Curtains are more than window dressing; they are also a practical fixture necessary in almost every room. Your curtains manage light intrusion, offer privacy, and soften the echo of household noises.
At the same time, curtains are a design mainstay, providing both depth and scale to a room. From the romance of tie top curtains to the practical light blocking of blackout curtains, linen curtains offer the beauty you expect and the functionality you need for your home.
Why Linen Curtains?
Curtains frame arguably the most important feature of your home: your windows. When your home has phenomenal natural light or a spectacular view, you want to ensure you take full advantage of those features and frame them beautifully. But what if your home doesn’t have much architectural interest to work with? Stunning window treatments can create a dramatic focal point to enhance any space.
Linen curtains are easy to care for, and their natural texture creates interest and depth without busying a room with pattern. It’s this quality that gives linen home goods their reputation for timeless, effortless style.
Linen’s loose weave and natural fibers filter light beautifully while still providing privacy. If you love the look of linen but need more control over the light in your space, lined linen curtains can give you the best of both worlds.
Popular Types of Linen Curtains
Your design preferences and needs are varied across your home, but luckily, there’s a linen curtain to fit every space. A kitchen begs to welcome the morning sun with breezy, light-filtering tie top curtains, while your little one’s nursery would benefit from blackout curtains to ensure she gets the rest she (and you!) desperately needs. There are even great reasons to use linen shower curtains in your bathroom.
Linen curtains are available in several styles to suit the needs of any home. Here are a few of our favorites:
Unlined Linen Curtains
For rooms with spectacular views and beautiful light, our Just Linen Curtains are just right. Their understated elegance won’t steal the show but will instead enhance the beauty that is already present. Unlined curtains lend an airy aesthetic with a beautiful drape. Measure tab style curtains to skim the floor for easy opening, or add a few inches to the length of tie top curtains for a dramatic puddle effect.
Linen Blackout Curtains
Form meets function in blackout curtains. The blackout curtain lining prevents light intrusion and dampens outside sound in spaces like nurseries, home theatres, and bedroom retreats. Blackout curtains can even improve sleep quality by supporting your body’s production of melatonin, helping you fall asleep faster.
Unlike other blackout curtains, linen blackout curtains aren’t stiff or heavy but instead maintain a soft, supple appearance and feel. Linen blackout curtains provide practical light-blocking without looking like a utilitarian afterthought.
Cotton Lined Curtains
Cotton lining linen curtains offer more privacy than unlined linen drapes while also allowing in more light than linen blackout curtains. It’s a middle-weight, all-natural fiber drapery that would be at home in any design. The linen curtains with a cotton lining shine in shared spaces like dining rooms and family rooms, where you want to maximize natural light while also preserving some privacy.
Edge Embroidery Curtains
Add an unexpected pop of color with edge embroidery curtains. Our classic white linen curtains get a fun upgrade with colorful embroidered edges to coordinate with any home décor style. Perfect for a teen’s bedroom, incorporate a favorite color while still providing flexibility for their next style du jour.
Made to Measure Curtains
Bespoke window treatments elevate your space in a way you simply can’t achieve with standard-sized curtains. For windows with soaring ceilings or panoramic views, you need custom Made to Measure curtains. Get these perfect-fit drapes in any style, from easy-breezy unlined options to full blackout curtains.
When making the investment in custom draperies, there are a few details that must be carefully considered. Thoughtfully assessing your space and its needs will help you choose the correct design elements for your custom curtains:
- Color
- Header style
- Curtain panel style
- Curtain panel length
- Curtain panel width
- Number of curtain panels needed
Headers: Different Ways to Hang Linen Curtains
The same linen fabric can result in two completely different curtains depending on the header style chosen. The header style is a small detail that makes an enormous impact on the overall design of your linen curtains. Choose from five different hanging styles to achieve precisely the right look for your linen curtains:
Rod Pocket Curtain Header
A simple, no-fuss style, the rod pocket header is sewn with a four-inch pocket diameter to slip easily over any curtain rod. However, the rod pocket style header may have more resistance to opening and closing than a tab-style curtain.
Back Tab Curtain Header
The back tab style is designed to slip over a curtain rod without any additional hardware. It creates a tidy header without bunching and slides easily for frequent opening and closing.
Tab Top Curtain Header
Our tab top header is sewn with seven tabs per panel, each tab measuring two inches wide by four inches tall. The tab top adds additional design interest while maintaining a simple aesthetic.
Tie Top Curtain Header
For maximum drama and romance, tie top curtains are the answer. Eight linen ribbons, each 21 inches long, adorn each tie top curtain panel.
Pinch Pleat Header
The most classic of header styles, the pinch pleat employs additional rings to hang the curtain panel from the curtain rod. Pinch pleats build dimension into the curtain, and the rings offer easy opening and closing.
How to Properly Measure for Curtains
Scale is the all-important design rule when it comes to sizing your curtains. The goal is to create a balanced focal point that draws the eye up and makes your room feel larger. Taking a few key measurements before purchasing your curtains will go a long way toward helping you achieve this goal.
Note: For blackout curtains, you’ll want to include an extra couple of inches on all sides for maximum efficiency.
Measure Your Window
Using a tape measure, figure out the width of your entire window, including the casement and trim. To this measurement, add between 16 and 24 inches, depending on how far outside your window you’d like your curtain rod to extend.
This overhang allows your window to be fully uncovered when the curtains are open. This way, you can enjoy unobstructed views and all the natural light.
Determine The Right Fullness for Your Curtains
Divide your full window measurement by the width of the curtain panel you have chosen to see how many panels you will need to cover the window when the curtains are closed. For a more luxurious, full look when the curtains are closed, add an additional panel to each side or purchase wider panels if available.
Determine the Right Length for Your Curtains
Before you can answer how long your curtains should be, you must determine how high to hang your curtain rod. In rooms with a standard eight-foot ceiling, we recommend hanging the curtain rod just a few inches from the ceiling.
For rooms with soaring ceilings, installing the curtain rod around 12” above the window is often a good option. Another guideline is to hang your curtains two-thirds of the distance from the top of your window to your ceiling. From there, determine the type of curtain break you’d like to achieve:
Float Length: In this curtain design, the bottom of the drapery floats ever so slightly above the floor. Avoid excessive space between the curtain and the floor; about a half inch to one inch of space is the goal.
Break Length: Aptly named, break-length curtains “break” right at the bottom. They just barely kiss the floor and bend a bit, much like expertly tailored suit pants. To achieve this look, you must precisely measure and measure again, factoring in all of your hardware.
Puddle Length: The most dramatic break style, puddle-length curtains make a true statement in a space. Use only a high-quality fabric for puddle-length curtains, as the weight and texture of the drapery will be on full display. Linen tie top curtains are a perfect choice for this romantic style.
Choosing the perfect linen curtain for your space and style requires a little forethought and a bit of measuring. However, with the appropriate considerations, you can quickly and easily enjoy the benefits of a space that is not only functional but also draped with exceptional style.
