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What are S-Fold Curtains?

What are S-Fold Curtains?

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Shadey
Editorial Team
3rd December, 2024, 3:10 am
6 min read
Technical
Styling
3rd December, 2024, 3:10 am
6 min read
Technical
Styling

S-fold curtains have become increasingly popular, and for good reason; they offer a streamlined, contemporary look that can elevate any room. But what exactly are S-fold curtains, and why should you consider them for your home?

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S fold curtains are designed with a unique folding technique that creates soft, flowing S-shaped waves. This allows them to draw back gracefully, offering an unobstructed view when opened. They come in various materials and styles, making them a versatile choice for any design aesthetic and are an option for all of our curtains.

Benefits of S-fold Curtains

S-fold curtains are the sleek cousin in the curtain family, and here's why they could be the perfect addition to your space:

Make your room feel larger

S-fold curtains create clean, symmetrical vertical lines that draw the eye up, giving the impression of a taller room – especially when installed floor-to-ceiling and wall to wall.
When installed wall-to-wall, at night (or when using closed blockout curtains) you also get a seamless and unobstructed wall of material further increasing the appearance of a large room.

Clean Aesthetics

S-fold curtains bring a continuous wave-like pattern, adding a modern twist without compromising on elegance. Their uniform appearance offers a clean look that complements both contemporary and traditional decor styles.

Functionality

This style isn’t just for show; the specialised s-fold track (that comes standard with all Shadey curtains) allows for effortless gliding, making opening and closing a breeze – literally. Plus, they stack back neatly, maintaining your view and letting in all that glorious sunlight when you want it.

Versatility

With a wide range of fabrics (we're talking sheers for that soft, diffused light or blockout curtains for full privacy and darkness), s-fold curtains are perfect for pretty much any space and preferences.

Fit

No worries about odd-sized windows. As with all curtains, blinds and shutters from Shadey, our s-fold curtains are made to measure so you’ll always have a perfect fit. Who doesn't like things made just for them, right?

Generosity of design

To achieve the S-fold wave, Shadey creates our S-fold curtains with over 100% fullness – that’s more than double the length of fabric compared to the length of the track. That might sound complicated but what you need to know is you’ll achieve an elegant, opulent look with ease.

Image of furniture
Product
Sheer Curtain
Fabric
Anna
Colour
Stone
Pictured here are our beautiful Anna sheer curtains in Stone colour.
Image of texture
Product
Sheer curtains
Fabric
Anna
Colour
Stone
Ceiling mounted S-Fold curtain in Anna Stone

Features of S-fold curtains

S-fold curtains, are a modern and sleek choice for any room.

Here's a snapshot of S-fold curtains' features:

  • Unique 'S' shaped wave
  • Requires a specialized s-fold track that comes included with all Shadey s-fold curtain orders.
  • Wide range of fabric choices, from sheers to heavy blockout materials
  • Great for wide windows
  • Neat stacking for unobstructed views

Suitable for modern and traditional decor styles

S-Fold vs Pleated Curtains

When choosing curtains for your home, the drape style can significantly impact the room's look and feel. S-fold curtains and pleated curtains are popular options, each lending a distinctive aesthetic to your windows.

S-fold curtains are known for their sleek, continuous "S" shape that runs along the entire length, giving a smooth, modern look. They offer a luxurious wave effect that suits a wide range of decor styles.

In contrast, pleated curtains feature precise folds sewn into the fabric, creating a more structured appearance. Pencil pleat and triple pinch pleat are the most common pleat style if you prefer to not have an S-fold curtain and are common in traditional and older homes. Pleated curtains often work well with heavier fabrics, and you can choose from styles like pinch pleat or box pleat to suit traditional or contemporary interiors.
Whatever your preference, there is no difference in cost for your preferred fold or pleated curtains at Shadey.

Design tips for S-Fold Curtains

First thing's first, consider your decor style. Are you all about that minimalist vibe or maybe you're leaning towards a bit of a glam aesthetic? S-fold curtains are an amazing backdrop to any room, blending seamlessly into various settings, thanks to their simple yet sophisticated wave pattern. And don't forget to think about the space they'll live in—airy living rooms and sumptuous bedrooms are prime real estate for these beauties.

Opening direction

Centre opening or one-way draw? It's like asking if you like your coffee with or without sugar—totally a personal choice.

If you want to go with a classic look, then centre opening is your answer. These open from the middle and slide gracefully to both ends of the window, giving you that symmetrical look that's ever so pleasing to the eye. It's a match made in heaven for larger windows or sliding doors where you want to balance the look on each side.

Prefer a one-way draw? It's a solid pick when your window abuts a wall or if you’re dealing with smaller spaces. The curtains will stack to one side, keeping things neat and avoiding any awkward curtain-wall tango. It also means you don’t have to have a split (depending on the size of your window)

Colour, material and opacity

Now here's the fun part! It's time to play with colours, materials, and opacity (sheer vs blackout) to get those S-fold curtains feeling just right. Your choice will set the mood in your room, so let’s get it spot on.

Fresh and neutral tones keep things breezy and give you that 'beach house' ease, while darker hues can inject some drama and intimacy.

Material wise, you've got options galore. Lightweight sheer fabric offer daytime privacy without sacrificing natural light, while blackout fabrics create dark bedrooms for weekend sleep ins.

Don’t forget to factor in the texture and material composition of your curtains. Linen is beautiful but opting for a linen-poly blend can add durability. These days you can get a linen-look even with 100% polyester which can save you money – they might not feel as nice, but how often are you snuggling into a curtain. 

Mounting to the ceiling or the wall

Where you mount your S-fold curtains can totally change the game.

Mounting to the ceiling can make your ceilings seem sky-high and your rooms more expansive by drawing your eyes all the way from the floor to the ceiling.

On the flip side, wall mounting is a classic and works like a charm. Perfect if you're dealing with bulkheads, ornamental architraves or if ceiling mounting just isn’t in the cards for your space. It can also help frame period-style windows.

Do you want a wand?

Want to avoid grubby hands on your new fabric? If you’ve chosen a linen-blend curtain, you may want to take extra care of it and a curtain wand is your answer. And at Shadey, there’s no extra charge for a wand. Just add it when you’re building your curtain.

What are the fabric options for S-fold curtains?

When it comes to fabric choices for S-fold curtains, you're in for a treat with the wide range available. It's not just about picking a colour that catches your eye; you've got to think about the vibe you want to create in your space. Whether you're leaning towards the breezy elegance of sheers or the sophistication of heavy drapes, or the organic texture of linen-blends, we’ve got you covered.

Sheer curtains

Made from lightweight, translucent fabrics, these sheers will diffuse sunlight and cast a gentle glow across your space. Imagine relaxing on your couch with a cuppa while a soft light dance around the room – sheer magic, right?

Sheers are perfect when you need daytime privacy but still want to be able to enjoy natural light. Pair them with a blackout roller blind for added nighttime privacy.

Blackout curtains

Blackout S-fold curtains are specifically designed to keep the light out and help insulate your room, making them perfect for bedrooms or media rooms where darkness is key.

Blackout curtains also help in muffling sound and managing energy costs by keeping the heat in during winter and out during the summer. And worry not, you won't be compromising on style – blackout curtains in the S-fold design retain that soft, pleated look while fulfilling their practical role.

How do I buy S-Fold curtains?

Purchasing S-fold curtains for a DIY measure and install project can be a breeze if you follow these simple steps:

  • Choose your samples: Choose from a wide range of fabrics and colours that match your decor style. From sheer to blockout curtains, the variety is vast. Sheer fabrics let in light while providing privacy, whereas thicker, blockout curtains will give you more darkness and insulation.
    Hold the samples up to your windows at day and at night so you can see what the colours and textures look like in different lights.
  • Measure: Measure the width of your window or wall accurately as we’ll make the curtain specifically to fit your window. Full instructions here.
  • Design and Checkout: Start ordering, put in your measurements and then depending on the size of your curtains we’ll give you all the options you can choose from including hem size, whether you want a center split or not, add a wand and more.
  • We make your curtains while you relax
  • Installation: When your curtains are ready, we’ll deliver them to your door.
    Then it’s a simple process to install; all you need is a ladder, a drill and maybe a pencil. Full instructions here.

How to hang S-fold curtains

 When installing s-fold curtains, you create the s-fold as you hang each pendant in the track. Gather 2 pendants that are already in the track, and then push one section back. Then bring the next section forward. Continue creating the S-fold pattern until you reach the end.

And that’s all there is to it! With these easy steps, you should have your stylish S-fold curtains dressing up your windows in no time.

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