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What are the Different Types of Curtains?

Selecting just the right curtains for your home involves much more than simply choosing your favourite colour. Curtains come in a wide range of lengths, thicknesses, fabric types and designs, and other varieties, making it essential to consider how they’ll look and work within your space before making a decision.

Getting this detail right can go a long way toward pulling the rest of your room together. But choosing too quickly is likely to result in a large piece that looks out of place and distracts from the rest of your interior design. That’s why we offer a vast selection of voile, blackout, eyelet, pencil pleat, thermal, and other curtain styles in nearly any colour imaginable. This is as well as curtains designed specifically for children's bedrooms, and curtain accessories to make your window coverings an even better fit for your needs.

Here’s a guide to help you navigate the many types of curtains, understand their features, and find the ideal style to improve both the look and functionality of your space!

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Common curtain types

When it comes to selecting curtains, understanding the different styles available can help you make the best choice for your space. Here are some of the most popular curtain types to consider:

Sheer curtains

Perfect for spaces where natural light takes centre stage, sheer curtains add a soft, airy touch to your room whilst allowing maximum sunlight to shine through. These lightweight curtains block a minimal amount of brightness to create a room that comes close to outdoor daylight with a soft and wispy touch.

Blackout curtains

On the opposite end of the spectrum, blackout curtains are designed to block out all light, making them an excellent choice for bedrooms, home cinemas, or any space where complete darkness is a priority. They’re especially useful for night workers and can even provide added thermal insulation.

Thermal curtains

Looking to keep your home cosy year-round? Thermal curtains are a functional and stylish option, designed to help regulate indoor temperatures by blocking heat in summer and preventing drafts in winter.

Pleated curtains

Pleated curtains, use pinch pleats or deep folds to create a tailored look that can be a good starting point for a wide range of decor schemes.

Eyelet curtains

For a modern look, eyelet curtains are a go-to option. With metal rings at the top that slide easily over a curtain rod, they combine modern design with effortless functionality, making them a practical and stylish choice.

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Choosing the right curtains for your space

Carefully considering how you want your curtains to both look and function can help you choose a style that makes sense for your needs and preferences. Focusing too heavily on aesthetics may mean you end up choosing curtains that are less capable of handling essential light control or your privacy needs.

Likewise, prioritising practicality alone might mean missing out on the visual impact well-chosen curtains can bring.

To help you find the ideal fit, here are some key factors to consider:

Privacy needs

One of the primary roles of curtains is providing privacy. Consider how much privacy you need to feel comfortable in your space:

  • High privacy: if you live on a busy street or close to neighbors, blackout or thermal curtains are excellent choices. They block prying eyes whilst also offering a sense of security and peace.

  • Moderate privacy: for homes with less exposure, sheer curtains allow natural light to flow in whilst maintaining a light layer of privacy. They’re ideal for creating an open and inviting atmosphere.

Light control

The right curtains can help you manage natural light effectively:

  • Complete darkness: blackout or thermal curtains are perfect for bedrooms, home theaters, or anyone needing total darkness to sleep or relax.

  • Soft light: sheer or lightweight curtains filter sunlight beautifully, offering a bright yet gentle glow. They also protect furniture from fading while maintaining a cheerful ambiance.

Aesthetic appeal

Curtains play a pivotal role in tying together your room’s decor. To achieve a cohesive look:

  • Match the fabric, texture, and colour to your existing furniture, flooring, and wall tones.

  • Choose a style—such as pleated, eyelet, or patterned curtains—that complements your overall design theme, whether modern, traditional, or eclectic.

  • Consider the details, like length and thickness, to ensure the curtains enhance rather than overwhelm the space.

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Practical considerations to make when selecting curtains

Selecting curtains that match all of your preferences involves considering more details than you might expect. While knowing what aspects of your new curtains are the most important to you is a must, missing other details can mean them not working quite as well as you had hoped a few weeks or months down the road.

Here are some of the most important aspects of both your curtains themselves and the rest of your room to think about, when exploring your options to help you choose curtains that you'll love for years!

Window size and curtain length

The size and shape of your window are important details to consider because curtains that do not fit your windows properly may not function as effectively as they should. Plus, they won’t look nice from the inside or the outside of your home.

The dimensions of your curtains and windows should be proportional to ensure that your windows are fully covered without allowing too much extra fabric to make your windows look sloppy. Most casual curtains should either be slightly longer and wider than your windows or fit your windows perfectly. On the other hand, curtains that are floor length or even cover the entire wall can add an elegant touch to an upscale living room or bedroom.

Fabric types

Considering how you want your curtains to both look and function can help you choose a set that was designed with your needs in mind. Many curtain styles lean in favour of either exceptional aesthetics or exceptional privacy and light blocking abilities. fall somewhere in the middle and provide relatively equal performance in both areas.

Heavier fabrics naturally provide more insulation to add privacy and create a darker and somewhat warmer space, whilst thin and lightweight fabrics create an airy and breezy feel that allows you to get the most out of fresh air and natural light. Determining where your design preferences and practical needs fall is an important step in selecting curtains that make sense for both your interior design and your lifestyle.

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Maintenance requirements

Your lifestyle and the amount of time and effort that you’re willing to put into keeping your curtains looking their best are also important considerations when selecting a set that will be a good fit for you.

Many modern curtains are machine washable, which can make them just as easy to care for as your blankets and other bedding. However, curtains that are made from more delicate fabrics are more likely to need to be professionally cleaned to prevent damage and keep them looking their best.

Be honest about how much time and budget you can dedicate to maintenance, ensuring your curtains remain practical for your needs.

By taking these practical considerations into account, you’ll be better equipped to choose curtains that look stunning, function perfectly, and fit seamlessly into your lifestyle.

At La Redoute, we understand how transformative the right set of curtains can be for your home. Whether you're looking to make a bold statement as part of a full room makeover or simply refresh your space with a pop of colour, our selection of curtains combines style and functionality to suit any vision. From timeless classics to on-trend designs, we offer options to match or complement your unique interior design scheme.

But we don’t stop there—explore our range of bedding, rugs, and other home décor essentials, all designed to mix and match effortlessly with our curtains.

Author Name
Clair,
23/01/2025