Best curtains: how the main options compare

Blackout or dim-out lined curtains suit a bedroom best, because they keep out the early summer light. Blackout fabrics hold back 95–100% of the light, depending on the fabric and colour, and a dim-out such as Massive Dimount about 75–85%; blackout fabrics cost from €28.50 per metre. They should reach the floor or stop 1–2 cm above it, so that no light comes in underneath. A two-layer system adds privacy by day: the sheer (voile, from €9.50 per metre) hangs nearer the window and the lined curtain nearer the room, so you can adjust the light by day and darken the room fully at night. The designer can measure the windows and help choose the fabric.

Yes. Measuring is free in Vilnius. In Kaunas and Klaipėda it is free on orders of €200 or more. Elsewhere in Lithuania the visit is paid, and the price is agreed beforehand. How long a visit takes depends on the number of windows, and the time is agreed beforehand. Each window is measured for height, width, recess depth and the distance to the radiator, the walls and ceiling are checked for fixings, and a suitable track is suggested.

The curtains are made in Lithuania to the designer's measurements, in fabrics from Turkey, Spain, Germany and France. Voile costs from €9.50 per metre. From order confirmation to installation, curtains, roman blinds and other blinds take 3–4 weeks, and tracks 1–2 weeks. Our warranty covers sewing and tracks for 12 months, and mechanisms and motors, electric ones included, for 24 months.

Three things: how it falls, how well it stands up to sun, and how it holds up after washing. A denser, heavier weave falls in fuller, more even folds. Cheap polyester blends tend to fade sooner in direct sun, and a well-made linen or linen-look fabric keeps its shape and colour longer. Care instructions also differ, so ask before you buy. The designer can compare fabric samples at your home.

Wash linen curtains gently at 30 °C, or have them dry cleaned. At home, use a mild detergent without bleach and the lowest spin speed (no more than 400 rpm). Linen creases, so hang the curtain while it is still damp and let it straighten under its own weight. You can iron it damp at a low temperature from the reverse side. Linen gets softer with each wash. Wash it no more than once every 3–4 months, and in between remove dust with a soft brush or a vacuum cleaner with a fabric nozzle.