Semi-custom vs. custom curtains, when to choose each, & sources at every price point | vol.007
Also sharing my best hacks for saving money on custom drapery at the end.
Off-the-shelf panels can look really, really good (this is probably not what you expected as the first line of an article about custom drapery).
I used ready-made H&M curtain panels in my own living room, and they were $120 for 4 panels. The secret isn’t the price tag, it’s how you hang them.
Install them high and wide, using great hardware, and for bonus points layer them over a woven or Roman shade (see my 4-ingredient window treatment recipe for the full breakdown).
But there are times when I do recommend going with custom or semi-custom curtains. Here’s when it’s worth it (plus where to get them).
This post contains affiliate links and I may earn a commission if you choose to make a purchase through the links below.
What’s the difference between custom and semi-custom curtains?
With custom drapery, you can customize every single aspect of the curtains. When ordering semi-custom (sometimes called made-to-measure), you select options from the retailer’s menu. Both are made to order, and both are a few steps up from off-the-shelf.
Custom curtains
Custom curtains are made from scratch to your exact specifications. You supply your own fabric (or choose from a workroom’s options) and choose every detail: the header style, the lining, the decorative trim (aka passementerie), the exact measurements, and how full you want the panels. The sky is the limit, and that’s the whole point. It’s also why custom costs the most, takes the longest, and requires the most decisions.
Semi-custom curtains
Semi-custom curtains are made to order too, but your options for customization are limited to a set menu. You choose from the retailer’s fabric library, then pick your size, lining, and header from their options. You give up the ability to use your own fabric or add a detail they don’t offer. In exchange you get a faster turnaround, a much more affordable price, and a lot less overwhelm (someone already narrowed the choices for you, which honestly is a gift for those prone to decision paralysis).
When custom or semi-custom is worth it
1. Big windows & curtain walls.
When drapes have to span a really wide window or a whole wall (and they need to open and close often), you really need to go with custom or semi-custom. Off-the-shelf means piecing together multiple panels, and you end up with gaps where they meet. Custom gives you continuous, correctly sized coverage with no sad gaps.
2. When your windows are an odd size or shape.
If you’re dealing with extra-tall ceilings, French doors, tiny windows, and other special window situations, off-the-shelf curtains aren’t really going to cut it. Most ready-made panels stop around 108 inches and are around 50 inches wide at most. Custom and semi-custom curtains are always cut to your actual measurements, so they’ll fit perfectly when standard sizes won’t.
3. When the window treatments are star players.
If you want your curtains to be a star player in your room’s design, go custom. Having custom drapery made means you can use any fabric you like, add decorative trim (or trims!), and pick specialty header styles you can’t find off the shelf.
4. When you have the budget.
If custom is in reach, it’s almost always worth it. You get to choose the fabric and all the special details, they’re perfectly sized to your window, and usually come with professional installation.
Where to buy custom & semi-custom curtains
1. Local workrooms & independent curtain makers
Fully Custom • Design, Measuring, & Installation Services
Start here if you want high-level craftsmanship and a hands-on custom experience. (Plus, always support your local small businesses whenever possible!) You’ll get the most customization options and you can bring your own fabric and trim, which is perfect if you already found a textile you love.
A good local workroom can usually produce Roman shades, valances, cushions, pillows, and even custom bedding (some handle reupholstery, too). The big advantage is service: because they’re local, many workrooms offer in-home measuring and professional installation. Pricing is by the job (labor plus fabric yardage plus installation), and while it’s a premium option, it can actually be more doable than you might think.
As you can imagine, prices vary by region, so Google “curtain makers near me” to find local options. Many aren’t listed online, so I also recommend contacting local fabric stores and upholstery shops. They often keep a list of drapery workrooms and upholsterers in the area.
2. Calico
Custom • 50+ Locations • Design, Measuring, & Installation Services • Financing Available
Calico has been a go-to for custom drapery for decades. They offer a huge library of fabric or will fabricate with material you provide. They’re known for their service, with free in-store, in-home, or virtual design consultations, in-home measuring, and professional installation.
They do a lot more than drapes: Roman and balloon shades, Hunter Douglas shades and shutters, reupholstery, furniture, bedding, and wallpaper, plus 10,000+ fabrics by the yard.
Other Products & Services:
Free In-Home or Virtual Design & Measuring Services
Custom Valances
Custom Shades
Hunter Douglas Blinds & Shades
Custom Upholstery
Custom Pillows & Cushions
Custom Bedding
Wallpaper
3. Martha & Ash
Custom • Design Consultation Services
Martha & Ash is a boutique workroom out of Camden, South Carolina and run by a mother and daughter team. They make beautiful, heirloom-quality custom drapery panels with a streamlined process. You can send in your own fabric or choose from their curated selection.
In addition to drapery, they make Roman shades, offer drapery hardware (rods, brackets, finials, rings), trim, and custom pillow covers. Although they don’t have national in-home measuring or installation services (so you’ll measure yourself or hire a local installer) they do ship worldwide.
Other Products & Services:
Custom Valances
Custom Shades
Custom Bench Cushions
Custom Pillows
Custom Dog Beds
Drapery Hardware
4. The Shade Store
Semi-Custom • 150+ showrooms • Design Consultation, Measurement, & Installation Services • Financing Available
The Shade Store offers more than just custom shades and blinds. You can choose from their selection of over 500 fabric options to fabricate custom drapery as well.
With 150+ locations across the US, they’re a great option if you want a one-stop-shop and full-service experience but don’t need all the options of a fully-custom workroom.
Other Products & Services:
Custom Valances & Cornices
Custom Shades & Blinds
Custom Pillows
Drapery Hardware
5. Everhem
Semi-Custom • Design Consultations
Everhem has quite limited options, but sometimes that’s a benefit for the easily overwhelmed. If you’re looking for simple linen drapes or sheers, they’re worth a look. Their measuring guide and design consultations make things even easier.
Other Products & Services:
Custom Shades
Drapery Hardware
6. Gotain
Semi-Custom • Online Curtain Planner Tool
Made in Sweden and shipping worldwide, Gotain offers a well-curated selection of fabrics to choose from. While they don’t offer customized header types, their curtain panels are made with pleating tape which can be used with curtain hooks to create a softly pleated look.
Other Products & Services:
Custom Shades & Valances
Custom Shower Curtains
Custom Drapery Hardware
7. Pepper Home
Semi-Custom • Design Consultations
Pepper Home’s line of fabrics are much more design-forward than most of the other semi-custom retailers on this list. Their prints are young, feminine, and playful and everything is made to order.
In addition to custom window treatments, they also offer customizable furniture including beds, sofas, and armchairs.
Pepper Home is a premium semi-custom option, but worthwhile for the fabric selection and quality.
Other Products & Services:
Custom Shades
Custom Valances & Cornices
Custom Upholstered Furniture
Custom Pillows
Custom Shower Curtains
Table Linens
Wallpaper
Fabric by the Yard
8. TwoPages
Semi-Custom • Budget-Friendly • Virtual Design Consultations
TwoPages is a budget-friendly option that still delivers great results, with a huge range of customizations and sample books you can order. I have TwoPages pinch pleat curtains and woven shades in several rooms in my own home and I love them.
Other Products & Services:
Custom Shades & Blinds
Custom Valances & Cornices
Motorized Options
Drapery Hardware
Custom Pillow Covers
9. Curtarra
Semi-Custom • Budget-Friendly • Free Design Services
Curtarra is another affordable entry point for semi-custom curtains, with made-to-measure panels in a wide range of materials and pleat styles. They also produce custom curtain hardware, shades, and specialty curtains.
Other Products & Services:
Custom Shades
Custom Drapery Hardware
Motorized Options
10. Etsy curtain makers
Custom or Semi-Custom (varies by seller)
Etsy is a treasure trove for custom and semi-custom window treatments in a huge variety of styles and fabrics. Just search “custom pinch pleat drapes” (or whatever window treatment you’re looking for) and you’ll find tons of independent workrooms and makers.
11. Loom Decor
Custom • Design Consultation Services
Loom is where I’d send you if you’re looking for pattern, but on a semi-custom budget. I’m really impressed with their in-house fabric selection and it feels much more high end than many of the other semi-custom curtain companies.
Other Products & Services:
Custom Shades
Custom Bench Cushions
Custom Pillows
12. Regal Drapes
Custom • Design Consultation Services
Regal Drapes is able to turn around made-to-order curtains in just 7 days, so they’re a great option when you need custom drapery fast. You can also send in your own fabric, making it a truly custom option. They offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee, which is nearly unheard of with custom curtains.
Other Products & Services:
Custom Shades & Valances
Custom Drapery Hardware
How to get custom curtains for less
I’m usually not the girl who’s going to tell you to DIY or “get the look for less”. But there are ways you can still get custom curtains and window treatments and save a little money in the process.
Local & Online Discount Fabric Stores
Custom curtains are expensive not only because they’re handmade, but also because they require a LOT of fabric. Designer fabrics can easily run $300+ a yard, and when you need 10+ yards that can add up quickly. Saving on your fabric means you can spend more on decorative trim and other specialty details, too.
If you have a discount fabric store in your area (shoutout to my local store, Foam & Fabrics Outlet), it can be a fantastic resource for well-priced upholstery and drapery fabric.
Fabric Guru and eBay are also great resources for discounted fabrics by the yard and by the bolt.
Secondhand Custom Drapery
You might not know that existing custom window treatments often convey when you buy a new home. That means a lot of custom curtains end up being sold or donated by the new homeowners if they don’t fit their taste.
High-end custom drapery often pops up on eBay, Etsy, LiveAuctioneers, Facebook Marketplace, and at local consignment, thrift, and antique stores, often made with fabric you couldn’t afford new. But because they’re custom, it’s unlikely that secondhand drapery will fit your windows. Just take them to a local workroom for hemming or reworking.
My sister, Abby (of Abigail Bell), found four super-high end custom pleated drapery panels while thrifting in Miami. Between the fabric and the craftsmanship, we estimate they originally cost $10-20k to fabricate.
She passed the other two panels on to me. I took them to my local workroom, had them hemmed and the double-width panel split in half, and will use them for a corner window in one of my bedrooms (not yet completed).
Secondhand & Vintage Fabric
You can also buy the fabric secondhand and have custom curtains and other window treatments made. While it’s often hard to source enough fabric for traditional floor-to-ceiling drapery, you can often rework fabric remnants as cafe curtains, valances, or Roman shades. Sometimes you’ll get lucky and find a full bolt!
I always grab special fabric when I see it even if I don’t have the project picked out yet.
Get the Free Curtain Guide + Calculator
Don’t forget to measure before you buy your curtains and hardware. I put together a free curtain guide and digital calculator that walks you through exactly what to measure and how to size everything correctly for your specific window. Grab it here