Guide to choosing the right curtains

Before fabric and colour, answer one question: what should this curtain do?

• Control the light: filter the sun in a living room or darken a bedroom.
• Give privacy: at a window facing the street or a close neighbour.
• Improve the sound of the room: a heavy, lined fabric absorbs some of the echo bounced back by the glass. It does not keep out street noise.
• Dress the wall: add texture and proportion to a room.

The answer is almost always more than one. In that case, use 2 layers: a light one and an opaque one.

Light fabrics, such as fine linen and cotton, let the light in and give partial privacy without blocking the view. Linen has a natural texture and a loose drape. Heavier fabrics, such as velvet or a thick linen, cut out light and view and make the room feel warmer. To darken completely, add a blackout lining.

For colour, light, neutral tones suit almost every style and do not take light from the room. A strong colour or a pattern draws attention to the window: it works when the rest of the room is calm. If in doubt, choose a neutral close to the colour of the wall.

• Track: discreet, on the wall or the ceiling. The curtain runs smoothly and can form even waves.
• Pole: stays on show and is part of the design. It suits curtains with eyelets, tabs or rings.
• Recessed pelmet: a recess in the ceiling hides the track. The curtain seems to come out of the ceiling. It requires building work and should be planned in the project.

Hang the track or pole about 15 cm above the top of the window, or 20 to 25 cm if the ceiling is high. The window looks taller and the curtain, when open, does not cover the glass.

If the space between the window and the ceiling is short, place the track halfway up that space or fix it to the ceiling itself. With a very high ceiling, there is no need to take the track all the way up: the curtain can start lower and keep the proportion of the window.

The track should extend 10 to 15 cm beyond the window on each side. That way, the open curtain gathers over the wall and light does not come in around the edges. With heavy fabrics, which take up more space when drawn back, leave more room.

The fabric should be 1.5 to 2 times the width of the track. With less, the curtain looks stretched and flat when closed. The curtain can cover just the window or the whole wall: the whole wall gives a more even effect, especially with light, plain fabrics.

For most windows, the curtain should reach the floor. Leave about 1 cm of clearance: the curtain hangs straight, does not drag and gets less dirty. Measure the height at several points, because floors are not always level.

A short curtain, down to the sill, only makes sense when there is a piece of furniture, a radiator or a worktop under the window. In those cases, a roller blind is often the better choice.

• Living and dining room: light fabrics and neutral colours, so as not to lose light. A second, opaque layer is for the evenings and for watching television.
• Bedroom: a light layer and an opaque or blackout-lined one. See 10 essential items for your bedroom.
• Kitchen and bathroom: washable fabrics or blinds, away from the hob and the water.

To see how curtains, light and furniture work together, visit the Living room and Bedroom pages.