Pleated panels are a classic style of drapery and so never really go out of fashion, although their popularity rises and falls with current trends. They look quite formal, so work best with formal or traditional decorating styles.

Sewn from the panel’s back, the tape forms pleats when pulled together. The hanging hooks are then inserted into the tape, and the panels hung on rings or traverse rods, which use a cord-and-pulley system for opening and closing the curtains.

There are several styles of pleats, all of which are sewn into a panel’s top edge to create a decorative header.

• Pinch pleat is the most common style. It is a series of equally spaced single, double, or triple pleats that are pinched in the center, forming fans above and below the pinch.
• Goblet pleat is like a triple-pinch pleat, except the pleating of the pinch is embellished with a stiffening paper or card to form a wine glass silhouette.
• Pencil pleats are thin single pleats formed in neat, taut folds.
• Cartridge pleats are single pleats that are spaced more widely than regular pinch pleats, and also rounded at the top.
• Tuxedo pleats are larger pleats normally hung on a decorative rod to create contemporary and formal flair.

Tab-top panels have loops of fabric sewn into or onto the panel’s top seam. The panel hangs flat from these tabs, making this type of window treatment a perfect way to showcase fabric prints and patterns. These drapes work well with many casual decorating styles, but are especially popular with country or cottage looks, as they show off the florals, checks or stripes so popular in those themes.

One bit of information to know about tab-top panels is that they’re normally stationary, since drawing them across the rod can be a bit of a burden. Therefore, they are best used on windows that aren’t opened on a regular basis.