Curtains can completely change the appearance and feel of a room, but choosing them isn’t simply a matter of finding a colour you like.
The right curtains can provide privacy, control the amount of sunlight entering a room, improve comfort and complement your existing home décor. The wrong choice, however, can look out of proportion, let in too much light or simply fail to perform the job you need it to do.
For South African homeowners and renters, there are also practical considerations such as strong sunlight, warm summers, cooler winters and the considerable difference in price between ready-made and custom curtains.
If you’re planning to update a room, the best place to start is not with the colour or pattern.
It’s with what you want the curtains to do.
Start with the purpose of the curtains
Different rooms have different requirements.
Curtains in a bedroom may need to provide privacy and reduce early-morning light.
Curtains in a living room may be chosen primarily for appearance while still providing some privacy and light control.
In a home office, glare reduction might be more important.
Before shopping, decide what your main priorities are.
For example:
- Privacy
- Light control
- Blocking sunlight
- Insulation
- Appearance
- Noise reduction
- Easy maintenance
Once you know what you want from the curtains, it becomes much easier to narrow down your options.
Consider the room first
The same curtains won’t necessarily work equally well throughout your home.
Living room
Living-room curtains often need to balance appearance with practical light and privacy requirements.
Bedroom
Bedrooms may benefit from curtains that provide greater privacy and better control over morning light.
Home office
Reducing glare from windows can be particularly useful if you work on a computer.
Dining room
Here, appearance may be particularly important, but easy maintenance can also be worthwhile.
Children’s rooms
Durability and ease of cleaning may be more important than choosing delicate fabrics or elaborate designs.
The key is to match the curtain to the room rather than choosing every curtain in the house according to the same criteria.
Measure before you shop
One of the most common curtain-buying mistakes is getting the measurements wrong.
Don’t simply measure the window itself and assume that is the size of curtain you need.
You need to consider both the curtain rail or track and the amount of fabric required to create the fullness you want.
Start by measuring:
- The width of the curtain rail or track
- The required drop
- The distance from the rail to the floor or desired stopping point
- The position of nearby furniture
- Any obstructions around the window
Write the measurements down before you start shopping.
If you’re buying ready-made curtains, compare your measurements carefully with the manufacturer’s sizing information.
Curtain width isn’t the same as window width
Curtains generally need to be wider than the window so they can gather or pleat when closed.
If you buy curtains that are exactly the same width as the window, they may look stretched and provide poor coverage.
The amount of additional fabric required depends on the curtain style and the fullness you want.
This is one reason it is important to check the manufacturer’s recommendations rather than simply buying based on the window width.
Decide how long your curtains should be
Curtain length can have a surprisingly large effect on the appearance of a room.
Common options include:
Just below the window
A shorter curtain can be practical where furniture or other obstacles make full-length curtains inconvenient.
Below the sill
This provides more coverage while remaining relatively practical.
Floor length
Floor-length curtains tend to create a more finished appearance and are particularly common in living rooms and bedrooms.
Slightly longer than floor length
Some decorative styles allow the fabric to extend onto the floor.
However, this can require more maintenance and may not be practical in every household.
For most homes, function should come before fashion.
Choose between ready-made and custom curtains
This is one of the biggest purchasing decisions.
Ready-made curtains
Advantages include:
- Usually less expensive
- Widely available
- Quick to install
- Easy to replace
- Many styles and colours
They can be a very good choice when your windows are relatively standard sizes.
Custom curtains
Custom curtains can be made specifically for your windows.
Advantages include:
- Precise measurements
- More fabric choices
- Greater control over design
- More options for unusual windows
The disadvantage is cost.
Custom curtains can be substantially more expensive than ready-made alternatives.
For many homes, ready-made curtains offer excellent value if you can find the appropriate size and style.
Understand curtain fabrics
The fabric affects both appearance and performance.
Common curtain materials include:
- Cotton
- Linen
- Polyester
- Velvet
- Voile
- Blended fabrics
Each has different characteristics.
Cotton
Cotton curtains can provide a relatively natural appearance and are available in many styles.
Linen
Linen has a relaxed, natural appearance and works particularly well in certain contemporary and minimalist interiors.
Polyester
Polyester is commonly used for curtains because it can be durable, versatile, and relatively easy to maintain.
Velvet
Velvet creates a heavier, more luxurious appearance and can provide good light blocking.
Voile
Voile is lightweight and useful where you want some privacy while still allowing considerable natural light into the room.
Think about sunlight
South African homes can receive significant amounts of sunlight, depending on their orientation and location.
Strong sunlight can affect both comfort and furnishings.
If a room becomes excessively bright or hot during certain parts of the day, consider curtains specifically designed to provide greater light control.
This is particularly relevant for:
- Bedrooms
- Living rooms
- Home offices
- Rooms with large windows
However, don’t automatically choose the darkest possible curtain.
The right amount of light depends on how you use the room.
Do you need blackout curtains?
Blackout curtains are designed to significantly reduce the amount of light entering a room.
They can be particularly useful in:
- Bedrooms
- Children’s rooms
- Media rooms
- Rooms facing bright street lighting
They can also be useful for people who prefer a darker sleeping environment.
However, blackout curtains aren’t necessarily the best choice for every room.
If your priority is simply privacy while retaining natural light, a lighter curtain may be more suitable.
Consider thermal performance
Curtains can also play a role in indoor comfort.
Heavier or specially designed thermal curtains may help reduce heat transfer through windows.
This can be useful in rooms that become very hot during summer or noticeably colder during winter.
However, curtains shouldn’t be viewed as a replacement for proper insulation.
Think of them as one part of the overall approach to managing the comfort of your home.
Privacy matters
Think about what can be seen through the window at different times of day.
A curtain that provides adequate privacy during daylight hours may offer considerably less privacy at night when interior lights are switched on.
This is where combining a lighter curtain with a heavier curtain or blind can sometimes provide greater flexibility.
For bedrooms and bathrooms in particular, privacy should be considered before appearance.
Don’t choose the colour in isolation
A curtain colour that looks excellent in a shop or online photograph may look quite different in your room.
Consider:
- Wall colour
- Flooring
- Furniture
- Rugs
- Existing décor
- Natural light
If you’re replacing curtains rather than furnishing an empty room, it is usually easier to choose curtains that complement what you already have.
You don’t necessarily need an exact colour match.
In many cases, choosing a complementary shade creates a more interesting result.
Patterns can make a big difference
Patterned curtains can add personality to a room, but they also attract attention.
Large patterns can become a significant visual feature.
Smaller or more subtle patterns may be easier to combine with existing décor.
If the room already contains several patterns — such as patterned furniture, rugs or wallpaper — a simpler curtain may create a more balanced appearance.
Consider the curtain heading
The heading is the part of the curtain that attaches to the rail or track.
Different styles include:
- Eyelets
- Pencil pleats
- Pinch pleats
- Rod pockets
- Tab tops
The heading affects both appearance and how the curtains open and close.
Before purchasing, make sure the heading is compatible with your existing curtain rail or track.
Replacing the curtains but discovering that they don’t work with your existing hardware can turn a simple purchase into a more expensive project.
Curtains or blinds?
You don’t always have to choose curtains.
Blinds can sometimes provide better control over light and privacy, particularly in rooms where space around the window is limited.
Curtains, however, can add softness and warmth to a room and may provide better coverage around larger windows.
In some rooms, using both blinds and curtains can provide the greatest flexibility.
For example:
Blind → everyday light and privacy control
Curtains → additional privacy, darkness and decorative effect
Think about maintenance
Before buying, check the care instructions.
Some curtains can be machine washed, while others may require more specialised cleaning.
Consider your household.
If the curtains will be exposed to:
- Dust
- Cooking fumes
- Pets
- Children
- Frequent sunlight
easy maintenance may be more important than choosing a particularly delicate fabric.
A beautiful curtain that is difficult and expensive to clean may not represent good value for your home.
Don’t ignore the curtain lining
Some curtains have a separate lining or a built-in lining.
Lining can affect:
- Light control
- Privacy
- Insulation
- Appearance
- Fabric durability
If you’re comparing two otherwise similar curtains, check whether one is lined and the other isn’t.
The difference may help explain a price difference.
How much should you spend on curtains?
There isn’t a single price that represents good value.
A very inexpensive curtain isn’t necessarily a bargain if it needs replacing quickly.
Likewise, an expensive curtain isn’t automatically better.
Consider:
- Fabric
- Construction
- Size
- Lining
- Hardware
- Ease of maintenance
- Expected lifespan
- Installation costs
Remember that the total cost may include more than the curtains themselves.
You may also need:
- Curtain rails
- Tracks
- Brackets
- Hooks
- Tiebacks
- Installation
Factor these into your budget before deciding how much you can afford to spend.
Compare the complete cost
When shopping online, don’t compare only the advertised curtain price.
Check:
Curtain price + delivery + required hardware + installation
A R1,000 curtain that requires another R500 of hardware and R500 of installation isn’t really a R1,000 purchase.
This is another reason why comparing the total cost is more useful than comparing headline prices.
Don’t buy before checking the return policy
Curtains can be difficult to judge online.
Colour can appear different on different screens, and measurements can be misunderstood.
Before buying online, check:
- Return period
- Return conditions
- Whether sale items can be returned
- Whether custom-made curtains are returnable
- Who pays return shipping
This becomes particularly important when buying expensive curtains.
A simple curtain-buying checklist
Before purchasing, ask:
☐ What do I want the curtains to achieve?
☐ Have I measured the window and rail correctly?
☐ Have I checked the required curtain width?
☐ Is the length appropriate?
☐ Is the fabric suitable for the room?
☐ Do I need blackout or thermal properties?
☐ Will the curtain provide sufficient privacy?
☐ Does the heading work with my existing rail or track?
☐ Can I maintain the fabric easily?
☐ Have I compared the total cost?
☐ Have I checked delivery and returns?
☐ Does the curtain complement the existing room?
Final thoughts
Choosing curtains is ultimately a balance between appearance, practicality and value.
Start by deciding what you need the curtains to do. Then measure carefully, compare fabrics and construction, consider light and privacy requirements and look at the total cost rather than simply the advertised price.
You don’t necessarily need the most expensive curtains or the latest style.
You need curtains that work for your room, your lifestyle and your budget.
That’s a much better way to approach home purchases — and exactly the kind of decision Kila is designed to help you make.