When we first moved into our house, we bought some curtains from Wal-Mart to cover our bow window in our living room. I had always loved the way the tab-top curtains looked in magazines so I just had to have them. They look so nice and neat and contemporary in the pictures.
See?
Well, they are stupid.
They look nothing like the picture when they hang. NOTHING.
This is what they look like when you try and move them across the curtain rod:
It’s all ugly and messy and not only that they are not very easy to slide across the rod
We had been needing some curtains on our sliding glass door in our kitchen and I knew I needed to get something different. So I ordered some metal grommet-top curtains from Brylane Home. I AM IN LOVE WITH THESE CURTAINS.
Check out how the tops of these look:
And the best part is they only cost me $44 including shipping for 3 panels. My curtain rod is a little too skinny but for now, these keep the sun (these doors face West) from blinding us while we eat dinner, they look really nice, and they slide across the rod smoothly.
As I said, tab-top curtains are just stupid.
If you are looking for some nice quality curtains at a great price, you really should check out Brylane Home. You can get 20% off your entire order using the coupon code: BHENTERTAIN.
Oh, and don’t buy the tab-tops. In case you missed the point…
About Kim
Ah – thank you for the tip – I think you just saved me a major headache. I am looking for a solution to our sliding doors and almost purchased the tab top, but thought I should google my options. Low and behold your blog popped up and I’m so happy I stopped by. You’re a funny one too, so I will be bookmarking you and returning again. Thanks!
Some curtain headings are purely decorative and I am afraid that tab tops are exactly that. They are not designed to be drawn and you usually need to use a blind or some such other treatment beneath them to provide functionality.
Oh terrific review… I am so glad you wrote this… I will be sure not to buy the tab top curtains. i wanted to for the same reason as you, but I guess they work really hard to get them to look good for the photos, like they do for food commercials.
The tab top curtains always look so much better in magazines, until you put them up yourself. Sometimes, it makes you wonder if they even think of these problems, when they design it. The rings look just as good and will stay in place so much better.
I need to go to brylane house!
Wouldn’t have ever thought of that! I’ve never owned the tab tops, and now never will!
I love the grommet-top curtains. They look sleek and they hang well :) Great deal, Kim! Yours looks like the ones that are in West Elm for much more $$$
I have tab top curtains in my living room and dining room and I agree with you 100%. I’m dying to get rid of them. I always loved how they looked in magazines but they are a mess. The metal grommet ones look nice I may have to try them.