Choosing between made-to-measure and ready-made curtains is not simply about finding the right size. It is about how the fabric looks in your room, how the curtains hang, and who takes care of the details between choosing a design and having your curtains professionally fitted.
At Creative Curtains & Blinds, we handcraft curtains in our own Wigston workshop, combining personal design advice, precise measuring, and professional fitting. For homeowners in Leicester and across Leicestershire, that means a local specialist to speak to, a welcoming showroom where you can explore fabrics in person, and curtains tailored to your windows rather than a standard pair from a shelf.
Ready-made curtains certainly have their place. But when you want a considered finish without having to work out every measurement or organise fitting yourself, our workshop-led service offers something distinctly different.
Made-to-Measure vs Ready-Made: What Are You Really Comparing?
Ready-made curtains are finished products supplied in standard widths and drops (lengths). You select the closest match to your window, then check that the size, heading style (the finish at the top), and fabric work with your room layout and existing track or pole.
With Creative Curtains & Blinds, the starting point is your window and the look you want to achieve. We guide you through choosing the fabric, lining, heading, and finished length, handcraft your curtains in-house, and provide professional fitting. You are choosing more than a tailored product: you are choosing the local expertise to bring the whole design together.
| Ready-made curtains | Made-to-measure with Creative Curtains & Blinds | |
| Sizing | Standard widths and drops; you choose the closest available fit. | Measurements planned around your window, track or pole, and preferred finish. |
| Fabric and finish | A set choice of ready-made designs and headings. | Personal guidance on fabrics, linings, headings, and finishing details. |
| Curtain making | You buy an already-manufactured product. | We make your curtains in our own Wigston workshop to your agreed specification. |
| Measuring and fitting | Usually arranged by you, unless the retailer offers a separate service. | Measuring and professional fitting brought together through our local service. |
| Choosing in person | Depends on the retailer and what is available to view. | Explore fabric samples and discuss your ideas at our Wigston showroom. |
| Price | A product price, with any alterations, accessories, or fitting considered separately. | A personalised quote based on your curtains and the services your project needs. |
It is the difference between buying an off-the-shelf pair of curtains and having a local specialist help plan, make, and fit curtains tailored to your home.
Why Creative Curtains & Blinds Makes the Difference
Your Curtains Are Made for Your Room, Not Chosen from Stock
Making curtains in our own workshop means we can work precisely to the measurements and specification agreed for your home. The width, finished drop, heading, lining, and fullness are all considered together, rather than limited to the set combinations available in a ready-made range.
That matters even when the window itself is straightforward. You may want curtains that sit neatly just above the floor, a fuller gathered appearance when closed, or a fabric that ties together the colours in your room. Made-to-measure gives us the scope to plan those details from the outset.
Our workshop is not an incidental part of the service. It is where your fabric choice and agreed design become curtains made specifically for your windows.
Advice Backed by In-House Curtain-Making Expertise
Choosing fabric is easier when you can discuss how it will work in your room. Its weight and drape affect the finished appearance, while the lining and heading style influence how the curtains hang, open, and close.
At Creative Curtains & Blinds, personal advice is backed by in-house curtain-making expertise. We help you consider those decisions together: not just which colour you like, but how the fabric, heading, lining, and proportions will contribute to the finished curtains.
For inspiration, explore our Everyday Elegance curtain collection or Texture & Character collection, then talk to us about the look you would like to create.
A Local Business You Can Visit and Speak To
Our showroom at 1 North Street in Wigston gives you a welcoming space to explore fabric samples and ask questions face to face. Seeing the colour and feeling the texture and weight of a fabric give you more to go on than a photograph alone.
For customers in Leicester and the surrounding Leicestershire area, our local presence means you know where we are based and who to contact about your project. The showroom, workshop, measuring, and fitting are all part of the Creative Curtains & Blinds service, so you do not have to coordinate each stage separately.
Professional Measuring and Fitting Are Part of the Value
Beautiful fabric is only part of a successful pair of curtains. The measurements, track or pole position, finished length, and installation all influence what you see and use every day.
Our measuring and fitting service connects the curtains we make with the window they are intended for. It takes the practical planning off your shoulders and gives those details the attention they deserve.
Measuring the Whole Arrangement
Curtains need to work with the track or pole and the space around the window. During a measuring appointment, we consider details such as:
- The Intended Finished Drop: Whether you want the curtains to finish neatly at the sill, just below it, or close to the floor.
- Width and Fullness: Allowing enough fabric for your chosen heading style and the gathered appearance you want when the curtains are closed.
- Space to Open: Where the curtains will gather when drawn back and how that affects the light and the proportions of the window.
- Obstructions: Radiators, window handles, furniture, and nearby doors that could influence how the curtains hang or operate.
- Track or Pole Position: How the track or pole supports the curtains and works with the look and layout of the room.
These decisions shape the specification before your curtains are made in our workshop. Rather than choosing a standard pair and then trying to make them suit your space, we plan the fit from the start.
Fitting That Completes the Work
Professional fitting is not simply an optional extra to think about after the curtains arrive. The surface being fixed to, suitable wall plugs, the track or pole position, and the space around the window all need to support the planned result.
By bringing measuring, curtain making, and fitting together, we keep the finished window in view throughout the project. The value is practical as well as visual: less for you to organise, informed decisions before your curtains are made, and professional installation to complete the work.
If you are unsure about your existing track or pole, or how best to dress an awkward window, book a measuring appointment with our team and let us help you plan it.
When Ready-Made Curtains Make Sense
Ready-made curtains can be a sensible choice for a quick update when standard sizes fit well and the available designs meet your needs. They may suit a spare room, a short-term refresh, or a project where you are happy to measure and arrange fitting yourself.
Before buying, double-check the width, drop, heading, and compatibility with your track or pole. Factor in any alterations, additional linings, or fitting work you may need when weighing up the overall cost and effort.
The distinction comes down to how much flexibility and guidance you want. Ready-made curtains offer a finished product to choose from; our made-to-measure service gives you personal support to shape the curtains around your home and lifestyle.
When Our Made-to-Measure Service Earns Its Place
Wide, Tall, or Awkward Windows
When standard widths and drops do not give you the proportions you want, made-to-measure removes the need to settle for the nearest available size. We plan the dimensions and fullness around your window, then handcraft your curtains to that specification in our Wigston workshop.
For a prominent window, control over proportion and scale can be just as important as the fabric itself.
Living Rooms and Bedrooms Where the Finish Matters
In the rooms you use every day, curtains are a prominent part of the interior. Their colour, texture, length, and drape all contribute to the feel and comfort of your home.
Our service gives those details the attention they deserve. We help you choose the fabric and lining for the room, agree on the heading style and finish, and oversee the design through to professional fitting. You do not have to work out how to balance appearance and practical needs on your own.
If warmth is also part of your room planning, explore this guidance on improving your home’s energy efficiency alongside your curtain choices.
Projects Where You Want Guidance, Not More Decisions to Manage
You do not need an unusual or complex window shape to benefit from a curtain specialist. You may know the warm, welcoming atmosphere you want to create but feel unsure which combination of fabric, lining, and heading style will help achieve it.
That is where personal design advice, curtain-making expertise, and professional fitting become especially valuable. You can discuss your ideas with our local team and move forward with a clear, agreed specification rather than a series of guesses.
If you are furnishing several rooms at once, we can also help you coordinate fabrics and finishes across your home while keeping each room’s individual character. Browse our collection of fine custom curtains for inspiration to discuss during your visit.
What Affects the Price of Made-to-Measure Curtains
Made-to-measure curtains are quoted individually because every project has its own requirements. Window size, fabric choice, lining, heading style, fullness, finishing details, tracks or poles, and fitting requirements all influence the final price.
When comparing options, look beyond the cost of a roll of fabric or an off-the-shelf pair of curtains. Consider everything required to achieve a flawless finished result:
- Personal help choosing the fabric, lining, and heading to suit your room and light-control needs.
- Measurements taken in your home, accounting for how the curtains will hang, gather when open, and frame the window.
- Curtains handcrafted in our own workshop to those measurements and agreed finishing details.
- Any specialist tracks, decorative poles, or motorisation your project requires.
- Expert installation to fit the hardware securely and arrange the curtains neatly.
At Creative Curtains & Blinds, the value lies in bringing these elements together through a local business with its own dedicated workshop. You are investing in curtains tailored to your home and the expertise to plan, craft, and fit them—not simply paying for a different label on a mass-produced item.
We are happy to discuss your project and provide a clear, tailored quote. Contact our team to talk through your windows and the service you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes made-to-measure curtains different from buying ready-made curtains?
Made-to-measure curtains are made to your window measurements and chosen specification, including the fabric, lining, heading style, and finished length. Ready-made curtains come in standard sizes and a fixed range of designs, so you choose the closest available match. At Creative Curtains & Blinds, we make your curtains in our Wigston workshop, with personal advice, measuring, and professional fitting to bring those choices together.
Are your made-to-measure curtains made locally?
Yes. All of our made-to-measure curtains are handcrafted in our Wigston workshop. Making curtains locally is a core part of our service for customers in Leicester and across Leicestershire, alongside personal design advice, measuring, and professional fitting.
Is made-to-measure worthwhile for a standard window?
Yes, particularly if you want a specific fabric, heading style, lining, or finished length, or would prefer professional help with measuring and fitting. Made-to-measure is not limited to awkward or unusually shaped windows: it also gives you the freedom to achieve a superior finish and have every practical detail handled for you.
Why use your measuring and fitting service?
Finished curtains need to work with the track or pole, the space around the window, and your chosen drop and fullness. Professional measuring establishes these requirements before your curtains are made, while professional fitting ensures a perfect final drape. Bringing measuring, in-house curtain making, and fitting together means you do not have to coordinate separate trades or organise each stage yourself.
Can I see fabrics before deciding?
Yes. Visit our showroom at 1 North Street, Wigston, Leicester LE18 1PS to explore our extensive range of fabric samples and discuss your ideas. Our experienced team can help you compare options for your home and guide you through the choices involved in made-to-measure curtains.
Book a Measuring Appointment with Your Local Curtain Specialists
With Creative Curtains & Blinds, you have a welcoming local showroom, our own Wigston workshop, and a professional measuring and fitting service behind your curtains. From the first fabric discussion to installation, we bring the design and practical details together around your home.
We serve Leicester and surrounding areas across Leicestershire. Book a measuring appointment today or call 0116 257 0061 to discuss your windows.
Prefer to explore fabrics in person first? Visit us at 1 North Street, Wigston, Leicester LE18 1PS to browse our collections and talk through your ideas with our experienced team.