What is a Pelmet and Do You Still Need One?
The pelmet is one of those things that sounds a bit old-fashioned and has been making a quiet comeback. If you’ve seen an interior recently where the curtains look particularly polished and you couldn’t quite work out why – there’s a good chance a pelmet was involved.
What is a pelmet?
A pelmet is a rigid or semi-rigid box fitted across the top of a window, above the curtains. It hides the curtain rail or pole, the heading tape, and the gap between the top of the curtain and the ceiling. Pelmets are usually made from wood or MDF, though fabric-covered versions (sometimes called soft pelmets or valances) are also common.
Why use one?
- They hide the hardware, for a more finished look
- They make ceilings feel higher by drawing the eye upward
- They improve insulation by reducing the gap at the top of the curtain
- They look brilliant in period properties and traditional rooms
Do you still need one in 2026?
Not always. In a contemporary, minimal room where you’ve deliberately chosen a nice pole as part of the aesthetic, covering it up would be a mistake. But if you have an older property, or if your curtain heading is less than beautiful, a pelmet is a genuinely useful and underrated solution.
For more on getting your window dressing right from top to bottom, browse our curtains range and curtain poles.
At Ooble, we’ve got curtains worth framing and curtain poles worth showing off. Browse the range.