Wood or metal is usually the first decision people make, and it is often made on looks alone. Worth knowing that the two behave differently as well — the right choice depends on the room, the curtains and the period of the house.
The short version
Wood brings warmth and works naturally with older, softer interiors. Metal is stronger for its diameter, handles wide spans and heavy fabrics better, and suits crisper contemporary rooms. Neither is inherently better.
Matching the period of your home
Hardware that fits the age of a house tends to look settled rather than styled.
Georgian and Regency. Restrained and classical. Turned wooden poles in a painted or dark stained finish sit well, as do slim brass poles with simple ball or urn finials. Avoid anything ornate — the period was more disciplined than it is often given credit for.
Victorian. Heavier and more decorative. Substantial wooden poles, 35mm or larger, with reeded detailing or more elaborate finials. Antique brass is very much at home here.
Edwardian and Arts and Crafts. Lighter than Victorian, with an emphasis on visible craft. Natural oak, simple metal poles, honest detailing.
Mid-century. Slim, plain and unfussy. Chrome or satin silver in a narrow diameter, minimal finials.
Modern and new build. Matt black has become the default for good reason — it frames a window cleanly and works with almost any colour scheme. Satin silver is the quieter alternative.
Strength and span
This is where the practical difference shows. Metal is considerably stronger than timber at the same diameter, so a 28mm metal pole will carry more weight over a longer unsupported span than a 28mm wooden one.
For a wide window with heavy interlined curtains, metal lets you keep a slimmer profile. If you want the look of wood on a wide span, either go up a diameter or add a centre bracket — both are perfectly normal solutions.
Wooden poles are also more sensitive to their environment. Timber moves with humidity, so a bathroom or a conservatory is kinder to metal.
How they draw
Metal rings on a metal pole glide easily but can be audible. Wooden rings on a wooden pole are quieter but have marginally more friction. Neither is a problem in practice, though in a bedroom where curtains are drawn late at night, some people prefer the softer sound of wood.
If silence matters, a corded track is the better answer than either.
Finishes worth considering
With wood you can have a natural or stained finish that shows the grain, or a painted finish. Painting the pole the same colour as the woodwork in the room is an old decorator's trick — it lets the pole disappear and the curtains take the attention.
With metal, matt black is forgiving and contemporary. Antique brass adds warmth and reads as more traditional. Polished chrome is bright and reflective, and best in rooms that already have chrome elsewhere. Satin silver is the neutral option that rarely looks wrong.
Cost
The two overlap considerably. Basic metal poles are usually the cheapest option; solid hardwood in a large diameter is usually the most expensive. Quality varies within both materials far more than it varies between them, so it is worth looking at wall thickness on metal poles and whether timber is solid or veneered.
Choosing between them
Ask what the curtains weigh, how wide the window is, and what else is in the room. Heavy curtains on a wide window point towards metal, or wood in a generous diameter. A period room with soft furnishings and warm tones points towards wood. A room with black window frames or crisp modern detailing points towards matt black metal.
If you are torn, look at the other metalwork in the room — door handles, light fittings, radiator valves. Matching the pole to what is already there is rarely the wrong answer.