Want to save a lot of time and stress when ordering commercial curtains? Whether you are an interior designer, retailer, developer or contractor, the clearer your brief is at the start, the smoother the project is likely to be.
Curtains and blinds are products where the details matter. Even the smallest missing measurement or unclear descriptions of fabrics can delay production or affect the final finish. On commercial and trade projects, where there may be several rooms, multiple sizes of window and tight deadlines, a well-prepared brief is even more salient.
At Drapes UK, we work with trade clients across a wide range of projects, from made-to-measure curtains and blinds to larger contract work for commercial interiors, show homes, hotels, offices and residential schemes.
As experienced contract curtain makers, we know what information a workroom needs before manufacturing begins.
This checklist explains what to include when briefing a workroom, so your project can progress with fewer delays.
1. Start with the basics
Before getting into the detail of fabrics and finishes, give your curtain workroom a clear overview of the project.
Useful information includes:
- Project name
- Client name, if relevant
- Site address
- Type of project
- Number of rooms or windows
- Required completion date
- Whether the project is supply-only or requires measuring and installation
- Main point of contact
This helps us understand the scale and urgency of the job. A single pair of curtains for a private client is very different from a multi-room show home, hotel refurbishment or commercial fit-out.
At Drapes UK, we can support both supply-only and fuller project requirements, depending on your needs. Some designers and retailers come to us with completed measurements and specifications. Others need support with larger schemes where manufacturing, delivery and installation planning are part of the wider brief.
2. Provide accurate measurements for windows
Accurate measurements are one of the most important parts of any curtain or blind brief. Even beautifully made curtains will not look right if the measurements are wrong.
For curtains, your workroom will usually need:
- Track or pole width
- Finished drop
- Required fullness
- Number of widths per curtain or pair
- Stack-back allowance, if relevant
- Sill, below-sill or floor-length finish
- Any obstructions such as radiators, sockets, handles or furniture
For blinds, it can help to provide the:
- Recess width and drop
- Exact size of the blinds, if outside recess
- Fitting position
- Control side
- Chain or cord details
- Any child-safety requirements
It is important to make clear whether the measurements provided are recess sizes, track sizes, pole sizes or finished sizes. These are not the same thing. If this is not clear, production may be delayed while the details are checked.
For larger projects, a room-by-room schedule is especially useful. This allows every window treatment to be labelled and manufactured against the correct room, plot or area.
3. Confirm the heading style
The heading style affects how curtains look, hang and stack. It also affects the amount of fabric required. A trade curtain workroom needs this information early so the curtains can be calculated and made correctly.
Common curtain heading styles include:
- Pencil pleat
- Double pinch pleat
- Triple pinch pleat
- Wave
- Eyelet
- Goblet
- Cottage pleat
Each heading creates a different look. Pencil pleat is flexible and widely used. Pinch pleats give a smarter, more tailored finish. Wave curtains create a modern, even fold and are often used in contemporary interiors. Eyelets can work well in some residential settings, while goblet headings are more decorative.
At Drapes UK, we manufacture a range of made-to-measure curtain styles for trade and contract clients. If you already know the heading, include it in the brief. If not, we can help you consider which option suits the fabric, track or pole and overall design.
4. Specify the fabric clearly
Fabric details are another key part of the brief. If you are supplying your own fabric, the workroom will need accurate information before production starts.
Include:
- Fabric supplier
- Fabric name
- Colourway
- Roll width
- Pattern repeat
- Quantity available
- Whether the fabric is railroaded
- Whether there are any flaws or known issues
- Whether the fabric is suitable for curtains, blinds or accessories
Pattern repeat is particularly important. It affects how much fabric is needed and whether designs can be matched across curtain widths, blinds, cushions or other soft furnishings.
If the fabric is being sent directly to Drapes UK, it should be clearly labelled with the project name, client name and any room references. This helps avoid confusion, especially when several fabrics are arriving for the same project.
5. Choose the right lining
Lining is not just a finishing detail. It affects how curtains hang, how much light they block, how the fabric is protected and how luxurious the finished product feels.
Common options include:
- Standard lining
- Blackout lining
- Dimout lining
- Thermal lining
- Interlining
- Flame-retardant lining, where required
For bedrooms, blackout or lining for dimming the room may be preferred. For show homes and high-end residential schemes, interlining can add body and a softer, fuller appearance. For hotels, care environments, offices and other commercial spaces, flame-retardant requirements may need to be considered.
As contract curtain makers, we are used to working with different lining requirements across different project types. If you are unsure which lining is best, tell us how the room will be used. That often helps determine the most suitable option.
6. Include track, pole and fitting details
Curtains do not exist in isolation. The track or pole affects the heading choice, finished drop, stack-back and overall appearance.
Your brief should state:
- Whether curtains are going on a track or pole
- Track or pole width
- Pole diameter, if relevant
- Ring size, if relevant
- Fitting height
- Whether the track is straight, bayed or curved
- Whether wave gliders or specialist tracks are being used
- Whether hardware is already installed
For wave curtains in particular, the track system matters. The glider spacing, fullness and curtain make-up need to work together. If these details are missing, the workroom may not be able to manufacture accurately.
For blinds, include whether they are being fitted inside or outside the recess and whether they need brackets, fascia, side channels or other hardware.
7. Think about compliance and safety
For trade and commercial projects, compliance can be just as important as appearance. Depending on the setting, curtains and blinds may need to meet fire safety or child-safety requirements.
This is especially relevant for:
- Hotels
- Care homes
- Schools
- Offices
- Student accommodation
- Public buildings
- Rental properties
- Commercial developments
If flame-retardant fabrics, linings or treatments are required, this should be stated in the brief. Documentation may also be needed for the client or project file.
For blinds, child-safety requirements should be considered where looped cords or chains are involved. The workroom needs to know where the blinds are being installed and whether any safety devices or control restrictions are required.
At Drapes UK, we manufacture for a wide range of trade and commercial settings, so we understand that the right specification is not only about how the finished product looks. It also needs to suit the environment it is going into.
8. Provide a room-by-room schedule
For multi-room projects, a clear schedule is one of the most useful things you can provide.
A good schedule might include the type of room, product, fabric and lining and finished sizes.
This type of schedule helps the workroom quote accurately, check details quickly and label finished items correctly. It is particularly valuable for show homes, apartment schemes, hotels and commercial projects where multiple items may look similar but have different sizes or specifications.
9. Confirm your delivery, labelling and packaging needs
The delivery process can be overlooked, but it matters on trade projects. Curtains and blinds often need to arrive ready for a specific installation date, site opening or client handover.
Tell your workroom:
- Delivery address
- Required delivery date
- Site contact
- Access restrictions
- Whether items need to be labelled by room or plot
- Whether packaging needs to be grouped by area
- Whether delivery is to site, showroom, warehouse or installer
At Drapes UK, we know that good organisation at this stage helps our clients on site. Clear labelling and practical packaging can make installation much easier, especially when a project includes several rooms or properties.
10. Share the deadline early
Lead times depend on the size of the order, availability of particular fabrics, complexity and current production schedule. The earlier you share your deadline, the easier it is to plan the work properly.
Be clear about whether the date is for:
- The completion of the manufacturing process
- The delivery
- The installation
- The photography
- The show home launch
- The handover
These are not always the same thing. For example, if a show home is being photographed on a Friday, the curtains may need to be installed days earlier so the room can be dressed and checked.
As experienced contract curtain makers, we understand that our work often sits at the final stage of a wider project.
For more information on our curtains, don’t hesitate to contact us today.
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