the way they were packaged, I didn’t have to iron or steam them at all!

Inside the package, each panel was packaged and wrapped like this to pre-train the pleats. Somehow, we had next to no wrinkles on any of the panels either!

The panels included plastic, adjustable “pins” (helpful for getting the height exactly right). They also came with black curtain rings. I opted to order these quiet-glide rings instead since I wanted a more substantial look in a warmer color.

Our “helper” demonstrating the included rings and pins in the instruction book she was laying on.

Once your rod is installed, adjust the drapery pins on the drapes up or down to fine-tune the length if needed. Once hung, gently arrange the folds so they fall naturally and evenly. You want the pleats in the “front” rather than the fabric from the back coming through.

Our Affordable Pinch Pleat Drapes In Our Bedroom

We ordered these affordable pinch pleat drapes in the Beige White color. Our ceilings are 10′ tall in this room (plus the vault in the center). Because of the added height, I felt like I needed a wider width, as well. Since the pre-made wide versions were significantly more expensive and/or took much longer to arrive (and some only come with one panel so read the descriptions), I opted to order four sets of the 40″ x 108″ panels for this pair of windows. I only have seven of the drapes hung (more on that in a minute). But I was drawn to the reviews and the fact that TWO panels are under $75 in most sizes. Other brands I looked at charged double that for ONE panel. Unlike many other pinch-pleat drapes, these are machine washable. Ours are light-filtering, but they also have blackout options, as well.

BEDROOM SOURCES: Pinch Pleat Curtains (Beige White) | Curtain Rods (1.25″ diameter) – look for less here | Curtain Rings | Blue Linen Bed (look for less here) | Nightstands (look for less here) |  Striped Sheets | Waffle Knit Blanket | Duvet Cover & Euro Shams | Block Print Pillow Covers | Long Linen Lumbar Pillow | Lamps | Vase | Faux Snowball Viburnum | Rug | Bench | Coral Style Mirror

I would describe the ‘Beige White’ as a subtle ivory that’s warmer than a stark white. Our walls are Sherwin Williams Snowbound for reference!

I still have one more panel, since I bought four sets, but I’m undecided if I should hang it in that left corner. The challenge is there isn’t technically enough space because of how close the window is to the wall (which is one of the main reasons I used this rod so I could get as close as possible). I found a look for less option here that’s slighly less substantial. I’m really trying to avoid blocking the light. From the doorway (shown above), it’s not as obvious there is one less panel on the left. But when you stand centered in the room it’s a little more obvious. What are all of your thoughts? Does this help disguise how off-center the windows are or does it draw more attention with one less panel on the left?

Regardless of what we decide with that left panel, I just love the softness these pinch pleat drapes bring to the space. It finally feels like this room is much more complete (and cozy) now!

BEDROOM SOURCES: Pinch Pleat Curtains (Beige White) | Curtain Rods (1.25″ diameter) – look for less here | Curtain Rings | Blue Linen Bed (look for less here) | Nightstands (look for less here) |  Striped Sheets | Waffle Knit Blanket | Duvet Cover & Euro Shams | Block Print Pillow Covers | Long Linen Lumbar Pillow | Lamps | Vase | Faux Snowball Viburnum | Rug | Bench | Coral Style Mirror

I am so happy I gave these affordable pinch pleat drapes a try!

Additional Pinch Pleat Drape Options to Consider

Realizing one size doesn’t fit all for window treatments in a home, here are some other pinch pleat drape options to consider if you like the look but not necessarily the panels I selected.

  • If these patterned drapes came in a length that worked for me, I would have loved to give them a try! They have a near-perfect rating!
  • These Two Pages pinch pleat curtains went viral a year or two back and I’ve seen them in person. They’re another beautiful option! I ultimately chose mine because they are very similar but less expensive. I still plan to give Two Pages a try for their outdoor curtains, because it’s one of the few non-custom vendors that offers the length we need!
  • This semi-sheer option comes in a wide variety of colors and sizes.
  • I’ve been hearing a lot of wonderful things about this brand and their window treatments. They’re pinch pleat cafe curtains have been a hit online lately, and they offer a lot of customization options for all window treatments! But with that customization comes a higher price tag.
  • If you’re needing a wider variety of fabric options and cost isn’t as much a factor, there are a lot of great options here. I’ve always been very happy with other types of drapery I’ve ordered from them in the past.

If you would like to follow along on more of my home decor, DIY, lifestyle, travel and other posts, I’d love to have you join me on any of the below channels:

Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest | LTK

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February 18, 2025 · 12 Comments

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Comments

  1. Pam says

    February 18, 2025 at 9:28 am

    Maybe adding some kind of plant in the corner would help or something else that may take away noticing it. Thank you for showing these, I love them. Have been looking for affordable drapes for my 10 ft. ceilings. I think these will work.

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      February 18, 2025 at 9:58 am

      Thank you! That’s a great suggestion. I need to try and find something that won’t also block the mirror.

      Reply
  2. Sharon Peterson says

    February 18, 2025 at 1:22 pm

    To me not having the other panel on the left is quite obvious and makes the wall look off balance. I love the drapes and plan to use in my home. Thanks for the research.

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      February 18, 2025 at 1:44 pm

      That’s kind of what I’m thinking too after living with them for a few weeks. Appreciate your feedback!

      Reply
  3. Tara says

    February 18, 2025 at 1:31 pm

    there is no great solution for this. I would replace the window with three panes that is centered on the wall. You can still use the drapes. Also, I would return the expensive rods and rings (much cheaper options on amazon for the same look). Put the money towards the new window. I’m assuming of course you are going to stay in the this house for 5 plus years. Thanks for using these drapes, I have been hoping you would be jumping on the 2 pages bandwagon for a while. Definitely going to order them now.

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      February 18, 2025 at 2:00 pm

      Thanks for the ideas! Unfortunately our chimney runs up that wall so we’re limited on structural/exterior alteration abilities.

      Reply
  4. Karen says

    February 18, 2025 at 5:51 pm

    Sarah the window needs the fourth panel. I don’t think you will lose too much light but the heft of the drapes on the rod looks wonky with them as is

    Reply
  5. Denise says

    February 18, 2025 at 7:07 pm

    I’m thinking I’d try to stay with the one on the left but pull it a bit more open. Then I’d compromise on the right by closing those panels a bit – in other words, try to fool the eye. And like others, if they have Sarah’s stamp of approval I’m purchasing!

    Reply
  6. Robin Alion says

    February 20, 2025 at 1:36 pm

    Hi,

    I love all your homes and your design style. I enjoy your blog and look forward to seeing it in my email!

    “Sewing Down South” is a company in South Carolina I’ve purchased pillow covers from. They are good quality, beautiful and coastal. I believe you would also like these pillow covers.

    Just thought I put a bug in your ear about a southern gem!

    Sincerely
    Robin

    SEWING DOWN SOUTH
    Charleston, South Carolina

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      March 3, 2025 at 10:19 am

      Thank you so much Robin! I’ll definitely check them out. Thanks for the recommendation!

      Reply
  7. Kathy says

    March 23, 2025 at 8:18 pm

    Hi Sarah, I’m very late to the pinch pleat party so I apologize if this has already been brought up, but have you considered just using single panels in both windows, i.e., a total of four panels rather than eight for the room? I actually think that the current double panels (shown in three out of four areas) read very formal and almost too full. If you did single panels you could also pull them open a bit more and allow more light into the room as well! Just a thought – I always enjoy your posts and Weekend Recap is my favorite.

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      March 25, 2025 at 8:13 am

      Thank you Kathy! We may have to try that and see it how it looks!

      Reply

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