A spotlight on making the most of sheer curtains
- Jennifer Elliot
- Consultant
In short
Sheer curtains diffuse light beautifully without blocking your view, and there’s far more you can do with them than dress a single window. Pair them with curtains or blinds for privacy and softness, run them wall to wall to expand a room, use them as room dividers, or add a wisp of colour. The way you style the heading changes the look too — and our consultants can talk you through the best options for your home.
Sheers are easy to style and provide an airy, lightweight dressing for your windows that adds texture to the room. Their main benefit is the ability to diffuse light without losing visibility out the window. But there are plenty of other ways to make them an aesthetic feature as well as practical.
Table of contents
Partner with curtains
You need a double track system but hanging sheers behind your curtains offer privacy without blocking out light when the curtain is open during the day. It’s one of the easiest and most practical uses of sheers. It looks soft and elegant too.
Partner with blinds
Sheers also work nicely with roller or Venetian blinds but unlike a curtain, they need to go over the top of the blind. For this reason, the blind needs to be mounted in the inside of the window frame so as not to obstruct the sheer curtain.
Wall to wall sheers
A full wall of sheer curtains is so lush and elegant. Hung across a set of standard windows, it visually expands the room and softens a boxy layout’s hard edges. Used as a continuous backdrop in a room sheers allow light and shapes to filter through, tying the room together without completely hiding architectural features.
Room dividers
This idea works best in both really big spaces or really tiny ones. Hanging sheers from the ceiling creates distinct and separate zones while still keeping the overall space cohesive because you can see through them and they don’t block light. Some ideas include:
Creating a dressing zone in a bedroom with no wardrobe
Dividing off a messy crafting or sewing area in the main living space
Making a blissful sleep-only area around your bed
Check out more inspiration on this home design blog.
Dabble in colour
There’s no denying a crisp, white sheer curtain is a great way to go. But sheers come in different colours and sometimes also with a light pattern woven through them. Add in a wisp of colour via a sheer curtain to layer in some visual interest. Due to their transparency, even sheers in quite a bold colour won’t be too overwhelming.
Different heading styles
The way you style the folds makes a difference to the appearance of your sheers. A gathered heading offers a soft, ample wavy effect. A pleated heading results in more structured lines and folds.
Find more information on choosing and using sheer curtains in our recent blog.
When it’s time to decide what you want, we have a range of sheer and light fabrics perfect for creating any of these looks. Get in touch with one of our style consultants and they’ll talk you through the best options for your home.
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Guides
Choosing the right curtains for your home
Not sure which curtains will suit your home? Find out everything you need to know with this free guide.
Frequently asked questions
Do sheer curtains give you any privacy?
During the day they diffuse light while still letting you see out, and hung behind curtains on a double track they give privacy without blocking light when the main curtain is open. At night, when lights are on inside, sheers alone offer limited privacy, which is why they’re often paired with curtains or blinds.
Can I use sheers with blinds?
Yes. Sheers work nicely with roller or Venetian blinds, but unlike curtains they go over the top of the blind. For that reason the blind needs to be mounted inside the window frame so it doesn’t obstruct the sheer.
Can sheer curtains be used as room dividers?
They can, and it works well in both large and small spaces. Hung from the ceiling, sheers create distinct zones — like a dressing area or a sleep-only space — while keeping the room cohesive, because you can see through them and they don’t block light.
Do sheer curtains only come in white?
No. Alongside crisp white, sheers come in different colours and sometimes with a light pattern woven through. Because they’re transparent, even a fairly bold colour adds visual interest without overwhelming the room.
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