Sheer curtains for soft daylight

How to choose a sheer curtain

Start with the job you want the curtain to do. A sheer curtain softens direct sun and adds privacy during the day while still letting light through. If you want a little more coverage, look for a denser weave or an embroidered design. If you want the window to stay as open and airy as possible, choose a lightweight knit tulle.

Then think about the top. All three curtains here use a rod pocket top, so the fabric slides straight onto the rod with no rings or hooks. That keeps the look simple and the install quick.

Finally, decide on pattern. The Striped Chiffon Sheer Curtain has vertical stripes that add height to a window. The Embroidered Tree Sheer Curtain has a tree motif that reads as a soft lace curtain. The Airy Tulle Sheer Curtain is plain and clean, which suits rooms where the view should stay the focus.

Sizes and measuring

Sheer curtains look best with fullness. A flat panel stretched tight across a window looks thin. For a soft gather, aim for a total panel width that is about two times the width of your rod. If you want a fuller, dressier drape, go closer to two and a half times.

Measure the rod, not the glass. Run your tape from one end of the rod to the other, including any finials if you want the curtains to cover them. Then measure from the rod down to where you want the hem to fall: sill length, below the sill, or floor length.

The Striped Chiffon Sheer Curtain comes in 100 x 130 in (254 x 330 cm) and other sizes are available, so it works on wide windows and tall doors. The Embroidered Tree Sheer Curtain and the Airy Tulle Sheer Curtain are each 39 in (100 cm) wide per panel. For a standard window, two panels of a 39 in (100 cm) curtain give you roughly 78 in (198 cm) of fabric to gather, which covers most single windows with nice fullness.

A note on ordering: the Striped Chiffon Sheer Curtain and the Airy Tulle Sheer Curtain are sold per panel. Curtain and tulle are sold separately on the striped style. If you need two panels for one window, order two.

Materials and what they feel like

Fabric weight tells you a lot about how a sheer curtain hangs.

The Striped Chiffon Sheer Curtain is 100% polyester chiffon at 80 gsm. Chiffon is the heaviest of the three, so it drapes with a little more body and the vertical stripes stay crisp. It is sheer, so light passes through, but the stripes give the window some structure.

The Embroidered Tree Sheer Curtain is 100% polyester tulle at 65 gsm. Tulle is a fine, open fabric, and the embroidery adds a decorative layer that makes it read like a lace curtain. It is translucent, which means you get a soft glow rather than a clear view.

The Airy Tulle Sheer Curtain is 100% polyester knit tulle. Knit tulle is stretchy and light, and it hangs in soft, relaxed folds. It is the most open of the three, so it is a good pick for a window where you want the daylight to come through almost unchanged.

All three are white. White sheers bounce light around a room and work with almost any wall color, wood tone or trim.

Care and everyday use

All three curtains share the same care routine: machine wash cold, hang dry, low iron. That keeps things simple if you rotate curtains between seasons or wash them after a dusty stretch.

A few habits help them last. Shake the curtain out before it goes in the wash so loose dust does not settle into the weave. Wash on a gentle cycle with like colors. Hang the panel to dry rather than putting it in the dryer, which protects the drape and the embroidery. If you iron, use a low setting and press on the reverse side, especially on the embroidered tree design.

For the Airy Tulle Sheer Curtain, note that tassel, tieback, beads and valance are not included. If you want a tieback to hold the curtain open, add one separately. The same goes for the Striped Chiffon Sheer Curtain: curtain and tulle are sold separately, so plan your layers before you order.

Layering sheers with other curtains

Sheers are often the first layer, not the only one. Hang a sheer panel on the rod closest to the glass, then add a heavier curtain on an outer rod for evening privacy and room darkening. The sheer stays in place all day and softens the window even when the outer curtain is pulled open.

This works well with the Striped Chiffon Sheer Curtain, since the vertical stripes add a quiet pattern behind a solid drape. The Embroidered Tree Sheer Curtain brings a decorative edge that looks good on its own in a dining room or bedroom. The Airy Tulle Sheer Curtain is the lightest option, so it layers without adding bulk.

If you only want one layer, any of the three works alone. A single sheer panel on a rod gives you daytime privacy and a softer light without closing off the room.