5 Alternative Uses for Curtains

As the weather takes on a distinctly autumnal feel, it’s a good time to be aware that heat loss from a home can rise to 30% when it’s windy and rainy outside. And this loss doesn’t just happen through inefficient glazing but through drafty doors as well. A door curtain in a beautiful fabric will not only add colour and texture to a space but will likely lower your heating bills too.

Wool and flax are particularly effective insulators, trapping tiny pockets of air between their fibres to create a thermal barrier. Our advice is always to opt for an interlined door curtain to create a luxurious look and maximise insulation. Interlined curtains also absorb more sound so are particularly effective if you want to block out external noise.

Although many of us favour open plan living spaces, they do have their drawbacks. Not only are they less energy efficient but they’re also less cosy and private. Noise, smells and clutter can spread with wild abandon!

The answer is curtains that act as room dividers and effectively zone a space. You may wish to delineate a dining area within a larger space for example. Curtains will offer drama, intimacy and the practical advantage of being able to conceal the sight of a messy table at the end of a meal.

Curtains are also the perfect solution in a studio apartment to screen off a sleeping or cooking area, or simply create a private space to read, work or relax. If you’re concerned about the impact on natural light within a space, choose a sheer fabric that allows light to filter through whilst subtly distinguishing one area from another.

The kitchen is another room that can suffer from an abundance of hard surfaces. Here, curtains can be a great alternative or addition to cabinetry. And before visions of chintz curtains hiding a multitude of sins under Granny’s sink spring to the mind, stick to the following golden rules - choose a plain fabric, a wave or eyelet heading that avoids too much fullness and ensure no pooling on the floor.

This idea of incorporating curtains into cabinetry can be extended into the bedroom where wardrobe take on a distinctly French feel when door panels are replaced with gathered fabric, secured top and bottom.

Bed curtains bring luxury and theatre to our most private spaces. They can be hung from a coronet or frame attached to the ceiling, the wall behind the bed or from the structure of a four poster bed. Sheer fabrics will provide a contemporary, ethereal look while interlined bed curtains that pool on the floor will look opulent, indulgent and particularly striking when balanced with very simple window curtains or blinds.