Cafe and kitchen curtains

How to choose a cafe curtain

Cafe curtains cover the lower or upper part of a window and leave the top of the glass open to light. In a kitchen they sit above a sink, a counter or a small breakfast nook. Start with the look you want. Cotton reads soft and matte. Sheer lace and gauze let light through. Woven polyester holds a crisp shape and resists wrinkles.

Next, check the header. A rod pocket slides over the rod and gives a clean line. A tie top hangs in soft folds and needs no rod pocket. Some panels use a special rod pocket, so measure your rod first. Most rods here fit up to 1.2 in (3 cm).

Finally, decide on width. A single panel can look full on a narrow window, but a wide window often needs two panels for a gathered look. Every listing below states the width per panel, so you can plan before you buy.

Sizes and measuring

Measure the window opening first, then decide how much coverage you want. Cafe curtains usually cover about half the window height. For a kitchen window over a sink, a short drop of 18 to 24 in (45 to 60 cm) keeps the counter clear.

Widths in this category run from 24 in (60 cm) to 79 in (200 cm) per panel. The Floral Ruffled Cafe Curtain comes in 14 sizes, from 24 x 31 in (60 x 79 cm) to 55 x 118 in (140 x 300 cm). The Printed Short Cafe Curtain is 37 in (95 cm) wide and 18 in (45 cm) long. The Embroidered Cafe Curtain is 20 in (50 cm) long and comes in 39 in (100 cm), 59 in (150 cm) or 79 in (200 cm) widths.

For a fuller look, choose a panel width that is about one and a half to two times the window width. Add the rod pocket depth to your length so the hem falls where you want it. If you are unsure, a slightly longer panel is easier to adjust than a short one.

Materials and light

Cotton is the classic choice for a kitchen. The Floral Ruffled Cafe Curtain is 100 percent cotton at 120 gsm, light and matte, with a printed floral pattern and a soft ruffled edge. It comes in Ivory.

Polyester covers most of the category and comes in several weights. The Soft Weave Cafe Curtain is a light 60 gsm weave in White. The Apricot Plaid and Gingham Tie Top styles are 110 gsm woven polyester. The Tie Top Gauze Cafe Curtain is a heavier 160 gsm gauze in Light coffee.

Sheer styles soften the light without blocking it. The Tassel Lace Cafe Curtain is 100 gsm lace in White, beige or black. The Striped Sheer Cafe Curtain has a linen-look weave in beige with black trim. The Tulip Embroidered Cafe Curtain is a sheer lightweight weave in White with pink and green embroidery. The Rainbow Stripe Short Sheer Cafe Curtain comes in Multicolor, white or gray.

Color sets the mood. Neutral whites and ivories keep a kitchen calm. Apricot plaid, gingham and rainbow stripes add pattern. Blue check, green stripe, pink, cream, red, yellow, blue and brown are all available in the Printed Short Cafe Curtain.

Care and everyday use

Every curtain in this category is machine washable. Wash cold, hang dry and iron on a low setting. That routine keeps cotton soft and helps polyester hold its shape. Sheer lace and gauze dry fast, so a quick wash before guests arrive is easy.

Most panels are sold as a single piece, not a set. Check each listing before you order. Rods, tiebacks and hooks are not included unless the listing says so. The Tassel Lace Cafe Curtain can also be installed at ceiling height for a longer look.

For a busy kitchen, a short panel over the sink is practical. For a dining nook, a longer drop in cotton or gauze adds softness. You can mix two styles on one window, such as a sheer layer under a patterned panel, as long as both fit the same rod.

Common questions before you buy

Cafe curtains are made for the top or bottom half of a window, so they are shorter than full-length curtains. Kitchen curtains are the same idea, sized for a window above a counter or sink. Many shoppers use the terms together, and the panels here work for both.

If your window is wide, two panels give a fuller gather than one. If it is narrow, one panel is often enough. Measure the rod, not just the glass, because the curtain hangs on the rod. Leave a little extra width so the fabric can fold.

A rod pocket is the simplest header. Slide the rod through the pocket and hang it. Tie top styles tie over the rod and need no pocket. Special rod pockets are shaped for a specific rod type, so check the fit before you order.