What does pelmet mean?
A pelmet is a narrow decorative strip fitted above a window to conceal curtain tracks, fixtures, or the upper edge of the curtains. It may be made from fabric, wood, or another material, combining a practical hiding function with a finished appearance. Pelmets are especially familiar in British English and are also understood in American English, where valance is often the more usual term. They occur in many domestic and commercial interiors, including homes, offices, hotels, and restaurants. A fabric pelmet may form part of the curtain design, while a rigid wooden or composite pelmet can conceal machinery or improve the appearance of a track. The word is useful in English because it names a familiar but frequently overlooked feature of window decoration whose function is both ornamental and practical.
nounA narrow decorative covering running along the top of a window, especially one made from fabric or wood to conceal curtain fittings and give the curtains a finished appearance.
- A narrow decorative band or covering fitted above a window to conceal curtain fittings or the upper edge of the curtains.
"She chose a cream fabric pelmet to coordinate with the curtains and hide the track."
"The tailor made a pleated pelmet to match the new curtains."
"They replaced the worn fabric pelmet with a rigid wooden one."
The plural is pelmets.
"The installer measured the window before cutting the pelmets."
A pelmet is a curtain's hat: a decorative topper that also hides the hardware.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of pelmet
Pelmet entered English in the early nineteenth century from French, usually traced to a diminutive related to Old French pelote, meaning a bundle or ball. The French word continues Latin pilota, from Latin pila, “ball,” a root also found in English words such as pellet, pelota, and pilot.
How pelmet is actually used
This is primarily a furnishing, interior-decoration, and trade term. It is especially familiar in British English, while American speakers may more often use valance.
Easily confused with pelmet
A pellet is a small compressed piece of material, whereas a pelmet is a decorative strip fitted above a window or curtain.