Choosing curtains for your living room

The living room or lounge is one of, if not the, most lived-in room of the house, so the curtains here need to be practical, functional and decorative. Think about the space they cover, how they hang and operate, what you need them for, and the colours and patterns that suit. Here is how to weigh it all up.

Table of contents

• Window and room size

• Purpose and performance

• Insulation

• Opening and closing

• Day and night look

Window and room size

The bigger the window, the more your curtains cost, simply because they need more fabric. On a budget, that might mean a shorter length or a less expensive fabric, and our collection has something for every budget. Room size matters too: make a small room feel bigger with simple, extra-long curtains hung from near ceiling height to the floor, or make a large room cosier with thick, full curtains in bold colours, patterns or stripes. Match the pattern to the window, as too large a pattern on a small window looks silly, while too intricate a pattern can be lost on a large one.

Purpose and performance

What do you want your curtains to do, and is look or function more important? The living room is often where you watch TV, so blockout lining lets you darken the room for daytime or early-evening viewing in summer. For daytime privacy while still letting light in, pair your curtains with a sunscreen roller blind or a double track with sheer curtains underneath.

Insulation

In winter, thicker fabrics help reduce heat loss through windows, but in summer a thick fabric can trap heat in the room. If budget allows, you could have both summer and winter weight curtains; if not, opt for a medium-weight fabric and make sure it is thermally lined.

Opening and closing

Living room curtains are opened and closed regularly, so you want them easy to operate. Some heading styles move more freely than others; tab-top curtains, for example, do not glide as fluidly as those on tracks. Think too about how they look when open, left hanging loose for a streamlined, informal look, or fixed back with ties or hooks for a soft, decorative one.

Day and night look

Finally, consider how your curtains look in daylight and in artificial light at night, as colours can read quite differently. This is something a Russells consultant will help you with during your free in-home consultation. Request a free in-home consultation to see fabrics in your own living room, in your own light.