GLOSSARY OF STYLE TERMS
A
Adjustable/Reversible Drapes & Valances – Side opening allows for clean tailored custom fit.
B
Balloon drapes– A single panel drapes which is adjusted by gathering vertical rows of rings to create a scalloped bottom.
Bedspread – A bed covering generally having the hem drop to the floor. May be ruffled, scalloped or throw-style. Can be made of decorative fabric or woven.
Button-Hole Drape – Panels with evenly spaced button holes through which the rod is threaded.
Button-Hole Valance – Valances with evenly spaced button holes through which the rod is threaded.
Button-Tab Drape – Tab style drapes with decorative buttons.
Button-Tab Valance – Tab style valances with decorative buttons.
Button-Up Drapes – A tailored panel gathered softly from the bottom by using a buttoned sash or strap.
C
Canopy – Decorative fabric that is draped over the canopy frame of a four-poster bed. Can be curved-top or flat-top.
Chair Pad – A stuffed cushion which is used on a chair to provide comfort.
Colonial Swag – A two-piece swag with a concealed drawstring used to gather the drapes and create an old-fashioned (colonial) silhouette.
Comforter – A filled or puffed bed covering that generally drops just below the mattress. Can be filled with polyester or down.
Coverlet – Bedcovering used to cover top of bed and mattress sides. Usually decorative.
Crescent Valance – A valance (tailored or ruffled) that is shaped like a crescent.
Canopy – Decorative fabric that is draped over the canopy frame of a four-poster bed. Can be curved-top or flat-top.
Chair Pad – A stuffed cushion which is used on a chair to provide comfort.
Colonial Swag – A two-piece swag with a concealed drawstring used to gather the drapes and create an old-fashioned (colonial) silhouette.
Comforter – A filled or puffed bed covering that generally drops just below the mattress. Can be filled with polyester or down.
Coverlet – Bedcovering used to cover top of bed and mattress sides. Usually decorative.
Crescent Valance – A valance (tailored or ruffled) that is shaped like a crescent.
D
Door Panel – A drapes panel with two rod pockets — one top and one bottom. Made to cover glass on door. Wider than sidelights.
Droopy Tab Drapes – Tab style drapes with tabs spaced widely, creating a soft fold or “droopy” affect when pushed back.
Dust Ruffle – A “skirt” for the bed, this decorative fabric is attached to a sheet that slips between the mattress and box spring. The skirt can be made of decorative fabric, lace, eyelet, fringe, etc. and can be gathered, ruffled, pleated or tailored (almost flat) fabric. Some dust ruffles have split corners which allow dust ruffle to ease around bedposts without bunching.
Duvet – Similar to a pillow case except that it is used to cover a comforter or quilt. Protects the bed cover and is easier to launder and less expensive to dry clean than the actual bed cover. Closures may be zippered, Velcro or buttons.
F
Fishtail Swag – A top treatment that can be draped over swag holders, holdbacks, or over the length of the rod (the finials hold up the fabric). A rectangle of fabric with the ends cut on a diagonal.
Fringed Panel – A drapes with an edging or trim attached to the edges. Most fringes are sewn onto the drapes by our own home stitches.
I
Insert Valance – Manufactured to fit between the pieces of a swag as an “insert” to cover a wider window. However, it can be used alone.
L
Lace Panel – An openwork cloth with a design formed by a network of threads made by hand or on special lace machinery with bobbins, needles or hooks.
Lined Tuck Valance – Tab style top treatment with tucked tabs, gracefully curved center, and draped swag like sides.
O
One-Piece Festoon – A top treatment for wide windows which drapes over the drapes rod creating graceful curves.
One-Piece Swag – Window covering consisting of seamless drapes with a rod pocket and straight sides on outside and softly curved inside creating an open airy look.
P
Pillow – A stuffed cushion used to decorate a bed or sofa. May be trimmed with ruffles, lace, fringe, etc.
Pillow Sham – A decorative pillow case which can be tailored (flanged) or ruffled. Usually has an opening which can be an overlapped flap in the middle of the back (French back) or a buttoned or zippered closure on one end.
Pinch Pleat Drapes – Identified by the pleated fabric at the top of the drapes– there is no rod pocket. Also called draperies, they are attached to a traverse rod or pole rod with rings by using drapery hooks.
Puff Valance – Simple rod pocket valance which can be hung like traditional tailored valance or puffed (poufed) gently softening its appearance.
R
Roll-Up Shade – A shade cloth rolled around a spring or clutch-loaded roller.
Roman Shade – A shade with horizontal channels stitched at regular intervals down its length through which a rod or slats are inserted. It folds up “accordion” style from the bottom of the shade.
Ruffled Cascade – A top treatment that can be draped over swag holders, holdbacks, or over the length of the rod (the finials hold up the fabric). A rectangle of fabric with ruffles attached to three sides.
Ruffled Drapes – Also called Cape Cods or Priscillas, a New England tradition originally found in the kitchen and now found throughout the home. This classic ruffle can be found on two or three edges of the curtain. Most often used with matching valance and tiebacks.
S
Sash Tiebacks – Fabric which is longer and fuller than traditional tiebacks and used to create a fuller, more feminine look when holding back a curtain.
Scalloped Valance – A top treatment featuring a semi-circular bottom.
Scarf – A top treatment that can be draped over swag holders, hold-backs, or over the length of the rod (the finials hold up the fabric). Plain rectangle of fabric which sometimes has fringe stitched to two ends.
Sculptured Valance – A wide one-piece top treatment, usually lined, which is folded to fit various windows and placed on the drape rod.
Shower drapes – fabric drapes that has button holes, grommets or ties at the top and are hung by rings on the shower rod or around a tub. Many shower curtains coordinate with curtains and some are very different and decorative. Shower curtains generally need a plastic liner to protect them from getting wet.
Sidelight – A drape panel with two rod pockets — one top and one bottom. Designed to cover sidelights, the very narrow windows at the side of doors.
Slider Panels – Pinch pleated draperies (usually one piece) made for wide windows and sliding glass doors.
Stationary Balloon Valance Valance with scalloped bottom, similar in appearance to a balloon curtain.
Swag A draped one-piece fabric valance that falls gracefully from the top of a window swooping in a downward direction.
Swag Set Window covering consisting of left and right panel. Some sets include a festoon.
T
Tab Drapes – Known by the tabs (plain, button, tie-tabs, droopy) positioned on the upper edge of the curtain. Tabs look best when used with a wood or decorator rod since the rod will be exposed through the tabs. Rod should be mounted high enough so the window or glass is not visible above the top edge of the curtain.
Table Square – A square of fabric which partially covers a tablecloth as a decorative contrast.
Tablecloth – A covering which is spread over a table and extends to the floor.
Tailored Drapes – Named for their clean lines, these curtains can be found plain or with trimmed edges. Used alone or with a coordinating valance, they can hang straight or be tied back.
Tapered Valance – A top treatment whose sides gradually come to a point at the center.
Three-Piece Piped Valance – A top treatment composed of three separate pieces that, when threaded on the rod next to or overlapping one another, create a unified look.
Tiebacks – Designed to hold curtains or draperies back from the window. Tiebacks made of wood, metal, etc. are usually referred to as holdbacks.
Tie-Tab Drapes – Drapes with ties at the top which allow you to tie them onto the rod as tightly or as loosely as you wish, thereby controlling length and creating a more casual look.
Tie-Tab Valance – A top treatment with ties at the top which, allow you to tie them onto the rod as tightly or loosely as you wish, thereby controlling length and creating a more casual look.
Tie-Up Drapes – A tailored panel gathered softly from the bottom by using ribbons or straps.
Tiers – Also called privacy tiers or cafes, these curtains typically hang by a tension or cafe rod at the midway point of the window and cover only the lower half of the window.
Traditional Festoon & Jabot – Decorative top treatment usually requires two rods: one for graceful horizontal pleated festoon and one for the softly pleated, etc. Frames window like a swag.
V
Valance – A top treatment made in many shapes and styles. Most are used over curtains or tiers on a rod of their own. Sometimes the valance is used alone — on a door or on a small window. Valances are described by their shape or function such as tailored, ruffled, tab, puff, scalloped, tapered, crescent, “M”, insert, etc.