The Interior Designer’s Guide to Custom Drapery, Motorization & Automation

We are covering in this section the fundamentals of drapery pleats: Ripplefold, pinch pleat 2- and 3-prong, tack-high 2- and 3-prong, rod pocket, grommets, tab-top, and more.

Use our online calculator here to estimate the yardage you need for your drapery project.

In this section we help you estimate the fabric stacking when the drapery panels are drawn open.

Motorized drapery pockets typically require 5"–10" depth depending if it is a single track (5”) or double track with sheers and over drapes. It depends also on pleat type and fabric. The pocket height can vary between 5” and 12”, and must allow clearance for installation and maintenance.

For designers and architects, successful motorized drapery installations depend on a few key planning considerations during the design phase, including power requirements, ceiling pocket dimensions, motor selection, and control options. Understanding these fundamentals ensures the system performs smoothly while maintaining the clean architectural appearance designers expect.

True blackout is not achieved by fabric alone. The fabric is only one layer of the solution — the difference between a room that's "pretty dark" and one that achieves genuine, cinema-quality blackout comes down to how the drapery system is designed and installed as a whole. Every gap, edge, and seam is a potential light path, and good blackout design closes each one deliberately.

Motorized drapery and shades have become a standard expectation in high-end residential projects across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Westchester and New Jersey, not a luxury add-on. But when it comes time to specify a system, two names dominate the conversation in the luxury workroom world: Lutron and Somfy. Both are excellent. They are not interchangeable.