If you are pricing custom drapery for your Penticton home, here is the honest answer first: we do not quote a window we have not seen. What we can tell you is that most of the projects we take on start around $2,500 once the size of the opening, the fabric, and the hardware are accounted for. The final number comes down to a handful of choices you control and some requirements that are fixed. We are here to guide you through the options, and once you understand those choices, the pricing stops feeling like a mystery and becomes a set of clear decisions.

At Haute House Design, we have been designing and installing custom window coverings across the Okanagan for more than twenty five years, and the question we hear more than any other is some version of “what is this going to cost?” It is a fair question. Many people hesitate to even ask for a quote because they imagine custom drapery is a blank cheque. It is not. Below, we walk through exactly what goes into the price so you can plan your project with confidence.

Why Custom Drapery Pricing Varies So Much

Custom drapery is a little like a tailored jacket. Two can look similar on the hanger, but the fabric, the cut, the lining, and the finishing separate something that hangs beautifully for 25 years from something that sags after one season. The same is true of drapery. The price reflects materials and workmanship built specifically for your windows, rather than a standard size pulled off a shelf.

Because every element is a choice, the range is wide. A simple set of unlined panels in a basic fabric is a very different investment than floor to ceiling, double width, motorized drapery in a premium linen. Both are custom. They simply sit at opposite ends of the spectrum. The factors below will help you place your own project on that spectrum.

The Five Factors That Drive Your Drapery Cost

1. Fabric

Fabric is usually the single biggest factor in the final price. Industry cost guides consistently rank material as the largest variable in a custom drapery quote. Basic polyester blends are the most affordable, while natural fabrics like linen, cotton, silk, and velvet sit higher. Beyond the material itself, pattern and width matter, because patterned fabrics often need extra yardage to match the repeat across panels. The amount of fabric a treatment requires is driven by the width of your window, the fullness you want, and the finished length, which is why a tall, wide window costs more to dress than a small one in the same fabric.

2. Lining

Lining is one of the most important choices you will make, and it is often overlooked. An unlined panel is the most economical option, but lining gives drapery its weight, body, and longevity. It also does real, measurable work in a sunny climate. The United States Department of Energy reports that medium coloured draperies with a white, solid backing can reduce heat gains up to 33 percent, and lining likewise shields the face fabric from sun fading while improving insulation. Blackout lining costs a little more again, and for bedrooms it is almost always worth it.

3. Hardware

The track or rod your drapery hangs from is a cost in its own right. A simple industrial track is the most affordable route but there are also many decorative options as well. These would include rods with integral channel tracks and decorative rods with rings among others. A concealed track system that resides within the ceiling, hides the hardware entirely and allows the drapery to glide smoothly without seeing the mechanics. This option will add to the cost but delivers a cleaner, more architectural look. Products such as Blindspace are built-in during construction to house the hardware at a later date. The length of the run and whether the drapery draws from one side, both sides, or the centre all factor in.

4. Drapery Style and Construction

How the drapery is pleated and constructed affects both look and labour. A simple rod pocket panel is the most economical. Tailored styles like pinch pleat, and the soft, modern ripplefold style popular in contemporary Okanagan homes, require more fabric and more skilled fabrication. Double or triple fullness, where more fabric is gathered across the same width for a richer look, also raises the cost. This is not upselling. More fabric and more handwork simply cost more to produce. You have the option to control the fullness and we often cut down to 2.0 fullness to save on the fabric. Our years of experience allow us to gauge the trade-offs and assess the weight of the fabric and room requirements to help our clients make this choice.

5. Motorization

Motorized drapery is the premium upgrade, and demand for it has grown quickly. Opening and closing large or hard to reach drapery with a remote, an app, or a voice command is a genuine convenience, and it is especially practical for tall windows, primary bedrooms, and great rooms with expansive glass. Motorization adds a meaningful amount to the price because it involves a motor, a compatible track system, and integration with your home, but for the right window it is one of the most appreciated investments homeowners make.

An Example of Custom Drapery Pricing

We never quote drapery before we have seen the space and taken measurements, because the size of the window changes everything. What we can do is show you one specific window at a budget level and at a higher end level. Every figure below is based on the same example: a standard set of double doors, approximately 6 feet wide by 8 feet tall, dressed with a pair of full length panels, professionally fabricated and installed.

The following examples offer a useful starting point:

These figures are intended as an illustration rather than a fixed price list. Even two sets of doors that appear similar can require very different treatments. Ceiling height, fabric width, pattern repeat, fullness, lining, pleat style, hardware, installation conditions and motorization can all influence the final investment. A softly tailored sheer may require relatively little fabric, while a richly patterned textile, generous fullness or a concealed motorized track can transform both the appearance and the cost of the finished drapery.

This is the nature, and the beauty, of custom work. Every detail is considered in relation to the architecture, the light and the way the room is meant to feel. Your exact price is established only after the windows have been measured and the fabric, lining, hardware and design details have been selected.

Custom Drapery vs Ready Made: The Real Cost Picture

It is tempting to compare a custom quote against ready made panels from a big box store and conclude that custom is simply more expensive. On day one, it usually is. But that comparison misses what you are actually buying.

Ready made panels come in standard sizes that rarely match real windows. They often puddle awkwardly on the floor or hang too short (a tell tale sign), the fabric tends to be lighter weight, and the hardware is extremely basic, often with insufficient strength. The most obvious indication is that the panels come in narrow sections that create gaps between the panels making them awkward to move and really make it obvious they are out of a plastic bag. They can be a reasonable choice for a rental, a low traffic room, or a quick refresh. For a home that you are investing in, the limitations show every day and you may want to consider custom drapery, even for just one special room.

Custom drapery is made to the exact dimensions of your window, in a fabric and lining chosen for how the room is used and how much sun it gets, finished to hang in clean folds and last for years. When you factor in fit, fabrication, longevity, and the way quality drapery transforms a room, the cost per year of enjoyment often makes custom the better value, not the more expensive one. A cheaper panel that looks wrong and needs replacing is not actually a saving.

What Is Included in a Haute House Design Drapery Quote

When we provide a quote, we want you to understand exactly what you are paying for. A typical Haute House Design drapery quote includes:

• A complimentary in-home consultation where we assess your space, natural light, and existing furnishings to create a cohesive and beautifully tailored result.
• Precise measurement of every window and wall, because exceptional accuracy is what makes custom drapery look truly custom.
• Expert guidance in selecting fabrics, linings, and hardware to complement your room, reflect your style, and outperform in the Okanagan climate.
• Custom fabrication of your drapery, thoughtfully designed to accommodate all project requirements while reflecting your individual needs and preferences.
• Professional installation to ensure your drapery hangs beautifully and operates exactly as intended.
• Beautiful results! :)

Clear, upfront pricing with no surprise costs at the end. You will know the full investment before anything is ordered, allowing you to choose what is right for your home and your budget.

Frequently Asked Questions About Custom Drapery Cost

How much does custom drapery cost per window in Penticton?

We do not publish per window pricing, because the size of the opening changes everything. As a reference point, a set of double doors roughly 6 feet wide by 8 feet tall starts around $1,325 for an unlined sheer and climbs from there with lining, fullness, hardware, and motorization. Most of the projects we take on start around $2,500. We quote every project individually after measuring your windows.

Why is custom drapery more expensive than store bought curtains?

Custom drapery is made to the exact size of your window in fabrics and linings chosen for your space, and finished to hang properly and last for many years. Store bought panels come in standard sizes that rarely fit well and use lighter materials. These panels will always have gaps between the panels as the panels only come in specific widths. Over the life of the treatment, custom often delivers better value despite the higher upfront cost.

Does lining really make a difference?

Yes! Significantly. Lining adds weight and body so drapery hangs in clean folds, protects the face fabric from sun fading, and improves insulation. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that medium coloured draperies with a white plastic backing can reduce heat gains by around 33 percent, which is meaningful in our crazy, hot Okanagan summers. The linings we use are NOT usually plastic. There are many types of lining that are soft, with inherent properties woven into the fibres that will keep an extraordinary amount of heat out.

How much does motorized drapery add to the cost?

Motorization is a premium upgrade because it involves a motor, a compatible track system, and integration with your home. It adds a meaningful amount to the price, but for large, tall, or hard to reach windows it is one of the most practical upgrades available. We are happy to price it as an option so you can compare. A minimum of $600 for a motor would need to be budgeted for. The type of motor required will be dependent on the weight of the fabric, the fullness, the length of the rod and how you would like to orient the stacks. Motor pricing will adjust accordingly and can easily double the price above for a single treatment.

How do I get an accurate quote for my windows?

The only accurate way to price custom drapery is to measure your specific windows and discuss your options and choices. Haute House Design offers a free in-home consultation across Penticton and the Okanagan where we do exactly that, and you receive a clear quote with no obligation.