Tracks, pelmets, and power points need to be accounted for early. This practical planning guide covers how to coordinate your ceilings (false or not), pelmets, walls, and wiring so your window treatments fit in cleanly.
Design choices are one thing, but space planning is what turns them into reality. Curtain and blind systems, especially smart ones, need to be anticipated during renovation or construction. Where the tracks go, how deep a pelmet is, where you put the power point - these things determine whether your curtains feel seamlessly built-in, or retrofitted.
This part is all about getting the fundamentals right.
Why Planning Ahead Matters
The biggest mistake we see in renovations is treating curtains and blinds as afterthoughts. Once the ceiling has been closed up and the electrical points fixed, you've already lost the flexibility to integrate many types of hardware cleanly, or to automate them later.
Good planning gives you:
- Cleaner looks (with hidden tracks and motors)
- Better light control (with deeper pelmets and full drops)
- Proper automation support (with power points in the right place)
- Fewer surprises during installation
Start with Space: Where Will Your Window Treatments Go?
Think in three dimensions. Curtains and blinds need:
- Lateral width: to stack or roll away cleanly
- Vertical height: to hang to full drop without obstruction
- Depth clearance: for tracks, headrails, and any motors
Common mistakes:
- False ceiling intruding into curtain space
- Recesses that are too shallow for blind headrails
- Power points placed in positions that block the hardware, or the curtain or blind movement
- Pelmets that are not deep enough to install multiple layers of tracks
False Ceilings, Bulkheads, and Recesses
A ceiling recess is often the cleanest way to house curtain tracks or blind headrails, but only if planned early. These are typically built into the false ceiling, and must be coordinated with:
- Air-con trunking
- Lighting placements
- Ceiling heights and lines
- Power and control cables for smart systems
Generally, we call these "gaps" in false ceilings "pelmets", for lack of a better term. The dimensions of these false ceiling pelmets are critical and almost impossible to change after the fact, so it's important to get it right the first time.
Because of this, we're reluctant to give out "pelmet depth requirement" numbers in this guide because they may not be accurate for your space. We highly recommend that you get in touch with us to ensure that the planning will work for your chosen curtain or blind system; your hardware; whether it's motorised or not; and most importantly, if there are any other considerations around your actual, physical space.
Planning Pelmets
Pelmets do two things: they hide tracks and reduce light leakage. They're especially helpful for:
- S-fold curtains
- Blackout setups
- Living/dining rooms with ceiling coves
- Matching ceiling paint lines
A well-built pelmet:
- Should have sufficient depth
- Can run full wall-to-wall or just above the window
- Can also hold LED strips to create soft ambient lighting (coordinate with lighting team)
Power Points: Where to Put Them
Smart curtains and blinds need power. If you're wiring for future automation, these are the key considerations:
- Curtain motors usually go at one end of the track (left or right). Power point should go near the top corner of the window, hidden behind the curtain.
- Roller blind motors are inside the tube — plan for a power point in the vicinity.
- For grouped systems (e.g. 2–3 blinds in a row), you can sometimes power all from one point, depending on motor type.
As usual, we're being intentionally vague about actual positioning because there are no universal rules. While there are some rules that can work for 80% of spaces, we find that it's always the best to let us take a look at your space to give expert, personalised recommendations on things like powerpoint positioning.
Tip:Even if you don't motorise now, planning a point means you can add smart control later, without hacking walls.
Coordinate with Other Trades
Finally, window treatments affect, and are affected by:
- Lighting (especially ceiling cove and spotlight placements)
- Air-con trunking and blower units
- Built-in carpentry like wardrobes or bay windows
- Flooring transitions at curtain tracks or recessed channels
We often advise builders and IDs to make sure the plans allow your treatments to fit and function smoothly. A 2cm difference in pelmet width can be the difference between blackout success or failure.