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Make your windows just as beautiful as the view.

RHODE Batik Scallop Edge Curtain on a blue background

Credit:Better Homes & Gardens

Better Homes & Gardens

Curtains are essential for providing privacy and filtering bright lightbut they arent just functional.

Curtains add personality and texture, and theycan even make a room look bigger when hung correctly.

When shopping for curtains, interior designerMegan Schmittsuggests thinking about the feeling you want the room to give.

MIULEE Sheer Window Curtains

PHOTO: Amazon

I always think about the mood Im going for when choosing a curtain.

Were drawn to their dimensional weave and dreamy neutral color options.

The breezy curtains come in a two-panel set, allowing you to dress one window using a single pair.

Cannon Polyester Sheer Curtain Pair

PHOTO: Wayfair

This top-rated design is available in two lengths that cater to 8- and 10-foot ceilings.

The breezy panels are a linen-cotton blend that welcomes sunlight into the room fora casual, coastal appeal.

The sheers are sold individually in four standard lengths and feature a rod-pocket construction for seamless installation.

Anthropologie Sheer Stripe Curtain

PHOTO: Anthropologie

Plus, the vertical stripes create an illusion of taller ceilings for a grander effect.

If youre unsure what color to choose, use your hardware as your guide.

Plus, the curtain features a dual-top header, allowing you to customize your hanging style.

Wayfair Basics Sheer Tab Top Curtain Panel

PHOTO: Joss & Main

Select from three standard lengths and customize your curtains with a cotton or blackout lining.

The cotton fabric has a textured weave that brings a high-end, dimensional finish to the design.

It comes in three standard lengths ranging from 84 to 108 inches.

Lauren Ralph Lauren Rubin Sheer Curtain Panel

Despite their airy appearance, the curtains offer impressive light blocking and window insulation.

The crisp-white 100% cotton panels are enhanced with inky merrow stitching for a fresh, high-contrast look.

The panels are sold individually in four lengths, ranging from 84 to 120 inches.

Urban Outfitters Myla Floral Window Panel

The grid pattern is timeless and versatile, appearing at home in transitional, cottage, and farmhouse-style homes.

you’ve got the option to choose a rod pocket or back tab hanging style.

you’ve got the option to throw them into the washing machine for a quick at-home cleaning.

Wayfair Basics 100% Cotton Sheer Rod Pocket Curtain Panel

They come in three standard lengths and feature a sewn-in blackout liner to stop unwanted light throughout the day.

Pepper Home Flour Custom Curtain

Ready to invest in luxe, designer-worthy window treatments for your home?

ThePepper Home flour custom curtainis right for the job.

Crate & Barrel Floral Eyelet Crisp White Organic Cotton Sheer Window Curtain Panel

The streamlined, ribbon-trimmed white curtains are made-to-order and customized with your selections from start to finish.

Pepper Home even includes a measurement calculator to ensure you achieve the ideal fit for your windows.

From there, you select your trim location and style: band, tassel, rickrack, or pompom.

Pottery Barn Emery Linen Pinch Pleat Curtain

PHOTO: Pottery Barn

Each trim style is available in several colorways and brings a one-of-a-kind flair to your panels.

The hardworking curtains work overtime to reduce outside noise when pulled, too.

Bonus: The set is machine washable, so you wont see your dry-cleaning bill skyrocket anytime soon.

Quince European Linen Curtain

PHOTO: Quince

Your Questions, Answered

Whats the best material for curtains?

Consider the style of the room youre outfitting and determine your goals for your curtains before purchasing.

The right fabric can totally change the vibe of a room, Schmitt shares.

Maeve by Anthropologie Scalloped Cotton Curtain

PHOTO: Anthropologie

The ultra-breathable fabric is woven from organic flax fibers.

Interior designerIsabella Stephensis a huge fan of linen.

My go-to material for curtains is linen, Stephens says.

West Elm Linen Cotton Ladder Sheer Curtain

PHOTO: West Elm

It creates a beautiful, lived-in, and effortless look that complements any space nicely.

Schmitt also loves the breezy feel of linen.

If you love a light and airy feel, linen is a great choice, she says.

Crate & Barrel Textured Boucle Ivory Organic Cotton Semi Sheer Window Curtain Panel

Cotton

Breathable, beautiful, and hypoallergenic?

Its easy to understand why cotton curtains are a popular choice for designers and homeowners alike.

Interior designerKacie Cope, explains why she opts for cotton curtains.

Anthropologie Luxe Linen Blend Curtain

Generally, I gravitate toward a natural material like cotton for curtains, she says.

They have a natural and relaxed feel.

Unlike linen, cotton provides insulation that helps regulate your home’s temperature in the summer and winter.

XTMYI Olive Green Linen Boho Curtains

Polyester

Polyester curtains are sought after for their unparalleled durability and affordability.

Polyester is a synthetic material and is resistant to wrinkling, fading, and shrinnking.

Its easier to care for than natural fabrics and is a popular choice for sheers.

IKEA RITVA Curtains With Tie-Backs

The major drawback of polyester is that its durability is matched only by its flammability.

If youre going for something a little more luxe, velvet is one of my favorites, Schmitt shares.

Its rich, cozy, and instantly makes a space feel more elegant.

Quince Cotton Slub Room-Darkening Curtain

PHOTO: Quince

How do you choose the right color for your curtains?

If aiming for curtains with understated refinement, opt for a neutral color.

I like curtains to be a supporting actor in a room, Cope explains.

RHODE Batik Scallop Edge Curtain Set

PHOTO: West Elm

They should support the focal points in the room, not compete with them.

Because of this, I tend to recommend neutral curtains-white or flax colored.

For a cohesive look, go for curtains that are just a shade lighter or darker than your walls.

Crate & Barrel Merrow Stitch Organic Cotton Window Curtain Panel

PHOTO: Crate & Barrel

This keeps things sophisticated and moody without feeling too heavy, Schmitt says.

If you want some contrast, try going a few shades darker than the walls for depth.

Should curtains touch the floor?

Elrene Brighton Windowpane Plaid Room Darkening Curtain Panel

PHOTO: Target

Your curtains 100% must touch the floor.

All our consulting interior designers agree and they have some expert insight for curtain shopping and panel installation.

Schmitt, like all of our experts, agrees.

Room Essentials Room Darkening Heathered Thermal Window Curtain Panel Green

When it comes to curtain length, Im all about the floor-grazing look, she says.

Also, the height at which you hang your curtains matters (a lot!

This makes ceilings look taller and gives the whole room a more open, elegant feel.

Pepper Home Lee Custom Curtain

Simple tweaks like this can make a big difference in how your space looks and feels.

Finally, consider the aesthetic youre aiming for.

Are you looking to create an eye-catching statement with your curtains or hope to achieve a more refined display?

Anthropologie Velvet Embroidered Floral Curtain

Typically for a more polished look, I’ll have them kiss the floor.

For that style, you’d take the length from the top of the curtain rod to the floor.

To puddle them, add somewhere between an extra inch to an extra 5 inches, Stephens says.

Quince European Linen Room Darkening Curtain

The longer the puddle, the more dramatic the look will be.

What jot down of curtains are trendy right now?

I also am seeing a lot of small-scale, floral patterns that evoke English countryside vibes.

RYB Home Velvet Curtains

PHOTO: Amazon

Bold-colored curtains with fun patterns are so trendy right now, Schmitt says.

Theres a curtain style for every vibejust pick the one that suits your space and personality best.

West Elm Worn Velvet Curtain

PHOTO: West Elm

Pepper Home Flour Custom Curtain

PHOTO: Pepper Home

Vision Home Natural Pinch Pleat Blackout Curtains

PHOTO: Amazon

West Elm Kids Cotton Tie-Top Blackout Curtain

PB Teen Stitched to Perfection Blackout Window Look

Threshold Blackout Aruba Window Curtain Panel

The Inside Printed Linen Blackout Curtain