Easy-glide curtain advice?

November 11, 2018 3:52 PM

I want to make a big curtain that glides smoothly and easily. What hooks/rings/rods/tracks/other hardware will let me achieve that with a heavy curtain? I can mount it on the wall or the ceiling.

This is for a closet opening 8.5 feet high by 4 feet wide. The present curtain has grommets and hangs on a steel rod -- even with a drapery wand it's a pain to open and close. I want a smooth glide to make it more likely I'll close it. The finished curtain will be 10 feet wide, made of medium weight cotton with a lining...so fairly heavy. It should open and close by hand, not with the use of cords.

What type of rod, track, or mounting? What kind of rings, hooks, or clips? If you have knowledge, I'd appreciate any tips.

posted by wryly to Home & Garden (4 answers total)

These look like they would slide easily.
posted by H21 at 4:16 PM on November 11, 2018

Best answer: I'd look into ceiling mounted systems. Like hospital curtains. I've made a lot of curtains, and these seem to be the best close by hand options.
posted by kjs4 at 5:34 PM on November 11, 2018 [1 favorite]

The IKEA Vidga System with its tracks is decent and affordable.
posted by ShooBoo at 9:30 PM on November 11, 2018 [1 favorite]

I had the Vidga system around my bed for a couple years and it always had a little snag at the seams, but for a four foot span you won't need to join any pieces so should be great.

I did however find it somewhat fragile, if the curtain got stepped on or pulled to hard the little wheelie things could get wedged weirdly into the track. This was a problem for a bed curtain that might get rolled into my blankets, but probably not an issue for a closet.
posted by buildmyworld at 9:25 AM on November 12, 2018