Choosing the right curtain fabric type is about more than picking a colour that matches your interior. The fabric sets how much light gets in, how private the space feels, and how your windows look day to day.
We make curtains to measure in a range of sheer and blackout fabrics, with lining options that change how each one performs. This guide runs through the choices, from the range itself to light, privacy, texture, colour and budget.
explore the curtain fabric type
The place to start is the range itself. It covers sheer and blackout fabrics, with different options in each, plus linings that let you fine-tune light control.
Sheer Curtain Fabrics
Sheer fabrics filter natural light and add a soft layer to the window. They keep a room bright and open while providing daytime privacy, which suits living rooms, dining spaces, and open-plan areas. Our sheer range is Aruba, Linesque Air, Interlude, Southport, Caye, Chios, Sicily and Williamsburg, each with its own texture, weight and colour palette, and all with a weighted hem so they hang cleanly.
Blackout Curtain Fabrics
Blackout fabrics give you stronger light control and privacy, so they're the usual choice for bedrooms, nurseries and media rooms. Our blackout range is Chesterfield, Weylands and Eclipse. All three have a triple-pass coating that blocks the light, with a textured weave that keeps them soft to the touch.
Lining Options
Lining changes how a fabric performs without changing the look you love. Our Simplicity lining is a silicone-coated fabric that adds strong light control and a little insulation behind a sheer, and a dimout lining softens incoming light without fully darkening the room. Pair either with a sheer, and you get a blackout curtain that keeps the soft look of the sheer on the room side.
You can see current colours for every fabric on our curtain fabric range page, or order free samples.
Consider How Much Light You Want
How much light you want depends on the room and when you use it. An afternoon living room and a bedroom you want dark on a summer morning have very different needs. There are three broad levels to choose between.
- Sheer fabric: Keeps the room bright and soft, with daytime privacy
- Dimout lining: Takes the edge off strong light without blocking it out
- Blackout fabric or lining: Strong light control for a dark, private space
The room's sun and how you use it throughout the day will tell you the level you need.
Privacy, Day and Night
Privacy and light are linked, but they're not the same thing. A sheer gives daytime privacy while keeping the view, but it offers little cover once the room's lit at night.
For stronger night-time privacy, choose a blackout fabric or pair a sheer with a lining. Layering a sheer with blackout roller blinds or a dual curtain setup lets you adjust privacy as the day changes.
Look at Texture and Finish
Two fabrics in the same colour can look completely different once texture and finish come into play. When you compare your options, think about:
- Whether you prefer a smooth or a textured surface
- How light or substantial you want the fabric to feel
- Whether the curtains should blend in or stand out
- How the fabric looks when you draw it across the window and when you gather it to the side
Choose a Colour That Works With Your Interior
Colour's the most noticeable part of the choice, but judge it against the rest of the room, not on its own. Hold a sample against your:
- Wall colour
- Flooring
- Furniture
- Soft furnishings
- Existing window treatments
Neutral tones blend in and suit most interiors, while a bolder shade makes the curtains stand out. Lighting changes things too, since daylight and lamplight both shift how a colour reads, which is why a sample in the room beats a screen every time.
Do You Need a Curtain Lining?
The right lining changes the performance of your curtains. If you like the look of a sheer but need stronger light control, our Simplicity lining adds it without changing the outer fabric. A dimout lining's the option when you want to reduce incoming light without fully blocking it.
Once you know the look you're after and the light control you need, it's clear whether a fabric stands on its own or needs a lining.
How Much Should You Spend on Curtain Fabric?
Curtain fabrics come at a range of price points, so budget helps narrow the field. Our sheers range from economical everyday options up to premium textured weaves, and the blackout fabrics and linings sit at the premium end.
Start from what the room needs rather than price alone. An economical sheer may be all it takes if appearance and basic light filtering are the priority, while a premium fabric may be worth it for a particular texture, finish or level of light control.
View Fabric Samples Before Making a Decision
A fabric on a screen rarely matches the fabric on your window. Colour, texture and the way it catches the light are all easier to judge in person, in the room where the curtains will hang.
We courier free fabric samples to your door. Place them near the window, look at them in daylight and lamplight, and check them against your walls, flooring and furniture before you decide.
Conclusion
There's no single fabric that's right for every home. The best choice comes down to the light and privacy you want, the texture and colour that suit the room, and whether a lining would fine-tune the performance. Weigh those up, then view samples to make the final call in your own space.
If you're in Auckland or Waikato, book a free in-home consultation, and we'll bring the range to you. Anywhere else in NZ, get a self-measure quote, and we'll make and ship your curtains, or order free fabric samples to compare at home first.