What is a pelmet? Fascias, box and bonded pelmets explained
A pelmet hides the hardware above a window. Here is how a roller blind fascia, a box pelmet and a bonded pelmet differ from each other and from a cassette.
A pelmet is a cover fitted across the top of a window that hides the blind roll, curtain track and fixings and gives the window a finished top edge. On a roller blind, the pelmet is called a fascia. On curtains, it is a box pelmet or a fabric-covered Bonded Pelmet. Each hides the hardware, but none of them does quite the same job as a cassette.
In short
- A pelmet hides the hardware above a window. On a roller blind, it is called a fascia.
- We sell roller blind fascias, box pelmets for curtains and Bonded Pelmets.
- A fascia is ordered with the blind. It is not a cassette and does not remove every light gap.
- Bonded Pelmets come in projections of 80, 100, 120, 150 or 200 mm, and are measured as the opening or blind width plus 60 mm.
- A fabric-wrapped fascia cannot be made in Screen or Shade fabric.
What is a pelmet?
A pelmet is a horizontal cover across the head of a window. It hides whatever sits above the glass: the roll of a roller blind, the track and gliders of a curtain, the brackets and the screws. It also gives the window a straight, finished top edge.
The pelmet meaning is the same whether it sits over a curtain or a blind: a fixed cover across the head of the window, not a moving part. A few terms overlap. A valance is usually a softer, gathered piece of fabric, while a pelmet is usually a firmer, boxed or covered board. A cornice is something different: it is the moulding where the wall meets the ceiling. People searching for what a pelmet is, or for what pelmets are, usually mean the box or cover above the curtain or blind.
Pelmets come in three forms in our range:
- Roller blind fascia: a decorative cover for a roller blind.
- Box pelmet: a box that hides a curtain track.
- Bonded Pelmet: a fabric-covered pelmet that hides the roll or track and frames the window.
Types of pelmets
There are three types of pelmets in our range, and the one you want depends on whether it sits over a roller blind or over curtains.
| Type | What it is | Used with |
|---|---|---|
| Roller blind fascia | A decorative cover for the tube, brackets and mechanism, ordered with the blind | Roller blinds |
| Box pelmet | A firm box across the head of the window that hides a curtain track | Curtains |
| Bonded Pelmet | A fabric-covered pelmet that hides the roll or track and frames the window | Curtains and blinds |
You will also see soft valances, which are gathered fabric, and shaped pelmets with a scalloped or curved lower edge. Those suit traditional rooms, and the three types above are the ones this guide covers. If you want to build a simple box pelmet yourself, how to make a pelmet walks through the steps.
What is a pelmet on a blind? The roller blind fascia
A roller blind pelmet is a fascia. It is a decorative cover that conceals the hardware, including the tube, brackets and mechanism. It is ordered together with the blind, and it comes with matching brackets and side covers, so the finished blind looks like one piece.
A fascia is a face-fit system. It sits on the wall or frame above the window, not in the recess.
Two limits to know:
- It is not a cassette. A fascia covers the hardware, but it does not remove every light gap.
- It is not for every fabric. A fabric-wrapped fascia cannot be made in Screen or Shade fabric. For a double roller blind, the fascia wraps in the fabric of the blockout layer.
For double rollers, a curved double fascia is available with a matching aluminium finish or a fabric-wrapped front. The double roller blinds page shows the options.
Fascia, cassette and pelmet compared
| Roller blind fascia | Full Blockout Cassette | Bonded Pelmet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Decorative cover for the hardware | Headbox with side channels and a bottom channel | Fabric-covered pelmet |
| Main job | Tidy the top of the blind | Close up the gaps around a blockout blind | Hide the roll or track and frame the window |
| Ordered | With the blind | With a compatible under-roll blockout blind | As its own product, sized to the opening or blind |
| Depth and fit | Face fit | Needs 50 mm clear depth | Projections of 80 to 200 mm |
| Light control | Does not remove every light gap | Four-sided or three-sided; closes more of the gaps | Cosmetic, not a light-blocking product |
| Limits | Fabric-wrapped not available in Screen or Shade | Cannot be retrofitted; front roll not possible | Check the projection clears the roll or track |
If darkness is the goal, the pelmet is the wrong tool. A cassette roller blind closes off much more of the gap around the blind, and our guide to reducing light gaps around roller blinds explains how the pieces work together.
Pelmets for curtains: box and bonded
On curtains, a pelmet hides the track and the heading, and stops the eye from landing on gliders and hooks. It is most useful with a ceiling track or a wall-fixed track above a window, where the hardware would otherwise be visible.
- Box pelmets are made for curtains and box out the head of the window. If your home has a built-in pelmet cavity, note that double curtains need 250 mm of depth in it.
- Bonded Pelmets are fabric-covered pelmets that hide the roll or track and frame the window.
Projection is the number to check. Bonded Pelmets come in projections of 80, 100, 120, 150 or 200 mm, and the pelmet must stand out far enough to clear the roll or the track and the curtain headings. Double curtains project 220 to 250 mm, more than the biggest Bonded Pelmet projection, so ask us before you pair the two. S Fold has the deepest heading profile of our curtain headings, so it is the heading to check first.
If you are not sure which suits your curtains, contact us with your track type and window size. Our curtain tracks guide explains the track options a pelmet has to cover.
Modern pelmets
A modern curtain pelmet is plain: a straight-fronted box or a fabric-covered Bonded Pelmet with square corners and no gathers, frills or trim. The aim is for the track to disappear and for the window to have a clean top edge.
- Match rather than contrast. Cover the pelmet in the curtain fabric, or paint a box pelmet the wall or ceiling colour, so it reads as part of the room.
- Keep the projection shallow. Choose the smallest projection that clears the track and the curtain heading. Bonded Pelmets start at 80 mm. S Fold has the deepest heading profile of our five headings, so check it first.
- Keep the width in proportion. A Bonded Pelmet is measured as the opening or blind width plus 60 mm, and one that is much wider or narrower than the window looks out of balance.
- Use a fascia on roller blinds. A fascia wrapped in the blind fabric is the modern equivalent on a face-fit roller blind. It cannot be wrapped in Screen or Shade fabric.
- Stay with quiet colours. Soft whites and greys, such as a white pelmet over Cassis Volume "Snow" or "Ash" sheers, keep the look light.
What a pelmet does and does not do
A pelmet can:
- hide brackets, tubes, tracks and fixings
- give the window a straight, finished top edge
- match or tie into the blind fabric, the curtain fabric or the room
A pelmet is a finishing detail. It does not darken a room or change how the blind or curtains work, and it cannot fix a window that lacks room for the product behind it.
Where a pelmet earns its place
- Face-fit roller blinds. The roll, brackets and tube sit on the wall in full view. A fascia turns that hardware into a clean horizontal line.
- Double roller blinds. Two rolls and a pair of brackets make a bulky head. A double fascia covers both, wrapped in the blockout layer's fabric or finished in matching aluminium.
- Ceiling or wall tracks over large windows. A long track, gliders and headings are a lot of hardware to look at, and a covered pelmet tidies it.
- Rooms where the window is the feature. A pelmet frames the window and gives curtains a defined top edge.
They matter less on a small window with a slim recess-fit blind, where there is little hardware to hide.
Mistakes to avoid
- Expecting a fascia to darken the room. It hides the hardware; for darkness, look at a cassette.
- Leaving the fascia until later. A fascia is ordered with the blind, so decide before you order the blind.
- Picking a projection that is too shallow. The pelmet has to clear the roll, or the track and headings.
How to choose
- Blind or curtain? A roller blind takes a fascia. A curtain takes a box pelmet or a Bonded Pelmet.
- Do you need darkness? If yes, look at a cassette for the blind, and a blockout lining or double curtains for the curtain. A pelmet alone will not do it.
- Recess or face fit? A fascia is a face-fit system. If you want a recess blind, a fascia is not the route.
- Which fabric? Check the fabric before you fall for a fabric-wrapped fascia. It is not available in Screen or Shade.
- How much depth do you have? A built-in pelmet cavity has to fit the curtain projection, and a cassette needs 50 mm of clear depth.
- How much projection do you need? Pick the Bonded Pelmet projection that clears your roll or track.
Tip: Order free samples of the blind or curtain fabric first. A fabric-wrapped fascia or a covered pelmet will be seen against the same wall and light, so it helps to judge the whole combination together. You can order free samples in one checkout.
Measuring and ordering a pelmet
A Bonded Pelmet is sized as an outside-box width, which is the opening or the blind width plus 60 mm, with a choice of five projections from 80 to 200 mm to clear the roll or track. Our pelmets measuring guide explains how to take the width and which projection suits which blind or track, so follow it rather than a general method.
Questions
What does pelmet mean?
A pelmet is a cover across the top of a window that hides the blind roll, curtain track and fixings and gives the window a finished top edge. On a roller blind it is called a fascia.
What is a pelmet on a blind?
On a roller blind it is a fascia, a decorative cover that conceals the hardware and is ordered with the blind. A fascia is not a cassette and does not remove every light gap.
Is a roller blind fascia the same as a cassette?
No. A fascia is a decorative cover for the hardware, while a cassette is a headbox with side channels and a bottom channel that closes more of the gaps around the blind.
What projections do bonded pelmets come in?
Bonded pelmets come in projections of 80, 100, 120, 150 or 200 mm. Choose the projection that clears your roll or track.
Can a fabric-wrapped fascia be made in any fabric?
No. A fabric-wrapped fascia cannot be made in Screen or Shade fabric. A double roller fascia wraps in the blockout layer's fabric.
Add a fascia to your roller blind
Choose your fabric and a matching fascia when you build your roller blind, and see the price before you order.
Keep reading
CurtainsHow to make a pelmet (or order one made to measure)Build a box pelmet from MDF and fabric, size it to clear the track or roll, or order a Bonded Pelmet or roller blind fascia instead.
BlindsHow to reduce light gaps around roller blindsLight gaps come from fit, not just fabric. Compare face fit, under-roll, side channels, linked blinds and layering to get the darkest room a roller blind allows.
CurtainsCurtain tracks explained: wall, ceiling, curved and motorisedHow curtain tracks work and how to choose one: Designer, Half Moon, curved and motorised, ceiling or wall fit, fixed or free flow, brackets and wands.
