Are Eyelet or Pencil Pleat Curtains Better? Pros & Cons
- Jan 29
- 3 min read
When choosing curtains, most attention is given to colour, fabric, and lining. However, the curtain heading style plays a crucial role in how curtains hang, how easy they are to use, and how well they suit a room. Two of the most common options are eyelet curtains and pencil pleat curtains.
Both styles are widely used across the UK, and ranges from Tyrone Textiles, including Enhanced Living, offer both eyelet and tape-top options. Understanding the strengths and limitations of each helps customers choose confidently and ensures the curtains work with existing poles or tracks.
Why Curtain Heading Style Matters
The curtain heading affects more than just appearance. It determines:
Whether curtains are suitable for a pole or track
How much fullness and drape the fabric has
How easily the curtains slide open and closed
The overall style of the room
Choosing the wrong heading can lead to practical issues, even if the curtain fabric itself is ideal.
What Are Eyelet Curtains?
Eyelet curtains feature metal rings set directly into the top of the curtain. These rings slide onto a curtain pole, creating large, even folds when the curtains are drawn.
Pros of Eyelet Curtains
Quick and easy to hang
Create a modern, clean look
Slide smoothly along poles
Even pleats without adjustment
Eyelet curtains are especially popular in contemporary homes and work well in living rooms and bedrooms where a relaxed, uncluttered look is desired.
Cons of Eyelet Curtains
Only suitable for curtain poles, not tracks
Offer less flexibility in adjusting fullness
Can allow more light at the top if not fitted carefully
Because of their fixed heading, eyelet curtains are less adaptable than tape-top styles but excel in simplicity and ease of use.
What Are Pencil Pleat Curtains?
Pencil pleat curtains use a sewn-in heading tape that gathers the fabric into narrow, adjustable pleats. They can be hung on either poles or tracks using hooks.
Pros of Pencil Pleat Curtains
Highly adjustable fullness
Suitable for poles and tracks
Traditional and versatile appearance
Ideal for wider windows
Pencil pleat curtains are a popular choice for both traditional and transitional interiors, offering flexibility and a classic finish.
Cons of Pencil Pleat Curtains
Take longer to hang and adjust
Require hooks and careful spacing
Can look overly formal in very modern rooms
Despite requiring more setup, pencil pleat curtains remain one of the most adaptable heading styles available.
Tape Top, Pencil Pleat, and Other Names Explained
One common source of confusion is the terminology used to describe curtain headings. Pencil pleat, tape top, hooks and gathered tape are often used interchangeably, but they generally refer to the same type of heading.
A tape-top curtain simply means it has a heading tape sewn into the top. When this tape is pulled, it creates the narrow pleats commonly referred to as pencil pleats. In ranges such as Enhanced Living, tape-top and pencil pleat describe the same curtain style.
Whereas Eyelet header can also be called ring, or grommet in American.
Understanding this helps customers avoid confusion when browsing products labelled differently but designed to function in the same way.
At Tyrone Textiles we use Eyelet and Tape Top to avoid confusion.
Which Heading Style Is Best for Each Room?
Living Rooms
Eyelet curtains are popular in living rooms for their clean lines and ease of use. Pencil pleats also work well where flexibility or wider windows are involved.
Bedrooms
Both styles are suitable, though pencil pleats may provide better light control when paired with blackout linings and tracks.
Traditional Interiors
Pencil pleat curtains are often preferred for their classic look and adaptability.
Eyelet and Pencil Pleat Curtains from Tyrone Textiles
At Tyrone Textiles, both heading styles are widely available across ranges, including Enhanced Living, giving retailers and customers the flexibility to choose based on fitting type and style preference rather than availability.
Offering both eyelet and tape-top options ensures compatibility with a wide range of homes, from modern new builds to more traditional properties.
Final Thoughts
There is no single “better” option between eyelet and pencil pleat curtains — the right choice depends on the room, the fitting, and personal preference. Eyelet curtains offer simplicity and modern style, while pencil pleat (tape-top) curtains provide flexibility and classic appeal.
Understanding how these headings differ — and how they are sometimes labelled differently — helps customers make confident, informed decisions and ensures curtains look and perform as expected.
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