Are the curtains for a bedroom where you need higher levels of of privacy, or for a sunroom that rarely gets used?
It's also important to think about the location of the room.
Is your room on the first floor next to the street? Or is the room located on a upper floor where it's unlikely anyone can see into the home.
How much privacy is needed in the home can help understand the type of curtain fabric you will need.
For example, If you want to still allow natural light into your home with minimal privacy, consider adding a lightweight fabric such as a sheer curtain panel. This is the perfect way to keep your room light and airy.
For a room that needs complete privacy, think about adding a thick drapery fabric, velvet, or thick canvas curtain. All of these fabric types will help to block out the light and keep privacy at an all-time high.
Or, you could use a combination of a sheer curtain panel with thicker fabric to give yourself options.
Let's take a look at 2 fabrics on the opposite side of each other and some of their benefits and drawbacks.
Sheers
Sheer curtains are beautiful, airy, and versatile. These curtains are made with a very thin, almost gossamer, fabric that still allows some of the light to come through the curtain. Typically, sheer fabric drapery is made of voile or chiffon fabric.
Probably the biggest benefit to sheer curtain drapery is the ability to allow some slight to still shine through the fabric.
Sheer curtains can also be paired with standard, sturdy fabric curtains to add a layered look.
Velvets
Velvet curtains are soft, decadent, and promote luxury. Velvet is a very common material that is used for curtains that is made from cotton. Velvet is soft and thick, making this an ideal curtain fabric to use. Although in the past velvet curtains have tended to be formal, it is perfectly acceptable to place velvet curtains anywhere in the home. Velvet comes in several colors and patterns making this a well-rounded and versatile fabric to use for your curtains.
Velvet is a great material to use for curtains. The material itself is a heavy weight. This means that velvet curtains will hang beautifully and keep their shape. The weight not only helps to keep the curtains hanging correctly, but it will help to keep pleats firmly in place. This helps to give an overall finished and polished appearance.
Plus, velvet is a very thick fabric. The thick fabric helps to block out light, increasing your privacy. Thick fabric can also help to block cold and drafty air from entering your home. Placed around the windows, velvet curtains can help you keep warm air in your home and cool air out of your home during the long winter months.
The downside to velvet curtains is that they do require some level of care. The long fibers that makeup velvet can be a virtual magnet for pet hair and dust. This means that the fabric will have to be laundered fairly regularly to keep the color and fabric looking great. To avoid some of the maintenance, look for high-performance velvet fabric.
How long do curtains last?
Curtains can last for years if given the right care and maintenance. Much of how long your curtain lasts will depend on the type of fabric used and the way you care for your curtains.
Many high-quality curtain fabric type options such as velvet, damask, drapery fabric, and linen will last for years.
This is what makes them a great option for people who are making custom curtains for their home. These fabrics require routine care at a specialty cleaner to keep them lasting for years.
Alternatively, cotton curtains can last for years as well. Although the fabric is not as thick and high-quality, cotton can hang on the walls for 50 years or more. Routine care and maintenance will be required to keep these curtains looking great. Keep in mind that routine laundering, especially in caustic soaps can start to degrade the fabric over time.