Linen Curtains – How To Choose
Linen curtains have surged in popularity over the last few years – and we love it! We talk to so many clients who have fallen in love with the aesthetic that pure linen provides as drapery, as well as the relaxing feel that it evokes when handling the natural fibre…. BUT are 100% linen curtains right for you?
Linen is regarded as a luxury fibre because of its lustre and texture. Linen curtains do not pill, are non-allergenic, repellent to insects and UV resistant. The organic fibres in linens can be recycled and are biodegradable.
However, linen is a natural fibre and here are a few things to consider before you fall in love with them.
- Creasing is an important one – are you someone who would want to get out the steamer or do you like a relaxed look? If you like a crisp straight curtain, then 100% linen curtains may not be for you. You need to be able to accept the crushability of linen as part of its inherent charm.
- Movement of linen curtains: Linen is an absorbent fibre which means it can (and will!) move with changing humidity levels. We suggest linen curtains are puddled slightly on the floor so you don’t notice this occur. Linen has moderate sunlight resistance and so west and north windows may be impacted more than south and east windows.
If these things bother you, you may want to consider a Linen-look Polyester or Linen/Polyester blend for your curtains. Polyester is a synthetic fibre of man-made origin, not occurring naturally. The handle on a polyester fabric is excellent, its usually very durable and has very good UV light resistance. It is a non-absorbent fibre, which means it will move very little in humid conditions. It is wrinkle resistant, with good recovery.
There are some very convincing 50/50 linen compositions which add some stability to a sheer linen curtain…. And although the 100% polyesters do not look like real linen, they can provide some additional vision as they are not as dense.
We have thousands of fabrics in the Nicholls Interiors showroom to consider. Book a time to come and see our range and compare the differences in person.
How much do linen curtains cost?
Pure linens usually start from about $100 per metre; Some convincing 50/50 linens around the $60-$70 per metre and polyester starts from $40pm.
Do linen curtains provide daytime privacy?
One great feature of sheer curtains is the additional privacy they offer. They don’t shut out daylight from your room, they do add a layer of insulation from outside observation. In a layered window solution, use of sheers will provide you with more options on your desired level of privacy at any given time.
Do linen curtains provide softness?
Sheer linen curtains can enhance a room’s ambience by softening light, framing your windows, and the creating of an impression that your rooms have more height. Sheer curtains change the whole feel of a room.
What heading styles suit linen curtains best?
Linen curtains can be made in any heading style but the most popular are an S fold or wave fold which gives the impression of a smooth, continuous wave from one end of the window to the other. You should consider the stack up required with this heading style as it is much bulkier than all the others. A pencil pleat is also a very popular curtain heading for linen curtains.
How do you clean linen curtains?
One of the best benefits of linen is that it is stain resistant and therefore doesn’t require lots of cleaning. But when it does come time to clean… you must be careful. Needless to say, you cannot use a washing machine… the washing process will cause so wrinkles and change the length permanently. Dry cleaning can be difficult… you must find a great dry cleaner with experience in linen curtains. Make sure you advise the dry cleaner of the composition.
If sheer linen curtains sound of interest, please contact our team at Nicholls Interiors for a complimentary measure and quote.