Choosing privacy curtains for your home
- Katie Kertesz
- Consultant
In short
Privacy curtains are simply any curtains that screen your home when closed, and most homes need them somewhere. Sheers give daytime privacy while keeping light and a breeze; blockout and thermal curtains give full privacy and suit bedrooms (thermal also works in living areas for warmth). A dual track lets you pair sheers with a blockout for the best of both, and in bathrooms or kitchens a moisture-resistant blind is often the better call.
How much privacy you want is an important part of choosing the right window furnishings. Whether you want to fully block out the neighbours or just keep out passing eyes, there are plenty of curtain options. Privacy curtains are simply any curtains that provide privacy when closed, and since most homes have windows facing the street or neighbours, almost everyone needs them somewhere.
Table of contents
Types of privacy curtains
Sheer
Sheer curtains are great for privacy while still letting light in. They do not give total privacy (shapes and shadows are still visible, especially at night) but suit lounges, dining rooms and hallways, letting in light and even a breeze through an open window.
Blockout
Designed to fully block light, blockout curtains naturally give plenty of privacy, which makes them ideal for bedrooms where you want a higher level of privacy and are not there much during the day.
Thermal
Like blockout, thermal curtains give good privacy, and also keep rooms warmer in winter and cooler in summer, so they suit bedrooms and living areas alike. Pair them with sheers on a dual track for more versatility.
Choosing for different rooms
Different rooms have different privacy needs:
Bedrooms are ideal for blockout or thermal privacy curtains.
Lounges suit sheer or thermal privacy curtains.
For the ultimate versatility, combine two types on a dual track, for example sheers with a blockout.
When a blind is the better choice
In bathrooms and kitchens, a blind is often the better privacy option for its lower fire risk and resistance to humidity. Venetians, roller blinds and honeycombs all add privacy; our guide to choosing the right blinds and our bathroom blinds range can help.
Whatever level of privacy you are after, request a free in-home consultation and one of our consultants will help you choose the perfect privacy curtains for every room.
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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
What are privacy curtains?
Simply, any curtains that provide privacy when closed. In the home that includes sheers, standard curtains, and blockout or thermal curtains, each offering a different balance of privacy and light.
Do sheer curtains give you privacy?
Partial privacy. Sheers obscure the view while still letting in light and breeze, though shapes and shadows remain visible, especially at night with lights on. They suit lounges, dining rooms and hallways, and pair well with a blockout curtain on a dual track for night-time privacy.
What curtains are best for bedroom privacy?
Blockout or thermal curtains, as both fully cover the window for a high level of privacy and also help with sleep and warmth. A dual track lets you add sheers for daytime privacy with light.
Can you have both privacy and natural light?
Yes. Sheer curtains let light in while screening the view by day, and a dual-track system pairs sheers with a blockout or thermal curtain so you can switch between light-and-privacy by day and full privacy by night.
Expert advice at home
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