Wave Curtains vs Pinch Pleat: Which Suits a Malaysian Home?
Wave curtains, also called S fold or ripple fold, hang in even S-shaped folds set by gliders on a cord inside the track; pinch pleat curtains have pleats sewn into the top and hang from hooks. Wave stacks narrower and suits wide glass doors in Malaysian condos. Pinch pleat suits classic rooms, decorative rods and shallow curtain boxes.
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Key takeaways
- Wave, S fold and ripple fold are three names for one curtain heading: the folds come from evenly spaced gliders in the track, not from sewn pleats.
- In Silent Gliss's made-to-measure range, a Wave curtain stacks to about 23% to 25% of the track width when open, against about 33% for its pleated headings.
- Wave stacks deeper, 10 to 16 cm front to back, so measure a curtain box before you choose it.
- Wave needs a track made for it; a pinch pleat curtain hangs from hooks on a track or a decorative rod.
- Both can be motorised: the Silent Gliss SG 5100 and SG 5600 electric tracks that Promolink supplies both take Wave.
What are wave curtains (ripple fold or S fold)?
A wave curtain has a flat heading: a cord of evenly spaced gliders inside the track holds the fabric at fixed points, so it falls in identical S-shaped folds from the track to the floor. Silent Gliss, which created the Wave system, puts it this way: A unique glider-cord inside the track restricts the extension of the fabric so that when opened, the curtains stack back neatly, and when closed the fabric hangs in a smooth, continuous wave
(Silent Gliss UK).
Promolink's Wave Curtain page notes that Silent Gliss Wave is also known as S Fold or Ripple Fold. Curtain & Blind Co, an Australian curtain maker, explains the names: In Australia it is usually sold as S-fold. In the UK the same look is sold as wave, and in the US you will see it called ripplefold.
The glider spacing sets the depth of the wave. Silent Gliss supplies a 60 mm or 80 mm glider cord: the 80 mm cord gives a deeper wave, and the shallower 60 mm wave suits smaller recesses but stacks slightly wider. Silent Gliss recommends the 80 mm cord for most installations (Silent Gliss Wave workroom guide, 2024). A wave curtain needs its own track, because the glider cord is what makes the wave.
What is a pinch pleat curtain?
A pinch pleat curtain has its fullness sewn into the heading as permanent pleats, pinched in groups of two (double pinch) or three (triple pinch), and hangs from hooks. Below each pleat the fabric falls in tailored columns rather than a continuous wave. Hillarys, a UK made-to-measure curtain company, calls it a decorative heading with pleats sewn in for a tailored finish
(Hillarys).
Because its pleats are sewn in, a pinch pleat curtain hangs happily from a track or from a decorative rod
, says Curtain & Blind Co, and its hooks let you fine-tune the hang height in a way glider tape does not. A triple pinch gathers more fabric into each pleat than a double, so it looks fuller and more formal (Curtain & Blind Co).
What is the difference between wave and pinch pleat curtains?
Wave and pinch pleat curtains differ in where the folds come from, what hardware each needs, and how much room the curtain takes up when open. Wave's folds are set by the track and stack narrow but deep; pinch pleat's folds are sewn in and hang from a rod or a track.
| Feature | Wave (S fold, ripple fold) | Pinch pleat |
|---|---|---|
| Where the folds come from | Gliders on a cord in the track | Pleats sewn into the heading |
| Look | Even S-shaped folds; contemporary | Tailored columns below the pleats; classic |
| Hardware | A Wave track, or Silent Gliss Metropole, a track with the look of a pole | A track or a decorative rod |
| Fabric used (fullness) | About 2.1 to 2.3 times the track width | Varies; a triple pinch uses more than a double |
| Stack width when open | About 23% to 25% of the track width | About 33% for Silent Gliss's pleated headings |
| Stack depth | 10 to 16 cm front to back | Pleated headings suit limited fitting depth (Silent Gliss) |
| Motorising | Yes, on Silent Gliss SG 5100 and SG 5600 electric tracks | Yes, any heading can run on a motorised track |
| Best for | Wide sliding doors, floor-to-ceiling glass, sheers | Classic rooms, decorative rods, shallow curtain boxes |
Figures are from Silent Gliss's made-to-measure curtains leaflet and Wave workroom guide. Silent Gliss does not list pinch pleat; its 33% is for pencil, single and Swiss pleat headings.
Which curtain takes up less space when it is open?
A wave curtain takes up less width when open, so more of the window or glass door stays clear, but it needs more depth from the wall. Silent Gliss's figures put a Wave stack at about 23% to 25% of the track width against about 33% for its pleated headings. On a 3 m track, that works out at roughly 70 to 75 cm of stacked Wave curtain against about 1 m for a pleated one.
"The Wave Curtain is a stylish & simple curtain heading system that creates a smooth continuous wave which when closed has a neat stack back, taking up much less space than traditional headings."
Silent Gliss guide to making a Wave curtain, published by Hallis Hudson
Depth is the trade-off. Silent Gliss gives a Wave stack depth of 10 to 16 cm front to back, depending on the glider cord, and says pleated headings are particularly useful where fitting depth is limited and for layered curtains.
In a Malaysian condo where the living room opens onto a balcony through a wide sliding door, a narrow Wave stack keeps more of the doorway clear. Where the track sits inside a plaster curtain box, measure its inside depth first: a double track with a sheer and a heavier curtain needs room for two stacks, and Silent Gliss suggests mixing Wave and pleated headings to save space.
Which fabrics work best for wave curtains?
Wave curtains work best in soft fabrics that fall easily into a curve, such as voiles, lined cotton and interlined silk, and they can carry a blackout lining. Silent Gliss's workroom guide says Wave does not suit stiff fabrics, heavy embroidery, irregular vertical stripes or metallic threads, and that its standard Wave heading tape carries at most 2.5 kg per metre of track (Silent Gliss).
Wave suits sheers particularly well; Curtain & Blind Co says the soft, continuous wave lets a light fabric drape instead of bunching
. Silent Gliss also notes that Even Wave curtains will require some dressing and training
. Fabric advice is part of the job, as Promolink customer Farah Sumanti Bt. Mohd. Johari wrote in a review on Promolink's website: Fast response, good advice on the fabric choice.
Can wave and pinch pleat curtains be motorised?
Yes, both wave and pinch pleat curtains can be motorised, because the motor is part of the track, not the curtain. Both Silent Gliss electric tracks on Promolink's electric curtain track page take Wave: the SG 5100 carries curtains up to 9 m wide and 30 kg, and the SG 5600 up to 25 m and 65 kg. Silent Gliss fits extension arms as standard on its electric tracks to keep the first and last waves uniform; our guide to motorised curtains in Malaysia explains the motors and controls.
For manual Wave curtains, Promolink's cord-operated track page lists three Silent Gliss tracks that take Wave: the SG 3840 and SG 3870 (up to 6 m and 14 kg) and the SG 3970 (up to 15 m and 38 kg). Quiet Mark, which certifies quiet products, has certified all three (Quiet Mark).
Do wave curtains cost more than pinch pleat curtains?
Wave curtains need not cost more than pinch pleat curtains: the window size and the fabric usually move the price more than the heading does. Curtain & Blind Co found that across thousands of curtains it made in a year, the median spend per curtain was within about 5% whichever heading the customer chose. Those are Australian figures, so treat them as a guide to what drives cost, not a Malaysian price.
Wave needs a track made for it, so if you plan to keep an existing rod, a pinch pleat avoids new hardware. When you compare quotes, ask each supplier for the fullness. In the US it is often written as a percentage: Drapery Rods Direct, a Kirsch dealer, sells ripplefold draperies at 60%, 80%, 100% and 120% fullness, where 100% means 2:1 (Drapery Rods Direct).
Which suits a Malaysian home: wave or pinch pleat?
Wave usually suits Malaysian homes with wide glass doors, while pinch pleat suits classic rooms, decorative rods and shallow curtain boxes. Silent Gliss says Wave suits traditional and modern interiors alike, so the window, the fixing and the fabric decide more than the style of the room.
When should you choose wave curtains?
- The window or sliding door is wide and you want the glass clear when the curtain is open.
- You want sheers that hang in even folds.
When should you choose pinch pleat curtains?
- You want to keep a decorative rod or pole.
- The curtain box or the space in front of the window is shallow.
A standard Wave curtain shows its heading tape at the back; if that side faces the street, Silent Gliss offers a covered heading, an extra layer of fabric over the tape.
Where can you get Silent Gliss Wave curtains in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor?
Promolink Actions makes and installs Silent Gliss Wave curtains to measure, from an office in Petaling Jaya and a showroom in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur. Promolink has made curtains since 1998, describes itself as the sole gateway to Silent Gliss in Malaysia, and sews its curtains with in-house specialists. It offers the Silent Gliss Wave curtain system on electric, hand-drawn and cord-operated tracks.
Promolink offers free consultation, measurement and installation, with warranty and after-sales care. Browse the Silent Gliss curtain systems, read the curtain and blind FAQ, or contact the team.
Frequently asked questions
Are S fold, ripple fold and wave curtains the same thing?
Yes. They are three names for the same curtain heading: even S-shaped folds made by gliders spaced along a track. Silent Gliss calls its system Wave, Australian makers usually say S-fold and US suppliers say ripplefold. Promolink's Wave Curtain page notes that Silent Gliss Wave is also known as S Fold or Ripple Fold.
Can wave curtains hang from a curtain rod?
Not from an ordinary decorative rod, because the wave depends on gliders spaced inside a track. If you want the look of a pole, Silent Gliss offers Wave on Metropole, a system with an internal gliding channel that keeps the look of a pole without curtain rings. Pinch pleat curtains can hang from a rod or a track.
How much fabric does a wave curtain need?
Silent Gliss's workroom guide gives an approximate fullness of 2.1 to 2.3 times the track width for Wave, depending on the glider cord and hook spacing. Curtain & Blind Co, an Australian maker, never cuts its single S-fold curtains below 2 times the track width. Ask every supplier for the fullness before you compare quotes.
Can wave curtains take a blackout lining or a heavy fabric?
Yes, within limits. Silent Gliss lists blackout lining, lined cotton and interlined silk among the fabrics that suit Wave, but its standard Wave heading tape carries at most 2.5 kg per metre of track. Very heavy curtains need its roller glider cord, and Silent Gliss advises against stiff fabrics and heavy embroidery for Wave.
Can I motorise wave curtains in Malaysia?
Yes. The Silent Gliss SG 5100 and SG 5600 electric tracks that Promolink supplies both take Wave: the SG 5100 for curtains up to 9 m wide and 30 kg, and the SG 5600 for up to 25 m and 65 kg. Silent Gliss fits extension arms as standard on its electric tracks to keep the first and last waves uniform.
Ask which curtain heading suits your window
WhatsApp Promolink a photo of the window or door with its rough width and height, and arrange a free consultation and measurement.
WhatsApp usCall 012-292 5582Sources
- Silent Gliss UK, Wave curtains. https://www.silentgliss.co.uk/engb/fabrics/fabric-expertise/wave-curtains/
- Silent Gliss UK, Wave Curtain Workroom Guide, August 2024 (PDF). https://www.silentgliss.co.uk/fileadmin/redaktion/contentserv/Images/Web_Partner_Downloads/SGGB/Various_Documents/Wave_-_Curtain_Workroom_Guide.pdf
- Silent Gliss UK, Made-to-measure curtains leaflet (PDF). https://www.silentgliss.co.uk/fileadmin/redaktion/contentserv/Images/Web_Partner_Downloads/SGGB/Leaflets/SGGB_Bespoke_Curtains.pdf
- Silent Gliss UK, Metropole. https://www.silentgliss.co.uk/engb/products/view/curtain-systems/metropole/
- Silent Gliss with Sam Shervill, How to make a Wave curtain, published by Hallis Hudson (PDF). https://www.hallishudson.com/documents/14729297/14801622/How_to_make_a_silentgliss_curtain.pdf
- Curtain & Blind Co, S-fold vs pinch pleat vs wave: choosing a curtain heading, updated 18 September 2026. https://curtainandblindco.com.au/blogs/curtains/s-fold-vs-pinch-pleat-vs-wave
- Hillarys, Wave header curtains. https://www.hillarys.co.uk/curtains/wave-header-curtains/
- Drapery Rods Direct, Ripplefold drapery. https://www.draperyrodsdirect.com/products/ripplefold-drapery
- Quiet Mark, Silent Gliss cord operated curtain track systems. https://quietmark.com/products/silent-gliss-cord-operated-curtain-track-systems
- Promolink, Wave Curtain. https://www.promolink.com.my/products/wave-curtain/
- Promolink, Silent Gliss Wave Curtain. https://www.promolink.com.my/products/silent-gliss-wave-curtain/
- Promolink, Silent Gliss electric curtain track systems. https://www.promolink.com.my/products/electric-curtain-track-systems/
- Promolink, Silent Gliss cord operated curtain track systems. https://www.promolink.com.my/products/cord/
- Promolink, customer reviews on the home page. https://www.promolink.com.my/