Along with providing privacy, drapes and curtains also control the amount of light in a room, help insulate the room, and complement your home’s style. Learn more about curtain types and features in our guide.

How to Choose the Right Window Treatment

Types

Single Panel Curtain: As the name states, single panel curtains are made of one piece of fabric. These are great for sliding glass doors.

Panel Pair: These curtains come as a matching set, with two equal-sized pieces of fabric to hang on either side of the window. This design allows you to easily adjust the amount of light that comes into your space, allowing you to hang the two pieces of fabric on either side of the window.

Liner: Liners are made to be layered with a curtain to block out additional light. They can either be hung on a second curtain rod behind your decorative window curtains, or they can be hooked to curtain rings and attached to the same curtain rod as your drapes.

Light Filtration

Sheer: Sheer curtains are not intended to completely block light or offer total privacy. They are useful for reducing glare, but the less opaque fabric is see-through, offering a light and breezy visual effect The style is often a seasonal choice, adding an airy aesthetic is warmer months.

Semi-Sheer: Slightly less see-through than sheer curtains, these offer more coverage, but are best paired with blinds or shades if you want more privacy or light-blocking flexibility.

Room Darkening: A great option for bedrooms or TV rooms where darkness is necessary. This style reduces the amount of light coming in from the window, but, unlike blackout curtains, some light may still seep around the sides.

Blackout: Blackout curtains reduce almost all light, provide privacy, reduce noise pollution, and help insulate a room, making them your best option for bedrooms.

Max Blackout: If you sleep best in total darkness, choose this full-coverage option, which blocks out 99–100% of light. They also help insulate your windows from drafts, and reduce noise pollution coming from outside the home. They also provide the maximum amount of privacy.

Header Types

Pinch Pleat: This header style has a permanently gathered look. Pieces of fabric are sewn together at the top to form pleats. Depending on the design, pinch-pleat curtains can be hung with a rod pocket, clip rings, or drapery hooks.

Tab Top: As the name states, tab top headers feature loops (or tabs) of fabric at the top through which the rod is threaded. With this type of header, curtains typically lie flatter and have the least amount of gathering.

Grommet/Eyelet: In this more modern header option, the curtain rod slides through circular openings at the top. Grommet curtains keep the curtain rod exposed.

Rod Pocket: More traditional and formal in style, rod pocket headers completely cover the rod. This style works best with curtains that are not opened often, or are left open with tiebacks.

Features

Thermal Insulation Curtains: Thermal insulation curtains feature a layer of acrylic foam that helps block drafts and cold air from windows. They share similar qualities with blackout curtains, as they also reduce noise pollution and block sunlight.

Noise Reducing Curtains: Fall asleep faster with noise reducing curtains or drapes. This window treatment option will reduce noise pollution from the street, making them especially helpful if you live in a busy neighborhood or high traffic area.

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