Tips and Tricks for Choosing the Right Curtains
Curtains are unique in that they serve a practical purpose—namely, providing privacy and blocking out light—while also influencing the decor and atmosphere of the room in which they are hung. As such, every choice is particularly important for anyone who wants to get the most out of their curtains and sheers—both aesthetically and functionally—much like home linens, which must be high-quality but also pleasing to the eye and comfortable to use.
Here is a guide that brings together the factors to consider and the best decorating tips, room by room, to help you find the curtain or sheer that will enhance and beautify your interior while perfectly fulfilling its role as a light-blocking solution.
Choosing Curtains for a Living Room
More than any other room in the house, the living room is a space that generally has a strong aesthetic identity, thanks to its furniture and the color of the walls or floor.
When choosing curtains for your living room, you should, above all, aim to complement the existing style and decor. If you’re redecorating or completely changing the decor, it’s best to choose your curtains and sheers last, so they can add the finishing touch to the desired atmosphere.
Ideally, a living room curtain is meant to provide privacy without completely blocking out the light, which helps create an atmosphere that is both intimate and warm. The best choice, therefore, seems to be linen or cotton sheers, with or without patterns on the fabric. These natural materials are known for elegantly dressing living room windows, allowing soft light to filter through and offering a variety of shades and colors: white, beige, or ivory, for example.
As for the width and length of the curtain, everyone can share their preferences here—whether they prefer pleated curtains or flat sheers, curtains that cover only the window or ones that fall to the floor.
The most important thing to check before making any purchase is the type of curtain rod and mounting rings or grommets—this applies to every room in the house. Not all curtain rods are suitable for every setup. You should therefore measure the space between the top of the window and the ceiling to determine the type of curtain rod and mounting hardware based on the available space. Be careful, however, because not all curtain rods allow you to achieve a pleated effect.
What kind of curtains and sheers should you hang in a bedroom?
In a bedroom—especially if it doesn't have shutters or blackout blinds—the goal is to create a subdued atmosphere during the day and then block out the light at night.
To achieve this dual goal, it may be a good idea to choose double curtains for your bedroom—that is, a sheer curtain hung on the window, paired with a blackout curtain hung on a beautiful, large rod. Velvet curtains provide maximum light-blocking capabilities while also offering thermal insulation against the winter cold and summer heat.
When it comes to the decor itself, it’s important to work with the existing style, while making the most of the available ceiling height. In a room with a low ceiling, it may be a good idea to hang velvet curtains with vertical stripes, which would create the illusion of height and make the space feel more open.
Bathroom Curtains: What Factors Should You Consider?
In a bathroom, curtains are very often essential for protecting against direct views from neighboring units and prying eyes. However, it is important to take into account the unique nature of this room, namely the presence of moisture.
To choose the right curtains for your bathroom, it’s best to opt for a lightweight fabric that dries quickly—especially in winter, when it’s harder to open the windows to let moisture out. Linen or cotton sheers are therefore ideal choices for dressing a bathroom window, with a preference for plain white sheers, which allow plenty of light to filter through—a feature always sought after in a bathroom.
Curtains for the kitchen
Kitchens are increasingly open to the living room or family room. Therefore, you can’t overlook the decorative aspect of kitchen curtains. You also need to take into account the grease and smoke that are typical in the kitchen, which means you’ll need to clean the curtains and sheers more frequently than in other rooms.
When choosing a simple and elegant sheer curtain—whether solid-colored or patterned—it is therefore advisable to select a high-quality product that can withstand regular machine washing.
The Children's Room: A Space Open to Creativity
What kind of curtains should you choose for a child's bedroom? Children's bedrooms are spaces where you can easily create a colorful decor.
The key is to stick to the overall theme of the wall decor, furniture, or bedding. As for the rest, let the children’s creativity and preferences shine through—even if their tastes change over time and you may need to consider changing the style of the curtains after a few years.
Which material should you choose?
The materials used to make curtains can be divided into two categories: lightweight fabrics (linen, cotton, silk, lace) and heavyweight fabrics (velvet, jute, or macramé).
A lightweight fabric allows plenty of light to come through—such as a white sheer—while velvets and other heavy fabrics are generally blackout fabrics designed to completely block out light and prevent people from seeing inside.
To achieve the best possible result, experts recommend choosing natural fabrics—with or without patterns—to take advantage of their elegant look, while ensuring they are thick enough to be easily washed in the washing machine or by hand.
Curtains and Color
How do you choose the color of your curtains? When choosing colored curtains, it’s important to ensure they harmonize with the room’s interior style. Unlike plain white sheers—which are traditional but don’t particularly stand out—colored curtains and sheers make a bold statement and can add a very interesting visual element, provided you coordinate the colors of the curtains with the walls.
When it comes to choosing colors or colorful patterns, it’s important to keep in mind a basic principle of interior design: light colors tend to make a room appear larger, whereas dark colors make it feel smaller.