I have many customers interested in grommets on their draperies or panels instead of pleats.  This is certainly a more contemporary look and shows off a decorative rod nicely.  It also stacks into a smaller space on the sides.

When grommets are used at the top of the drapery, the fullness is created by running the rod through the grommets.  The larger grommets are more popular and often are color coordinated with the decorative rod.  But you could create an accent by using a contrasting grommet.  We usually sew a baton into the back of the drapery to grab when you want to move the drapery across the window.  The disadvantage of drawing a drapery by hand rather than by using a cord is that you touch and pull on the drapery.  Over time this can soil and stretch the drapery when they are pulled.  Using the attached baton solves that problem.

A big advantage with the grommeted draperies is that they use less fabric and therefore take up less stack space on the sides of the windows.  We easily forget that fabric takes up space, so either we extend the rod wider than the window or the drapery will cover part of the window, cutting out view and light.  Pleated draperies use 2.5 – 3.0 fullness but grommeted draperies only use 1.75 fullness, therefore there is less fabric on the sides to either extend or cover the window.  

Any kind of decorative rod can be used.   It needs to be sturdy, meaning at least a 1.25 diameter rod, and the rod needs to be all in one piece.  If the rod has an overlap then the grommets will not slide smoothly.  Either a wood rod or a metal pole will work fine,

One last thought about grommets…they can also be used on valances.  After all, a valance is just a short drapery.

Related posts:

1. Drapery Panels