Tab top curtains in Singapore
Tab top curtains hang from fabric loops sewn along the top, which slip directly over a curtain rod. The result is a relaxed, cottage or Scandinavian look with the pole on show. They suit decorative panels, rental flats and windows that are not opened and closed many times a day.
Get a quoteHow tab tops hang
Each tab is a strip of fabric folded into a loop and stitched to the top of the curtain. The rod passes through the loops, so the curtain sits just below the pole with small gaps of rod visible between the tabs. There are no hooks, rings or gliders.
Fullness is usually low, around 1.5x the rod width, which gives gentle folds and keeps the fabric flat enough to show a print. Hidden tab versions put the loops on the back, so the front looks like a plain heading.
Sliding and daily use
Fabric loops drag on the rod more than rings or gliders, so tab top curtains take more effort to open and close. On a window you draw every morning and night, that friction becomes annoying, and the tabs wear over time. Many homes treat tab tops as dress panels that stay mostly in place, framing a window with a blind behind for daily light control.
A smooth metal rod helps the tabs slide more easily than a timber pole.
Good uses for tab top curtains
Dress panels with a blind behindTab tops frame the window while a roller or Roman blind handles light and privacy.Learn more →
Rental flatsA rod and loops come down easily when you move out.Learn more →
Light cotton and linenNatural fabrics look relaxed with tabs, in keeping with Scandinavian and wabi-sabi interiors.Learn more →Light gaps and privacy
With the rod showing between the tabs and the curtain hanging below it, light enters at the top. Tab top curtains are not suited to blackout. For a bedroom, use them as a decorative layer and put a blackout roller blind inside the window recess, or choose a pleated heading on a ceiling track instead.
Sheer tab top panels give daytime privacy on a window facing a corridor, but like all sheers they become see-through at night with the lights on.
Common questions
Are tab top curtains easy to open and close?
Less easy than eyelets or tracks, because fabric loops drag on the rod. They suit panels that stay mostly in place.
Can tab top curtains block light?
The fabric can be lined, but light comes in above the rod. Add a blackout blind behind if the room needs to be dark.
What rod suits tab top curtains?
A smooth metal rod helps the tabs slide. Check the tab loop is large enough for the rod diameter, which we size when we order the curtains.
What is the difference between tab top and eyelet?
Tab tops use fabric loops and look softer. Eyelets use metal rings, slide more easily and stack more deeply.
Tell us about your windows
Send photos and rough window sizes on WhatsApp for an early quote. When you are ready, we measure at your home and bring fabric and blind samples. The visit needs a $50 deposit, credited to your order. Found a lower quote for the same curtains? We price match. See the price match terms.