Everyone loves natural light streaming into their home, except on times when you want to sleep or get some privacy. This is where curtains become a necessity regardless of where you live. They serve as a means of insulation regulation while being a crucial piece of décor that can set the room's tone. Curtains are often overlooked, especially in Indian households, but they are essential to add a finishing touch to a room.
When it comes to choosing the best curtain for your home, the possibilities are endless – be it in terms of colour, print, fabric, or length of the curtain. Fabindia, IKEA, and Cortina are some of the best-recommended home furnishing brands in India, where you'll get a range of curtains to choose from.
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When it comes to curtains, aka window treatments, it is all about choosing the right size and style for your home. From light and breezy fabrics to heavy opaque textiles and blackout curtains, there are a lot of options available in the market.
And to choose a perfect fit for your space, you need to figure out the functionality, fabric, colour, style, etc. So, we've prepared an extensive guide and a list of the best curtains that you need to consider.
Curtains are usually perceived to play an essential role in the overall aesthetics of a room, but they do bring a lot of practical benefits too. For instance, curtains with higher quality fabric can regulate the temperature of a room by keeping out the heat in warm seasons and preserving it in winters. They can also blackout 99% of light, ensuring a high level of privacy.
Therefore, depending on the function and practical needs, you can choose curtains for your home.
If you prefer a well-lit house with sunlight, these semi-transparent curtains will exude elegance and a lot of natural light. Sheer curtains are available in organza, lace, and chiffon fabric. One of the advantages of sheer curtains is that it allows the people inside the house to see outside, but people outside can only see the shadows.
So, you'll have a little privacy, while getting enough light inside the house. These types of curtains are perfect for living room, kitchen windows, and rooms that do not receive much sunlight. You can get sheer curtains in a variety of shades with embroidery to match your home's décor.
Semi-opaque curtains lie somewhere between sheer and block-out curtains. They do allow some light inside the house but do not allow you or the outside world to see each other.
Semi-opaque curtains are perfect for someone who likes to maintain his/her privacy and is not a big fan of natural light. Cotton, satin, and silk are the preferred fabric choice for semi-opaque curtains. You can get these in neutral colours, grid prints, or in linen-blend material to make them suit any setting.
Some people prefer layering semi-opaque curtains with sheer ones to give your space multi-dimensions. Sheer curtains as a base layer will give you enough light during the day, and semi-opaque on top will work perfectly for privacy purposes.
These are mostly used in living rooms or bedrooms along with sheer curtains to make it completely dark during day/night. Blackout curtains allow almost zero light into the room. If you prefer to sleep in during the weekends, not wanting sunlight to bother you at all, then these curtains will be a perfect addition to your bedroom.
They are commonly created using polyester or a combination of polyester and cotton. Blackout curtains offer maximum privacy. When paired with sheer curtains, it blocks sun, sound, and provides energy insulation. However, deep blackout and layering curtains won't be ideal for smaller or crowded rooms as their panel requires a lot of space.
Fabric is an important aspect to consider while picking up a curtain. The material you choose for your curtains depends on the amount of light you want to let in and the mood and décor you want to set for your room.
Cotton curtains offer a clean, crisp, and casual feel to all traditional and modern homes. Being a light fabric, it allows plenty of sunlight to filter through, keeping the room bright and airy. Cotton is also easy to clean and care for; simply vacuum the dust from accumulating in the folds, or get them dry cleaned when necessary.
If you're looking for privacy and temperature control, you can try lined or tight weave cotton curtains. These styles are ideal for blocking sunlight, keeping your room lightly lit. Lined cotton also helps curtains hang properly, giving them the desired fall with proper creases.
Linen is a durable, natural fabric that is woven from the fibres of the flax plant. Linen curtains have a textured weave that diffuses light to create a plush effect in any setting. They add a dash of fabulousness, thus making a perfect pick for bedroom, lounge or dining room.
Whether you go for dyed or natural linen, there will be a crisp and brighter appeal to the room while still having privacy. During winters, linen curtains also provide valuable insulation. They are also easy to take care of, you can either get them dry-cleaned or wash them in a washing machine at home.
The lustrous sheen and incredibly luxurious appeal of silk curtains make them fit for formal dining and classy spaces. The fabric is heavier than other materials. No matter how pleasing a silk curtain looks to the eye, it has a few downfalls.
It is a dry clean only fabric, which makes laundering silk curtains an expensive affair. These curtains are also susceptible to damage from sunlight. So you either need to line them with lighter-coloured panels or hang them in spaces that do not receive a lot of direct light.
Lined silk curtains are quite hard-wearing, but this adds to their already higher price. However, faux silk curtains are readily available in the market, and they are easier to launder and care for. They are also durable and create a luxurious feel in the room.
Polyester is one of the most common curtains fabrics in India. It is durable, sturdy, lightweight, and affordable. However, it can be lined to make it heavier and to block even more light. Polyester curtains resist staining, wrinkling, shrinking, and stretching.
But if you have young children or windows in high traffic areas, you should avoid polyester curtains as sometimes the stains might get difficult to remove. Unlike natural fabrics like linen, wool, and cotton, polyester curtains do not fade and are usually machine washable.
They are perfect for the bedroom and living room but should be avoided in the kitchen as the material is flammable and can absorb odours. Polyester curtains are available in a range of colours, patterns, and styles, giving you many options to choose from.
Velvet is a heavy fabric, and you can use it to your advantage if you live in a city where it gets really cold. The thickness and dense fibres of the fabric keep out the cold and moisture, thus keeping your house insulated. Additionally, the velvet curtains prevent dust and harmful microscopic organisms from entering the room.
This makes them an ideal curtain choice for those with allergies. But you'd need to vacuum them frequently to keep the room clean and dust-free. If you hang them on the wall, they can also provide a degree of soundproofing. You can dress up your formal dining room, or traditionally styled living rooms, or master bedrooms with velvet curtains.
Lace is a sheer fabric that tends to diffuse natural light, giving your house an open and airy feel. Lace curtains add a romantic touch to any type of house setting. You can use them in a traditionally styled dining room, or over your French doors.
Lace curtains provide the required privacy without blocking the natural light from entering the house. You will find these curtains in neutral shades like white, ivory, and cream, and easily coordinate with any colour scheme in your house. Depending on the construction, lace curtains can be machine-washed or dry cleaned.
Like fabric, length is also one of the biggest factors to consider while buying curtains. It is measured from the curtain rod to the bottom where you’d want the curtains to hang – could be the bottom of the window or down to the floor.
While deciding on the length, designers recommend hanging curtains about 15 cm above the window as it'll give an illusion of height. If you want to give your space a more traditional look, add 5-7 cm to the length so that curtains hang slightly puddled on the floor. For a modern look, you can have the panel touches the floor.
When it comes to measuring your window's width, add 10-20 cm on both sides and double the total number to have to form proper creases. This would shut out the sun and block out any light creeping from the sides.
To make this decision, you need to look at the rest of the décor. If you already have a lot of prints in the room – for example, on your rug, walls, and bedding, then it is best to go with solid-coloured curtains. Else, your room will end up looking too busy.
You just need to make sure that the colour of the print and other patterns in the room does not clash with each other. If all the soft furnishings in the room are solid-coloured, you can use quirky prints and geometric patterns to give your space a contemporary touch. If your room has a modern classic and traditional décor, adding floral window treatments will work best for you.
Fabindia is one of India's top home furnishing brands that use traditional techniques and hand-based processes to offer you the best products. This cotton printed curtain is a perfect way to infuse a colourful and airy character into your living room or bedroom. It is available in three summery shades – yellow, orange, and teal.
The curtain is adorned with attractive hand block prints along its entire length. It is available as a window and door curtain in two different sizes. The curtain allows enough natural light to light your space and give it a fresh feel during summers.
This set of cotton curtains from IKEA lowers the level of natural light entering the house and provides privacy by preventing people from outside to peek inside your room/house. The curtains come with a tab heading, allowing you to easily hang them on the rod.
This particular set comes in three colours – white, light beige, and grey. Each shade goes with both modern and traditional-style spaces. Reviewers say the curtains are great in quality, considering they are made up of natural fabric. One of the reviewers recommends lining them with sheer curtains to enhance their look.
Rajasthan is known for its unparalleled expertise in hand block print. Tjori takes its inspiration from this craft to create an inspirational collection for your household. This cotton curtain with a detailed pattern imparts simplicity to the overall décor. Its semi-opaque functionality makes it fit for livingrooms and bedrooms.
The large hand block print in contrasting colours creates an opportunity to add interest to a room by adding soft colour and natural light to the setting. Its pre-fitted stainless-steel eyelets enable easy movement of the curtains. These curtains are perfect for a room where you want more light.
Designed exclusively by artisans, this 100% pure cotton curtain set turns windows into a design element of its own. Like small prints on decorative pillows and rugs, these curtains can completely change a space, be it your living room, dining room, or bedroom.
The smaller hand block print will accentuate other elements of the décor and complement the room's overall look and feel. They are fade-proof, semi-transparent, and come in a set of two. The pure cotton material will keep your room warm in winters and add a fun colour during summers.
This is a polyester curtain set in a satin finish that makes it soft to touch and easy to maintain. The curtain can block 50%-60% light while adding a touch of sophistication to the room. You can hang them in your bedroom or living room to give a striking appeal.
This set comes with pre-fitted eyelets, making it easier for you to hang them on your own. The colour provides a relaxed ambience with the right amount of light coming through. The curtain is also lightweight which makes it simple for you to take them down and wash them in a washing machine.
Give your room a luxurious and sophisticated makeover with a pair of floral curtains. The curtains not only look fancy but have a practical usage too – they are room darkening blackout curtains. So, if you prefer complete darkness while sleeping, these curtains make for a perfect pick for your bedroom.
The curtains are made up of high-quality polyester material, making them reliable and durable. These ready-made floral printed curtains come with ten eyelets for ease of movement. As per a reviewer, the quality is excellent and the curtains do blockout light effectively. However, the picture doesn't justify the base colour i.e., light murky green and not white.
Enhance the beauty of your house with these premium quality window curtains from Cortina. Be it your living room or bedroom, you can enjoy privacy with these elegant floral pair of curtains which come in a plethora of colours to suit your personality and home décor.
These heavy-duty curtains allow a minimal amount of light to enter the room. The innovative polyester fabric gives them an elegant drape without making them rigid. Though the product is durable and made of good quality material, it has received mixed reviews. Some people didn't approve of the size and colour of the curtains.
The polyester curtains from Home Sizzler add a touch of elegance to the room with their unique floral and stripes pattern. These curtains can retain their colour vibrancy even after absorbing scorching sun rays throughout the day. The fade-resistant colours and high-quality eyelets that do not rust after repeated washing makes these curtains a perfect pick for homes.
The fabric does not shrink or wrinkle, it maintains its superior satin finish over time. The window treatment comes with eyelets that are wide enough to fit standard size rods and make for the smooth movement of curtains. The only disadvantage of these curtains is that they need to be hand-washed.
If you're looking for solid curtains but with a touch of sheer (literally) elegance, this set of 4 door curtains from Rosara Home will make it happen for you. With a solid maroon piece accompanied with a sheer white piece, these curtains will add drama to your existing setup.
Premium grade polyester which goes into the construction of Rosara Home curtains makes maintenance a hassle-free affair. They have a broad width to provide optimal coverage of the window. Reviewers have had an amazing buying experience from the brand and they are quite happy with the quality of the product.
If you want a little bit of everything from your window treatments then these sheer curtains will offer you privacy, looks and light without having to invest too much. These sheer curtains allow natural light into your space and help brighten up rooms that do not receive direct sunlight.
Though these are sheer curtains, they allow privacy whenever required. If you like the look of these curtains during the day but want to keep light out during the night, you can add a thicker layer of blackout curtains to solve the purpose. These curtains make for a great choice during summers as they impart an airy feel to the room. However, will not provide insulation during winters.
Whether you're moving to a new house or redoing an existing one, some help regarding the furniture or other elements that you can add is always appreciated. To make the search for carpets, sofa sets, and bedsheets easier for you, here are a few of our recommendations.
You may not appreciate the importance of adding curtains to your house, but they do provide privacy and block light, along with making your space look elegant and cosy. Luckily, we're here to help you understand all these advantages and recommendations of the best curtains to choose from. So, take your time and read through all our recommendations before buying a pair of curtains.
Author: Srishti Sikka
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