The Complete Hardware Guide: Curtain Tracks, Poles & Rods from Net Curtains Direct

Choosing the right hardware is the part of curtain shopping people love to skip – and the part that makes or breaks the finished look. A beautiful voile hung on the wrong rod will sag, gape, or simply not fit. This guide walks you through every category of hardware Net Curtains Direct sells, what each one is for, and roughly what you’ll pay, so you can pick with confidence before you check out.

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1. Net & Voile Curtain Wire – from £under £10 (varies by length)

The simplest, most discreet option for hanging lightweight nets and voiles, particularly in recesses. A thin coated wire is tensioned between two small end screws, and your curtain simply threads or clips onto it. There’s no visible pole, so it disappears into the window frame – ideal if you don’t want hardware competing with the fabric.

Best for: recessed windows, tight budgets, lightweight nets and slot-top voiles.

2. Net & Voile Curtain Rods – £2.50–£12.00+

Slightly more robust than wire, these slim rods slot through a channel in the curtain header. The entry-level option here is the White Telescopic Adjustable Net Curtain Rod, priced from £2.08 up to £10.00 depending on length (sale price). Rods extend to fit your window and are simple to fit with basic end brackets.

Best for: everyday net curtains where you want a bit more rigidity than wire but still want the hardware to stay invisible.

3. Tension Net Rods – £5.00–£18.75

These “twist and fit” rods use spring tension to wedge into a recess with no screws or drilling at all – genuinely a five-minute job. The Speedy Twist & Fit Tension Rod – White starts at £5.00 and runs up to £18.75 for longer spans, and there’s an Extra Long Twist & Fit Tension Rod at £18.75 for wider windows.

Best for: renters, recesses, anyone who wants zero drilling.

4. Café Rods – £5.00–£145.00

Café rods are the shorter, decorative rods used for half-curtains, kitchen windows, or the lower pane of a door. Prices span a huge range because they come in different finishes and mounting styles:

• Speedy 9-11mm Extendable Cafe Rod – from £5.00
• The Archer 10-13mm Extendable Metal Cafe Rod – from £10.00
• The Henry Face Fix Cafe Rod 12mm – £14.42 to £62.50
• The Henry Recess Fix Cafe Rod 12mm – £12.08 up to £145.00 for the longest option

The variation comes down to length, metal thickness, and finish (antique brass, chrome, brass cased steel all cost more than basic painted finishes).

Best for: kitchens, café-style privacy curtains, door panels.

5. Curtain Poles – £17.08–£205.00

This is the biggest and most varied category, running from simple extendable poles to statement wooden and metal designs:

• Speedy 60 Second Extendable 19-22mm Curtain Pole  – from £17.08 (fastest fit-it-yourself option)
• Speedy 13-16mm Extendable Pole Set– £18.33–£20.83
• Speedy Finesse Extendable Curtain Pole 22-25mm– £27.92–£34.58
• Speedy Victory Wood Fixed Pole 28mm– £18.75–£39.58
• Speedy Pristine Crystal Extendable Pole 25-28mm– £38.75–£57.08, a more decorative option with faceted finial detail
• Speedy 28mm Fixed Ball Pole Set– £30.83–£63.33
• Laura Ashley Ribbed Ball 35mm Wooden Pole– £54.17–£87.50, a heavier-duty wooden option for full curtains
• Hallis Hudson Neo 28mm Metal Ball Pole Set  – £95-£205, premium metal poles in five finishes (gold, chrome, matt black, spun brass, stainless steel)

Best for: full-length curtains where the pole is part of the décor, not just functional. If you want the pole itself to be a design feature, look at the wooden or ball-finial ranges; if you just need something that works, the extendable Speedy poles are the value pick.

6. Double Curtain Poles – from around £30 upward

For layering a voile behind a heavier curtain, double poles carry both on one fitting rather than needing two separate rails. Worth it if you want that layered café-curtain look without drilling twice.

Best for: anyone hanging a sheer and a blackout/lined curtain together on the same window.

7. Curtain Tracks – £17.67–£71.67

Tracks are the practical, low-profile choice, especially for heavier curtains that need to glide smoothly, or where you want a track hidden behind a pelmet:

• Speedy Discrete Top Fix Curtain Track– £17.67–£26.25
• Speedy 60 Second Extendable Curtain Track– £18.33–£26.67
• Speedy Fineline Curtain Track– £23.75–£42.50
• Integra Discreet White Metal Track – £33.33–£71.67

Best for: heavier fabrics, bay windows, anywhere you want smooth gliding rather than a decorative pole on show.

8. Motorised Tracks – premium tier

For anyone wanting app or remote-controlled curtains, Net Curtains Direct stocks a small range of motorised Forest tracks. These sit at the top of the price range (the site’s overall hardware range runs up to roughly £1,000–£2,000 for the most premium sets) and are worth it mainly for hard-to-reach windows, home automation setups, or accessibility needs.

Best for: smart homes, large or high windows, accessibility.

9. “Klick System” Complete Track Sets – £33.33–£120.83

The Forest KS® Klick System Complete Track Set is a made-to-order, click-together track designed for a fast, tool-light fit – a nice middle ground between a basic track and a fully bespoke one.

10. Curtain Draw Rods– budget accessory

A simple wand that lets you open and close curtains without touching (and marking) the fabric – a small, inexpensive add-on worth considering for delicate voiles or hard-to-reach windows.

11. Accessories & Net Rod Accessories – small spend, big difference

This is the “don’t forget” category: brackets, finials, rings, hooks, and fixings sold separately from the main rods and poles. If you’re buying a pole without a pre-packaged set, budget a little extra here to make sure you have everything needed to actually hang it.

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Quick Buying Guide: Which Hardware Do You Actually Need?

Your situation	Best hardware category
Lightweight net in a recess, want it invisible	Net & Voile Curtain Wire
Same, but want zero drilling	Tension Net Rods
Kitchen or café-style half curtain	Café Rods
Full-length curtain, pole as a design feature	Curtain Poles (wood or ball-finial ranges)
Full-length curtain, discreet/functional	Curtain Tracks
Layering a voile + heavier curtain	Double Curtain Poles
Large or hard-to-reach window	Motorised Tracks
Delicate voile you don’t want to touch	Curtain Draw Rods

A general rule of thumb: the more decorative the finish (antique brass, wood, crystal detailing, ball finials), the higher up the price range you’ll land. If

budget is the priority, the Speedy extendable ranges consistently offer the lowest entry price in each category while still being straightforward for a home fitter.

If you’re not sure which width or drop you need, Net Curtains Direct’s Measuring Guide and Track Fitting Guide are worth reading before you order – getting the pole or track length right matters more than the finish you choose.