At Fabrics Galore, we live by the mantra: "Saving Good People from Bad Fabric” and nowhere is this more important than when choosing curtain fabric as it is a significant investment where mistakes are hard to rectify. If you’re an enthusiastic sewist planning to make your own curtains, we’re here to help you navigate the overwhelming number of fabric choices and create curtains that are both beautiful and practical. Here’s everything you need to know to get started.
Why Do Curtains Matter?
Curtains do more than just dress a window—they can transform a room. The right fabric and design bring warmth, character, and functionality to your space. Consider what you need your curtains to do:
- Practical Use: Do they need to keep out draughts, block light, let in light, or provide privacy? Well-chosen fabric can even save money on heating bills by keeping your home warmer.
- Room Aesthetics: Curtains can be a statement piece or subtly complement your décor. A bold print can create a feature, while plains or neutrals can provide a calming backdrop.
- Room Functionality: Where will the curtains hang? In kitchens or bathrooms, lightweight fabrics or café curtains work well by letting in light while maintaining privacy. In bedrooms darkness might be the key feature whereas warmth might be more important in the living room.
What to Consider When Choosing Curtain Fabric
1. Light Control
Some rooms like bedrooms, need blackout curtains or lining, for a better night’s sleep. Paler colours or lighter fabrics will need linings to block light effectively. For living rooms, sheer or lightweight fabrics combined with blinds can strike the perfect balance between privacy and natural light.
2. Décor Style
Think about your room’s current style. Is it:
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Formal or Informal: Velvet exudes luxury and works beautifully in formal spaces, while cotton or linen offers a relaxed look for casual areas.
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Modern or Classic: Bold prints add a playful touch to modern interiors, while neutrals or subtle floral and botanical patterns suit traditional settings.
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Coordinated or Contrasting: Match curtain fabric to your upholstery fabric with bold piping on cushions to tie your look together. Or choose a contrasting plain or print for contrast.
- Designer Fabrics: choosing fabrics from iconic designers creates a distinctive look which can enhance your interior style. Choose Orla Kiely for a bold, retro look, Cath Kidston for a country home aesthetic and William Morris for timeless elegance.
3. Curtain Maintenance
- Got kids or pets? Choose fabrics that are easy to clean, like polyester blends, or go for darker shades to hide stains. Cotton and linen blends are great for combining style and practicality.
- Most curtain fabrics will require dry cleaning although lighter weight fabrics may tolerate machine washing.
- Once removed from poles and tracks you can brush curtains with a soft, clean brush to remove dust and debris. Always fold along the length rather than horizontally as the folds will be less noticeable when re-hung.
4. Budget and Durability
Investing in high-quality fabric is worth it for long-term results. Cotton panama or wool curtains are both durable and timeless. If you’re on a budget, lightweight fabrics with a lining can still achieve a polished look.
Plain or Patterned Fabric?
- Scale Matters: A large, bold pattern looks stunning on big windows, showcasing the full repeat. Small windows suit delicate patterns or plains, which avoid visual clutter.
- Plains for Simplicity: Monochromatic schemes can be elevated with texture or tonal variations.
- Pattern Play: Mix it up! Pair bold curtains with plain upholstery, or vice versa. Adding cushions in complementary patterns keeps the look cohesive.
- Common Patterns for Curtain Fabrics include stripes, spots, Ikat, Florals and Botanicals.
Curtain Heading Styles
The heading style affects both the drape and overall vibe:
- Pencil Pleats: Timeless and versatile.
- Pinched Pleats: Perfect for a formal or elegant look.
- Tie Tops: Great for casual, informal spaces.
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Pelmet Heading: Adds a classic touch, especially in traditional interiors.
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Cased heading: for an easy, softly gathered effect.
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Gathering Tape for a gently ruffled heading
- Knotted Ties when curtains aren’t that weighty for an informal effect although it means they must be drawn manually.
Types of Curtain Fabrics
- Linen: Relaxed and airy; perfect for living rooms and dining areas.
- Cotton: Includes versatile weaves like panama, ticking stripe, or half panama. Easy to sew and clean.
- Velvet: Luxurious and insulating, ideal for formal or cosy rooms.
- Wool: Warm and durable for cold climates.
- Voile: Lightweight and sheer, great for layering.
- Polyester: Affordable and low maintenance as easy to clean.
- Silk: Glamorous but avoid in damp rooms.
- Corduroy: A unique option for a textured, cosy look.
Blended fabrics (e.g., cotton and linen with polyester) are a win-win for style and practicality.
Our Collection of Saxon Plain and Striped Furnishing fabrics
Tips for Choosing Children’s Curtain Fabric
Choosing the décor for your child’s bedroom or nursery is one of the most rewarding home furnishing projects. Consider the child’s age and how long you want the curtains to last. A 10 year old will probably have grown out of their 3 year old dinosaur obsession!
- Themes: Nautical, jungle animals, or British motifs bring a playful touch.
- Patterns: Spots and stripes age gracefully with your child.
- Durability: Opt for easy-to-clean fabrics for sticky fingers and playful pets.
Nautical and Children's Furnishing Fabric Collections
Final Touches: Length, Lining, and Extras
- Length: Floor-length curtains add drama, while short ones suit kitchens or informal spaces. Ensure your fabric choice hangs neatly; thick materials may not fold as desired.
- Lining: Essential for insulation, light blocking, and durability. Interlining can add a luxurious feel.
- Tiebacks: Practical and decorative, they can enhance your curtain’s style.
How Much Curtain Fabric Do You Need?
Measure carefully, including allowances for hems and headings. Buying a continuous length ensures a professional finish. Follow a measuring guide or consult an expert to avoid errors.
Katrin Cargill in The Soft Furnishing Workbook has the following advice:
Measure the Right Thing!
To calculate the fabric quantities for curtains, you need two measurements:
- Width of the Window - to work this out measure the width of the curtain pole. The width you are looking for is determined by the type of heading. E.g. For Pencil Pleat Heading Tape - you need 2.5 times the width of the pole or track.
- Length of the Window (taken from the track or pole, NOT just the top of the window) Plus hemming and heading measurements.
Working out Pattern Repeat for your Curtains
To match up the pattern repeat you need to know the length of the repeat.
Divide the length of the unfinished curtain by the length of the repeat and times that by the length of the repeat.
E.g. The length of the unfinished curtain is 400cm
The pattern repeat is 90cm
400 divided by 90 = 4.44
Round it up to 5
5 times 90 = 450
So, you need 450cm for each drop of your curtain…
Other Uses for Curtain Fabric
Don’t stop at curtains! Matching fabrics can often be used for:
- Roman blinds (see our 3-part guide to making Roman Blinds including fabric choices)
- Cushions (read our guide to the latest cushion trends)
- Upholstery (although it’s advisable to check Martindale ratings)
Top Tips for a Curtain Success Story
- Take your time choosing the fabric. Curtains are a long-term investment.
- Choose a lining fabric as carefully as the facing fabric.
- Consider your home’s overall aesthetic for a cohesive look.
- Always measure accurately and double-check.
Help for Choosing Curtain Fabrics
At Fabrics Galore we’re here to help you find the perfect fabric for your curtains and there is always someone available to talk to during shop hours. You can also order a few fabric samples to see the fabrics up close before deciding. If you live in London, visit our fabric shop where you can find all our online curtain fabric collection. Our deliveries are sent Royal Mail 1st Class so both your samples and fabric orders usually arrive within a couple of days.
