Child's room
Curtains for a child's room: practical and safe
A child's room needs a darkened space for naps and some thought for safety: operation without cords, washable fabrics that collect less dust, and curtains that stop short of the floor.
For a 150 × 220 cm window: about €150–380
What makes curtains safer for a child's room?
Curtains for a child's room should be safe and easy to look after. Three things matter. Washing: a fabric that washes at 30 °C is easier to keep clean. Anti-static fabrics: they reduce the dust a fabric collects, which matters for children with allergies. No cords: curtains on a ceiling track need none, and motorised operation leaves no hanging cords or chains. If the room has a roller blind or a blind with a chain, fix the chain high on the wall, out of the child's reach.
A double layer covers day and night: Soft voile by day (55%, €15 per metre, washes at 30 °C), plus Abby blackout (95–100%, €29.50 per metre) for daytime naps and the light summer nights. Without proper darkening in a Lithuanian summer, when the sun rises at 4:42, children wake too early; a blackout fabric fitted with no gaps at the sides keeps the room dark.
Which four fabrics suit a child's room?
All four are catalogue fabrics. The choice depends on the child's age, any allergies and the side of the room the window faces.
| Fabric | Price | Light | Character | Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soft voile | €15/m | Lets 55% through | Washes at 30 °C | The day layer; suits daytime naps |
| Abby | €29.50/m | Holds back 95–100% | Microfibre | The night layer for naps and early mornings |
| Minimalism 1 and 2 | €24/m | Holds back 90–95% | Anti-static finish, smooth and matt | The basic choice for children with allergies |
| Sevim | €14/m | Lets 45% through | Filters UV | A ground-floor child's room |
A worked example: a 150 × 220 cm child's room (double layer)
The full estimate for a 150 × 220 cm window depends on the layers: sheer only (Soft voile), about €150; blackout only (Abby), about €235; a double layer, about €380.
The double layer for a 150 × 220 cm window (a 1.9 m track, 2.0× fullness, 4.10 m of fabric for each layer) works out as follows. Sheer (Soft voile): €15/m × 4.10 m = €61.50, making at €8/m = €32.80, tape and hanging = €20.50. Blackout (Abby): €29.50/m × 4.10 m = €120.95, making at €13/m = €53.30, tape and hanging = €24.60. Two ceiling tracks (€9/m) and their fitting (€9/m) = €68.40.
The full estimate for such a project is about €380. Motorised operation can be added: a motorised track costs from €170 per metre, fitted and programmed.
What are the three most common mistakes in a child's room?
Mistakes with safety in a child's room can have serious consequences. All of them can be avoided at a consultation.
1. A standard chain in a child's room. A plastic chain or cord on a roller blind or a blind is dangerous for small children, who can get tangled in it. Fix: curtains on a ceiling track need no cords; fix the chain of a roller blind or a blind high on the wall, or choose motorised operation with a Brel motor.
2. Blackout without an anti-static fabric. Some blackout fabrics collect dust, which is a problem for children with asthma or allergies. Fix: the anti-static Minimalism 1 and 2 (holds back 90–95% of the light, €24 per metre), with Soft voile for the day layer; both wash at 30 °C, and every six months is a good interval.
3. Curtains that reach the sill, not the floor. Smaller children can trip on hanging curtains or even hide in them, which is a safety risk, and curtains that are too short (to the sill) leave light underneath. Fix: curtains that stop 1–2 cm above the floor, with no cords or weights at the bottom: safe for children and better for darkening.
Questions
Are curtains for a child's room safe?
Yes, if they are chosen well. Curtains on a ceiling track need no cords; the chain of a roller blind or a blind is best fixed high, out of a child's reach, or replaced by motorised operation. Choose a fabric that washes at 30 °C, so it is easy to keep clean. The anti-static Minimalism 1 and 2 also collects less dust.
Which fabrics suit a child's room best?
A double layer: Soft voile by day (it lets 55% of the light through, washes at 30 °C and is soft to the touch), plus Abby blackout (95–100%, €29.50 per metre) for daytime naps. For a child with allergies, the anti-static Minimalism 1 and 2 suits the lined layer and collects less dust. A full estimate for a 150 × 220 cm window is about €150–380, depending on the layers.
Why does blackout matter in a child's room?
Young children often need a daytime nap. In summer, when the sun rises at 4:42 and sets at 22:00, a child wakes early in the morning or is hard to settle in the evening without 95% or more darkening. A blackout fabric with proper fitting (the track extends 25 cm past the window on each side) darkens the room enough for a quiet sleep.
How do I wash a child's room curtains?
Soft voile and Minimalism 1 and 2 wash at 30 °C on a gentle cycle, and a baby detergent without allergens can be used. Put the plastic hooks in a laundry bag. Hang the curtains damp after washing, and you will not need to iron. Wash them every six months, or more often if the child draws on them. Some blackout fabrics (Abby) can also be washed.
Should curtains for a child's room be motorised?
No. Curtains on a ceiling track are drawn by hand and have no cords, so they are safe without a motor. Operation by remote or app suits large or hard-to-reach windows: a motorised track with a Brel motor costs from €170 per metre, fitted and programmed.
Which colours suit a child's room best?
Light pastels (blue, mint, sand) keep the room restful. Playful patterns (dots, stripes) also suit a child's room, but we recommend a neutral base colour: a child's taste changes quickly (every 3–5 years), and neutral curtains stay useful.
Ideas for your home
Flat, living room. A white sheer across the whole window wall and sand-coloured curtains from ceiling to floor. 
House, window recess. Sand-coloured curtains and a white sheer on a ceiling track. 
Flat, living room. Sand-coloured curtains and a white sheer from ceiling to floor. 
House, bedroom under a pitched roof. Peach curtains with tie-backs and a white sheer. 
House, room with oak floors. A sheer in wave pleats and a pale curtain in a ceiling recess. 
House, corner room. White sheers in wave pleats on ceiling tracks.