We sometimes say that home is a place where we can be ourselves. This place becomes our safe place from the outside world and a place where we relax after a long tiring day. This sanctuary place can be created with different decorating elements, like furniture, rugs, cushions, or others. One particular piece of home decor that you can not forget is curtains.
Curtains are crucial pieces of home decor that can set the tone and the feel for a specific room. The beautiful thing about curtains is that they can be placed in any room of your house - bedroom, kitchen, living room, dining room.
Since a curtain is such a versatile piece, you can find a variety of light and breezy, substantial and ornamental, solid colors, prints, sheer fabrics, or heavy opaque textiles. The list can go on and on, so the possibilities are endless. That is why you have a lot to choose from. When curtains are correctly selected, they help to create a harmonious balance between functionality and aesthetics. Of course, not the only style of the curtain matters, the material it's made of matters too.
One in particular material is linen. Linen is considered a versatile textile; you can use it almost everywhere. Having linen curtains as an element in your home can make it cozier and inviting. It is an aesthetical look that curtains give; practicality also is the key in linen curtains. In a way, curtains are made with differing degrees of light absorption and heat insulating qualities. People choose thick night linen curtains for maximum light absorption. For day curtains, they tend to choose more sheer linen curtains.
In this article, we will present you with a guide on choosing linen curtains and how to take care of them.
Curtains or drapes? Choose wisely
One of the most common mistakes people make while looking for curtains is that they mistake drapes. It is hard to tell the difference between one another, but we say be careful. There is a distinctive difference between these two window treatment styles. So, how to tell the difference, here is a few things:
- Drapes can be more formal window covering than a set of curtains.
- Drapes tend to be made out of heavier fabric than curtains.
- Drapes have a lining of thicker fabric than curtains, which makes curtains more light and flowy.
- Curtains are easier to maintain. Usually, you can wash them in your house, while drapes need to be cleaned professionally.
- Curtains are quickly taken down and put up, while drapes require more effort because of their length and thick fabric.
While designing a curtain, tailors make them in various designs - traditional, old-fashioned, chic, fancy, fun, or even extravagant. Curtains have more versatility if you are looking for more light and flowy material to complete your space. It is widespread that people choose curtains over drapes because they most likely are in the same color scheme as the entire room.
But if you look for drapes, they are heavier because of the material, and the inside lining feels heavier. Also, it can be used for insulating pieces; it makes your room cooler on summer days and warmer on winter days.
Those are just mere examples of the difference between drapes and curtains. But if you have to choose one - we recommend making a list of what type of feel you want in your space because everything depends on this. If you prefer curtains, they will be easier to work with, and you can create countless looks with them. Especially if you look for linen curtains, the effect of having them can be captivating.
Why are linen curtains so popular?
As we all know, linen is one of the most precious materials of all time. That is because of the great benefits it has, from breathability to durability. This fabric is timeless and fits everyone's needs. That is why linen curtains can be of different types because of their versatility. Every little piece of linen curtain is made out of 100% flaxseeds.
In general, linen's popularity is mainly due to its reputation as one of the best materials. One fantastic thing about linen is that it can look like a rough material at first, but it gets softer and is highly durable with every wash.
Natural linen color is more earth-toned, but the material takes dye pretty well; that is why you can find a remarkable range of colors of linen curtains. This is why you can mix and match many different colors to see what suits your space best. Not only color but the thickness of the linen curtain is an essential factor. This is created using the thread counts, so if the fabric is thicker, then the thread count is higher to make the thicker curtain. So, usually, the linen curtains are divided into three types light, medium and heavy linen.
Light linen curtain
This type of linen is considered sheer linen. It is ideal for daytime curtains. They can provide a classic look while being practical in creating privacy. These types of curtains are double-width, making it easier to create a more beautiful look in your space.
The light and airy material can be charming, especially in small rooms or in kids' rooms. Also, it will look beautiful in shared spaces. It gives the interior more of a lift. It can be a middle point between heavier things in the interior design. The light daytime linen curtains traditionally are in soft colors, so they naturally open up the room. Click here for more tips to brighten the room.
Medium linen curtains
This is a perfect middle between heavy and light linen curtains. It can create more privacy and also can be expansive in color choice. Medium thickness linen curtains create a brilliant base in any room.
Heavy linen curtains
Heavy thickness of linen curtains is usually used for the nighttime curtains in the bedroom. It is a more durable material than light thickness linen curtains and is perfect for busy households, and they provide modern classic style.
The nighttime linen curtains are the perfect solution if you need to cancel any light coming from the street or neighbor apartments. Also, very useful in the summer days when the sun rises early in the morning. Since a bedroom is a significant place and you spend a lot of time there, click here for more tips if you want to renew your bedroom with fresh linen pieces.
How to measure linen curtains?
Choosing linen curtains is easy when you look for color or the thickness of the fabric. But what about the measurements. It is hard to decide on the length and the wanted coverage you want. So, we prepared a few steps, three exactly, to help you while measuring for future linen curtains:
- Choosing Your Linen Curtain Length
It is essential to know what length of linen curtains you want. There are three ways to hang your new linen curtains; it all depends on the look you are going for.
- Above sill - linen curtains like these have about 1 cm (0.4") space above the windowsill. Let's call them "shot curtains," usually hung in the kitchen or where the area is not required for floor-length curtains.
- Below the sill - these linen curtains are longer and can end about 15 cm (5.9") below the windowsill. Curtains like these are great for small rooms or office rooms.
- Floor-length - linen curtains like these are the most prized ones. The standard floor linen curtains end about 1 cm (0.4") above the floor. It will mainly look good in the bedroom.
- Measure for Width
When you determine the length of your curtains, you need to measure the widths of the window. Usually, curtains are made about 2 to 3 times the final width of your window measurement.
It is easy to calculate that. First, measure window width and then multiply by 2 or 3 to achieve a look of proper fullness. We can put it in a formula: window width x 2 or 3 = curtain width.
One more thing, there are three types of fullness for curtains. If you want standard fullness, multiply measured width by 2. If you wish to deluxe fullness, multiply by 2,5, and if you're going to ultra fullness, multiply by 3.
- Hanging The Linen Curtains
So, you have determined the length and calculated the width you need for your linen curtains. Now the fun part - styling. There are many different curtain hanging styles, but the most popular ones are "tunnel" and "tie top" finishes. "Tunnel" curtain finish is more traditional: inside the hole, you put the rod and then hang the linen curtains. You can also choose the "tie top", which is more modern curtain finish and ads an extra charm to your bedroom or living room. Usually, you just tie the fabric pieces on the rod and hang the linen curtain. For more tips on how to hang curtains, click here.
White linen curtains – how to take care of this elegant linen piece?
A lot of people love the color white. We love it too. It gives us a sense of purity, innocence, neutrality, cleanliness, elegance - the list is endless. But when you combine linen and white color, you have something very magical.
But the thing is that sometimes it can be a challenge to clean the white curtains, especially if it is a linen curtain. Of course, we are not saying that linen is impossible to clean - it is not. But we say that some traditional ways, like using bleach, can damage your linen curtains, and there is no return.
Why do we say that using bleach can damage linen? Well, linen, as we all know, is a natural material. Also, linen is known for its longevity and durability. And harsh chemicals like bleach can weaken the fibers. So, here are some tips on how to make sure your white linen curtains are in the best shape possible:
- Remove the stains. Everything can happen, so do the colors. There can be misconceptions that it is hard to remove stains from linen, especially white linen. There are a lot of ways to clean white linen curtains without using harsh chemicals. You can use natural acidic elements, like lemon, soda, and a bit of water. While spot cleaning your linen curtains, make sure you clean them from the back of the fabric. Then you can throw it in the washing machine. For more tips on cleaning any white linen pieces, check this blog.
- Machine washing. All linen curtains can be washed in the washing machine. Linen does not like hot water, so a cold setting is ideal. The temperature of the wash water should be lukewarm, no hotter than 40℃ (104℉). When washing linen curtains, you need to wash them separately from all the other fabrics and use a gentle cycle and a laundry detergent free of fragrances and dyes. So washing it alone gives the linen a change more room in the water, it helps to become cleaner.
- Air dry or steaming. You can use the dryer - but we do not recommend it; it can weaken the fabric. Instead, try to dry the linen curtains; if you put them in direct sunlight, it will help lighten them and keep them naturally white without using harsh bleach or other whitening chemicals. If you want more wrinkle-free linen curtains, you steam them or iron them. Since linen is prone to wrinkling, this step will give your curtains more crips and a professional look.
Summary
When choosing linen curtains, the best formula for selecting the suitable linen curtains is window width x 2 or 3 = curtain width. It will help you create the fullness of the curtain against your window.
Styling your home space not only depends on the curtains, but there is no denying that linen curtains finish the look you are going for. If you want to see or get inspired to decorate your space with linen pieces, you can find more options in the category Living.
FAQ
Is linen suitable for curtains?
Yes. If you want to achieve a more natural look, the best choice is linen. Linen curtains create the perfect balance of billowy and tailored, and it is one of the best traditional and contemporary curtains.
Can linen curtains be steamed?
Yes, linen curtains can be steamed. It is a great tool to remove creases from linen curtains. The steamer is considered a safer option for removing wrinkles, especially from delicate fabrics; linen curtains also look nice and crisp after the steaming.