Choosing a track or pole
Make sure you pick a track or pole that's suitable for attaching to your wall, is right for the window shape and appropriate for your curtains.

Consider the weight of the curtains you intend to hang. Buy a thicker pole for heavier drapes, and if you're going for tracks, metal tracks tend to be sturdier than plastic ones. Curtain poles can only be used for straight windows, and are made of wood, metal or plastic.

Tracks and poles come in varying lengths, but if you can't get the size you want, buy bigger than you need and saw off any excess length.

Look at your curtains: curtains with heading tape (pleated, gathered etc.) can attach by hooks to a track or to rings on a pole. If your track is going to be hidden by the curtains or a pelmet then you can be less concerned about the bulkiness of the track.

Many tracks come fitted with a cord to make opening and closing the curtains simple.
Curtains like tabtop and eyelet curtains need to run on a pole. Because the pole will be on display as much as the curtains, choose a pole you are happy to have seen. There are loads of decorative designs now available.