Curtains for Floor-to-Ceiling Windows

Floor-to-ceiling glass is one of the best things about apartments and villas in Dubai, and one of the hardest to dress well. The windows are tall, often very wide, and frequently run straight into the ceiling with no wall above them. Get the curtains wrong and they look short, crowded or heavy. Get them right and they frame the view instead of competing with it.

Three decisions matter most: the track, the stacking space and the drop.

1. Choose a ceiling-mounted track

When the glass runs to the ceiling there is usually nowhere to fix a wall bracket, so the track goes on the ceiling itself. That is also the best-looking option: the curtain appears to fall from the ceiling, which makes the room feel taller.

For long runs, a good aluminium track with smooth gliders matters more than a decorative pole. Poles need supporting brackets every metre or so, and the curtain cannot pass those brackets. A track lets the curtain travel the full width without interruption. Some buildings have a recess or pelmet ready for a concealed track, which gives the cleanest finish of all.

2. Plan the stacking space

When curtains are open they bunch up, or stack, at the ends of the track. On a wide window that stack can be surprisingly large, and if you have not planned for it the open curtains will cover part of the glass and the view you paid for.

Where the wall allows, extend the track beyond the glass at each end so the curtains can stack against the wall rather than the window. Where it does not, a style with tighter folds, such as a wave heading, takes up less room when open. If the window has a door to a balcony, decide which way the curtains should open so the stack does not block the door.

• Lighter fabrics stack more compactly than heavy velvets.
• One curtain opening to one side suits a window with a door at the other end.
• A pair opening from the middle keeps both stacks smaller.

3. Get the drop right

On tall windows the length of the curtain is very visible. A curtain that stops a few centimetres short looks like a mistake, and one that pools on the floor collects dust and drags when it opens. For most modern homes we recommend a drop that finishes just clear of the floor, so the curtain moves freely but still reads as full length.

Floors and ceilings are rarely perfectly level across a wide span, which is why every window is measured at several points rather than once. It is also why tall curtains are almost always made to measure: a standard ready-made length is unlikely to match your exact ceiling height.

Styles that suit tall glass

Wave curtains are the most popular choice for floor-to-ceiling windows. The even, continuous folds look calm and modern across a long run, and they stack neatly. Sheer curtains in linen or voile keep the view and the light while cutting glare and adding privacy, and layering a sheer with a blackout curtain on a double track gives you control for both day and night.

For very wide or very tall windows, a motorized track is worth considering. It opens and closes long, heavy curtains evenly every time, and can be set to a schedule to keep the afternoon sun out while you are at work.

Let us measure it for you

Tall windows leave little room for error, and fitting a long ceiling track is a two-person job. On a free home visit a consultant measures each window, checks the ceiling and the stacking space, and shows you the fabrics against your own glass. Your quotation covers the curtains, the track and installation.