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These curtains will elevate your space while adding a bit of privacy. Honeycomb Blind
Better Homes & Gardens / Eric Brockob
Whether your window faces a busy city street or sweeping country vistas, your view can always be better with the right set of stylish curtains. Curtains serve as a practical and pretty finishing touch that leaves a room feeling put together while providing necessary privacy.
“Selecting curtains is the perfect pairing of style and function,” says interior design Caron Woolsey. “Curtains can be the creative focus for a room with bold and daring colors and patterns or they can blend nicely with the room if you prefer to highlight another decorative feature or the view from the window itself.”
We spent hours poring over online retailers and comparing key elements of style, dimension, material, length, and number of panels to find the best curtains for you.
Style and Material: We researched a variety of styles and materials including blackout, velvet, and sheer curtains to offer options for different aesthetics.
Dimensions: Though there are standard dimensions for windows, some windows are more unique. Our list contains both standard sizes and custom sizes.
Its pinch pleat design will lend a tailored, custom look to your space without the custom price tag.
The curtains are dry clean only.
Our best overall pick for best curtains on the market are the Pottery Barn Emery Linen Pinch Pleat Curtains. The best-selling panels sport 12 tidy, pinch pleats along the top and a blind-stitched hem for a look that appears at home in understated and elegant interiors.
Whether shopping for the best curtains for your sun-drenched family room or newborn’s nursery, lighting is everything, and the Emery curtain panel provides you with plenty of options. The tailored panels are available in your choice of a light-filtering or blackout lining, which allows you to soak up the sun or stop it in its tracks to suit your needs.
This curtain panel is sold individually and comes in four sizes ranging from 84 to 124 inches long. Each curtain features 14 hanging slots for pin hooks on the reverse of the panel, and each Emery comes with 15 pin hooks.
Pottery Barn offers the natural yarn-dyed linen-cotton curtain panel in seven fail proof colors for your space. Opt for the classic white or ivory hue to add airiness or contrast to your moody walls. Oatmeal and flagstone are winning options for warming up your space, and a moody midnight blue is a solid selection for bringing intimacy into an otherwise expansive room.
The only downside to this pick is that they are dry clean only. However, because they offer a custom look and multiple color options, they are our top pick for the best curtains.
Product Details: Dimensions: 84 x 50, 96 x 50, 108 x 50, or 124 x 50 inches | Material: Linen and cotton | Numbers of Panels: One
Better Homes & Gardens / Eric Brockob
Better Homes & Gardens / Eric Brockob
With these curtains, you can add a pop of color to your room without pulling out your paint supplies.
The blackout panels may leave your living room feeling a bit too dark during the day.
Leave all intimidation at the door because there’s no need to overspend to bring high-end style into your home, thanks to these wallet-friendly curtains. The RYB Home Velvet Curtains are the best curtains for dressing your windows on a dime.
Each two-panel set is forged from buttery velvet fabric and backed with an opaque blackout lining that lends the curtains a heavy, luxurious appeal.
Better still, these budget-friendly velvet curtains come in 19 standout hues to embolden or elevate your space. Some of our favorite velvet colors to consider for your bedroom or formal dining room include inky navy blue, blush, hunter green, marigold, moss, rust, ruby, and peacock green.
Product Details: Dimensions: 84 x 52, 90 x 52, 96 x 52, 108 x 52, 120 x 52 inches | Material: Velvet | Numbers of Panels: Two
Better Homes & Gardens / Eric Brockob
Better Homes & Gardens / Eric Brockob
These are the best curtains to minimize outdoor noise and block natural light on even the sunniest afternoons.
The selections are mostly limited to neutral colors and patterns.
Budget-friendly, beautiful, and blocks sunlight and chatty next-door neighbor from ruining your toddler’s afternoon snooze? The Amazon Basics Darkening Blackout Window Curtains check all our boxes and reign supreme as the best blackout curtains on our list.
Each two-curtain set is crafted from polyester and promises 100% blockage of harmful UV rays and natural light for your room. The hardworking curtains work overtime to reduce outside noise when pulled too.
The curtains also provide energy-saving insulation for your rooms throughout the year, blocking your heat from escaping out the window during the winter months and locking precious AC indoors during the height of summer.
The sun-blocking curtain panels feature a texture-rich triple weave fabric on the front, available in up to 18 unique hues, including inky black, beige, and sky blue. A substantial blackout coating lines the reserve to keep light, noise, and energy disruption at bay. Each panel is machine washable, too, so you won’t see your dry-cleaning bill skyrocket anytime soon.
While some other curtains are hung from drapery rings or with hidden tabs, no drapery rings are required to install this chic curtain set. Each panel slides onto your existing curtain rod via rod pockets and comes with two Velcro tiebacks to pull the panels back during the day.
Product Details: Dimensions: 84 x 42, 52 x 63, 84 x 52, or 96 x 52 inches | Material: Polyester | Numbers of Panels: Two
Better Homes & Gardens / Eric Brockob
Better Homes & Gardens / Eric Brockob
These are the best curtains if you want to invest in custom, high-end window treatments that will last for years.
The Ripplefold drapes require a Ripplefold Track, sold separately, for installation.
Ready to invest in luxury custom window treatments for your home? The splurge-worthy Loom Décor Ripplefold Drapery Collection has the best curtains for the job. The streamlined Ripplefold curtains are made-to-order with 100% fullness and customized with your selections from start to finish.
You design your curtains by choosing from 253 solid and patterned linen, Sunbrella canvas, and velvet fabrics to serve your space. From there, you can select a custom trim, note the direction of your panel(s), and pick unlined, privacy, or blackout lining.
The Ripplefold curtain panels are tailored to your space, coming in custom widths of 12 to 250 inches and lengths from 60 to 176 inches. Loom Décor even includes fractions in your curtain size measurements to ensure an ideal fit for your windows.
Each curtain is hand-crafted in the United States to impress designers and architects with details, including weighted corners, invisible hems, and top-grade lining for unparalleled draping.
Each panel is sold individually and requires a ceiling or wall-mounted Ripplefold Track (sold separately) for installation. The luxury curtain and gliding drapery track are investment pieces.
With that said, the quality and custom nature of these splurge curtains make them a sound option if you are aiming for a professional interior designer appeal in your space or if you plan to remain in your current home for many years to come.
Product Details: Dimensions: Custom | Material: Sunbrella, linen, velvet, sateen | Numbers of Panels: One
You can throw them in the washing machine for periodic cleaning.
You need to pair them with heavier curtains to provide privacy after dark.
Sheers are the best curtains for welcoming natural sunlight into a design and adding a soft, ethereal quality to your room. The Cannon Polyester Sheer Curtain Panel earns our applause for its dimensional weave and color options. Each Cannon panel is made with slab yarn at a vertical angle which yields a distinctive, elevated pattern to the feather-light fabric.
The breezy curtains come in a two-panel set, allowing you to dress one window using a single pair. This top-rated design is available in two lengths that cater to 8- and 10-foot ceilings.
Shop the crisp and classic white Cannon sheers for a timeless appeal in your space or play with a wash of color. Try the golden ivory sheers to bring warmth to your design or shroud your window in the gray finish for silvery, sophisticated results.
Product Details: Dimensions: 50 x 84 inches or 50 x 96 inches | Material: Polyester | Numbers of Panels: Two
They provide unparalleled length and quality at a budget-friendly price.
The 118-inch length will be too long for standard 8-foot ceilings.
The IKEA Ritva Curtains are the best curtains for framing your views in spaces with soaring ceilings and ample sunlight. The lengthy curtain panels are forged from 100% breathable cotton and feature a linen-like texture that reads far more expensive than the price tag reflects.
These panels will wash your room in a dreamy, diffused light while providing complete privacy from the outside world when pulled closed. Install the curtains via integrated rod tabs on the back of the panels, or use the Riktig curtain hooks to create a designer-worthy pleated finish.
These curtains are sold as a set of two and come with coordinating tie backs that lend the drapes a polished look. Available in either a neutral white or gray, there is an option to match a variety of styles and aesthetics. The pair comes in three sizes with lengths ranging from 65 to an impressive 118 inches, or nearly 10 feet.
Install the 118-inch curtains to accentuate your grand 10- or 12-foot ceilings.
Product Details: Dimensions: 57 x 65, 57 x 98, or 57 x 118 inches | Material: 100% cotton | Numbers of Panels: Two
The durable polyester curtains are approved for indoor and outdoor use.
The hook-and-loop tab top is casual and may look out of place in more traditional outdoor spaces.
The best outdoor curtains are the Exclusive Home Cabana Indoor/Outdoor Hook-and-Loop Curtains. The two-panel set earns our pick for the best curtains for your porch, patio, or gazebo because of its enduring, high-quality design.
The weather-resistant polyester curtains feel weighty and substantial, making these outdoor curtains appear far more expensive than they are. Each canvas-inspired curtain panel offers a light-filtering finish that blocks UV rays, creating a shady oasis ideal for finding reprieve from sweltering temps on a steamy summer afternoon.
The panels attach to curtain rods via Velcro hook-and-loop tab tops along the top. The top-rated curtains come in 10 fresh colors, including vibrant tones like teal, sundress, seafoam, and mecca orange to pack panache and privacy into your outdoor rooms.
You can also match your outdoor curtains to your exterior shutter and doors. Choose from neutral tones like navy, charcoal, winter white, or taupe to achieve a refined, cohesive look steeped with curb appeal.
Be sure to measure your space before investing in outdoor curtains. Puddled drapes add drama to interior spaces, but when outdoor curtains are too long will collect rainwater, dirt, and more. These winning curtains come in seven lengths to provide a tailored fit for compact balconies and soaring covered porches.
Product Details: Dimensions: 84 x 54, 96 x 54, 108 x 54, or 120 x 52 inches | Material: Polyester | Numbers of Panels: Two
You can customize your curtains to your exact specifications for your space.
Wovn Home curtains are made-to-order and typically take four weeks to ship from the time of purchase.
Give your windows the custom VIP treatment with a set of the Wovn Home Custom Pleat Drapes. The contemporary bespoke curtains draw inspiration from elegant Euro pleat drapes, framing windows with sumptuous volume and tailored lines. If Euro pleats aren’t your style, you can also choose from a triple pinch pleat or a flat top for a more classic look.
After you select your style, you are prompted to select your fabric. You can choose from 36 stunning solid colors including bright white, coral, or celadon. If you prefer a pattern, you can also opt for a textured design, jungle print, striped pattern, and more.
From there, you choose from Wovn's transparent, privacy, or blackout liner to best serve your space. Enter your custom window dimensions or use the thorough Wovn Fit Finder calculator to achieve a seamless look in your design.
With their head-turning hues, range of patterns, and tailormade measurements, the Custom Pleat Drapes are the best curtains for making a statement in grand rooms and common gathering spaces.
Product Details: Dimensions: Custom | Material: Varies | Numbers of Panels: One
These curtains are affordable, available in 24 different colors, and they feature integrated tiebacks for seamless draping in seconds.
Each panel features a rod pocket but they do not come equipped for other hanging options such as hanging loops or ring tops.
If you treasure your privacy but relish the opportunity to take in the views from your window, the Juizhen Blackout Thermal Curtains with tiebacks are the best curtains for you.
These curtains are sold as a pair and earn a spot on our list because they provide a blanket of privacy, offer thermal insulation, and block UV rays from entering your space.
But the shining jewels of each curtain pair are the integrated tiebacks sewn onto each panel. The tiebacks, crafted from the same velvety fabric, allow you to easily pull back the drapes and welcome the sun into your home throughout the day. The curtains are made of high-quality triple-woven microfiber fabric that is machine washable in cold water. The robust weave ensures each panel blocks sunlight. These curtains come in 24 different colors including neutral tones like olive, ivory, and khaki, or punchy hues like pink, turquoise, and butter yellow. Better still, these tieback curtains are available in 28 sizes ranging from 24 to 96 inches long, ensuring a custom-tailored fit for your windows at a reasonable price. Each panel features a three-inch rod pocket for effortless slide-on installation. However, while we appreciate the simplicity, we do wish these tieback curtains offered alternative hanging styles. Product Details: Dimensions: Custom | Material: Polyester, polyester blend | Number of Panels: Two
This affordable curtain panel set provides light blockage and offers thermal insulation for your home from hot and cold temperatures.
There are several colorways to choose from, but the neutral tones are only available in limited sizes.
Whether you’re trying to keep your house cool in the summer or warm in the winter, the Best Home Fashion Premium Blackout Curtains will help maintain comfortable temperatures in your home.
These sleek thermal curtains block out sunlight, muffle outside noise, and, most importantly, reduce energy loss. The soft polyester fabric blocks a significant amount of outdoor light and maintains indoor temperatures to help you save money on your power bill and yield a comfortable environment. These curtains are sold as a set of two and are available in five standard lengths, including an extra-long 120-inch option. To clean the curtains, simply toss them in the washing machine with like colors. The curtains are compatible with a back tab or rod pocket installation, offering you versatile styling opportunities.
Peruse over 50 colors to complete your bedroom, living room, or home office design. Standout hues include neutral hues like biscuit, stone, or olive and dazzling jewel tones like mulberry, indigo, or saffron.
Although we admire the extensive colors available, we wish more universal neutral tones were in stock in the standard lengths.
Product Details: Dimensions: 63 x 52, 72 x 52, 84 x 52, 96 x 52, 108 x 52, or 120 x 52 inches | Material: Polyester | Number of Panels: Two
These curtains are composed of high-quality, sustainable European flax linen with your choice of cotton or blackout lining.
Linen is a breezy, organic fabric that’s wrinkle-prone and may not look as crisp or tailored as curtains made from heavier fabrics like velvet.
Linen curtains are the best curtains for cultivating a layered, soft, lived-in look in your space filled to the brim with diffused light. The Quince European Linen Curtain earns our top pick for this category because of its breezy style, and it is made with sustainable 100% European flax linen for premium quality. Each panel is sold individually in your choice of 11 attractive colors, including staple neutrals like white, cream, or flax and attention-grabbing options like storm or sky blue. Select from three standard lengths and customize your curtains with a cotton or blackout lining.
Uncertain which lining will best serve your space? Choose the cotton lining to usher airy light into your living spaces and the blackout lining for an added layer of privacy in your primary suite. Though we appreciate the quality linen and affordable price point for the European Linen Curtains, they may not be suited for those seeking crisp, tailored window treatments as the organic fabric lends itself to wrinkles and texture. Product Details: Dimensions: 84 x 48, 96 x 48, 108 x 48 inches | Material: 100% european linen, cotton | Number of Panels: One
Each panel offers a luxurious, heavy-weight look synonymous with heavy velvet drapes while allowing natural light to filter into the room.
These panels are limited to four rich, earth-tone colors and three standard lengths.
The best curtains for living rooms cultivate a rich, inviting coziness within the room while allowing ample sunlight to spill into the space. The Pottery Barn Rustic Chenille Curtain yield a luxe, weighty appearance not dissimilar to velvet drapes while allowing ample light to wash over the space as expected with linen curtains. Each curtain panel is made from a polyester cotton blend and features a light-filtering liner that encourages you to celebrate sunny days. The panels feature blind-stitched hems and a three-in-one header that allows for hanging loops, rings, or curtain rods. Curtain hooks are included with each curtain, but clips and round rings are purchased separately. Each panel is sold individually and is dry clean only. There are three length options ranging from 84 to 108 inches. The velvety chenille fabric appears exceptionally sumptuous in the four available colorways: dark oatmeal, adobe, steel blue, and forest green. The saturated earth-toned colors are ideal for creating a warm backdrop to your living room, but we wish that the curtain had more color options to cater to cool palettes or neutral spaces.
Product Details: Dimensions: 84 x 50, 96 x 50, 108 x 50 | Material: Polyester, cotton | Number of Panels: One
Comparing dimensions, materials, and the number of panels led us to Pottery Barn Emery Linen Pinch Pleat Curtains as the best overall curtain because it offers universal colorways, generous lengths, and versatility. The RYB Home Velvet Curtains come in next at number two as our best budget curtains that offer lustrous velvet panels with blackout lining for under $40 a pair.
Standard curtain lengths are 84, 96, and 108 inches. Which one is best for you? The ideal curtains are the ones that fit your window like a glove, so the key to achieving that tailormade look is to measure, measure, and measure again. Jot down the dimensions of your walls, ceiling height, and window before you begin your shopping journey.
The width makes an impact on your space, too. "Always account for room on the sides of your window for the drape ‘stackback'," says Davina Ogilvie, founder of window treatment company Wovn Home. "This is the space to either side of your window that the drapes will occupy when drawn open.”
“Not allowing for enough stackback means that your drapes will block some of the light coming through the window when all the way open," she explains. "Generally speaking, 'high and wide' is a great rule of thumb to remember as you order draperies."
“You can also use drapery to play with scale, visually elongating a room depending on where they are installed—at the crown molding or lower, depending on the effect you want to create,” says Ogilvie.
Curtains are available in many materials, with the most popular options including linen, cotton, velvet, canvas, and polyester. Consider the style of the room you are outfitting and determine your goals for your curtains before purchasing. Select a curtain material that aligns with your desired privacy level, light filtering level, and interior design style.
“Curtains can be the creative focus for a room with bold and daring colors and patterns or they can blend nicely with the room if you prefer to highlight another decorative feature or the view from the window itself," Woolsey says. "You can blend both goals by adding embroidered tapes or playful fringes to bring a lot of look to the right spaces.”
For a luxurious or moody look, opt for heavier fabrics like velvet. But for a breezy, fresh feel, lightweight or sheer fabrics are your best bet. “Sheer fabrics are a great choice to give a light, airy feel to any room,” Woolsey says. “But keep in mind that they may need to be paired with an additional layer to provide insulation or privacy.”
Certain curtains, like the Amazon Basics Room Darkening Blackout Curtains, are made from a heavy polyester to help block out sunlight. Since blackout curtains are heavier, they won't feel as light and airy as sheer fabrics.
“Thickness is key," says designer Katie Kime. "The heavier the weight and blackout lining, if possible, the more substantial they feel in the space.”
Curtain panels are sold individually or in pairs. Typically, one window is fashioned with two curtain panels on a curtain rod. However, if you have a larger window, you may need more than two panels.
If you’re looking to cut down on your window treatment costs, purchase sets of two for your space instead of paying full price for a single curtain panel.
Typically, two curtain panels are used per rod to frame a single window. That said, installing four panels to a single rod, with two panels flanking each side of the window, is a great way to create the illusion of fuller, more expensive curtains.
Curtains and drapes are used interchangeably in conversation, and while they are very much alike, curtains tend to be lighter weight, light filtering, and less expensive. Drapes are pricier window treatments, often tailor-made to fit your room and forged from fabrics such as velvet.
“Custom drapes are much heavier than off-the-shelf curtains as they use more fabric to create fullness and are often lined,” Ogilvie says.
The price of curtains varies greatly depending on the curtain size, materials, custom features, and the number of panels included. On the low end, you can buy budget-friendly curtains like the RYB Home Velvet Curtains and achieve a designer look on a dime in any room in your house.
Affordable curtains are often made from lower-end fabrics like polyester, lack custom tailoring or pleating, and feel generally lighter than their weighty, luxury counterparts.
Splurge-worthy curtains, like the Ripplefold Drapery from Loom Decor, may run you upwards of $400 per panel as they are usually made-to-order with customizations including pleating, extensive fabric selection, lining, and trim. Investment-priced curtains often include custom measurements, ensuring a tailored fit for your windows.
In short, no. Curtains evoke mood, filter sunlight, and lend privacy to a space, but they are not necessary for all windows, in all spaces.
For instance, if your windows are framed by striking architectural trim or offer unmatched views of your surroundings, you may forgo curtains altogether and encourage attention to the millwork or vistas.
You also may choose to skip curtains if you have a unique window shape, stained glass windows, small accent windows, or a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows.
Maria Conti is a contributing home and lifestyle writer for Better Homes & Gardens, with five years of writing product reviews and shopping guides for digital home publications. She spent several hours comparing the prices, dimensions, materials, and panel numbers to determine the best curtains for every style and window in your space.
Cream Tie Backs Maria consulted Davina Ogilvie, founder of window treatment company Wovn Home, interior designer Caron Woolsey, and CEO and designer Katie Kime for their professional tips on buying the best curtain for your space and how to hang your panels to achieve expert-level results.