Author: Jegor Janockin
Reviewed by: Curtain.lt editorial team
Last updated:
Sheer curtains: fabrics, light and care
Sheer curtains filter the light and dress the window, but they give no privacy at night: for that you need a dim-out or blackout layer. The common sheer fabrics, voile, net sheer, organza and linen, differ in how much light they let through, in texture and in care. Wash them at 30 °C on a gentle cycle, put plastic hooks in a laundry bag and dry them in the shade.
Types of sheer curtain fabric
Voile is the classic sheer fabric. It is thin, closely woven and semi-transparent (about 85% see-through), it filters the light gently and gives a light, airy look. It dries quickly and creases little. From €9.50 per metre.
Net sheer has a more open, looser structure. It lets through more air and light (about 90% see-through), so by day it hides the room a little less than voile. It creases little and dries quickly, so it suits kitchens especially. From €12 per metre.
Organza is a light fabric with a glossy surface and a pronounced texture. It gives a room a formal look and suits living rooms used for receiving guests. The glossy surface reflects the light and makes the room seem wider.
Linen and linen-look fabric (linon) suit a calm, natural interior. The matt, natural texture spreads the light evenly, but without a lining the fabric is too transparent. Linen is always used with a lining, and only then does it give privacy.
| Fabric | Light transmission | Privacy by day | Price from (€/m) | Care |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voile | Very high (about 85%) | Medium | 9.50 | Easy |
| Net sheer | Very high (about 90%) | Low to medium | 12 | Easy |
| Organza | High | Low to medium | — | Medium |
| Linen with lining | Medium | High | — | Medium |
How a fabric changes the light in a room
The lighter the fabric, the more direct light enters the room, and the less privacy there is. Voile and organza let the light flow freely, so the room looks spacious and bright, but by day a figure can be seen through such a fabric from outside.
Light diffusion is the ability to spread light evenly across the whole fabric. Matt fabrics (linen, cotton) spread it softly, so the room looks warm even on a cloudy day. Glossy fabrics make stronger contrasts of light and shadow.
The privacy paradox
By day the fabric hides the room from passers-by. At night, with the light on inside, it reverses: the fabric becomes a screen and every movement shows. The answer is two layers: sheers by day, lined curtains in the evening.
The amount of fabric depends on the heading: 2.0× the track length for a wave heading, 1.5× for a flex tape or an eyelet heading and 2.5× for a pinch pleat. A 200 cm track needs 300–500 cm of fabric. More fabric means closer folds and more privacy, even in a sheer fabric.
Care: washing, drying and ironing
The most common mistake is washing at a high temperature: the fabric shrinks and the curtain no longer fits the window. Wash sheers every 3–4 months. With pets or allergy sufferers in the house, wash every 6–8 weeks.
- 1Take the fabric off the track before washing.
- 2Soak it in cold water for 15–20 minutes. This removes most of the dust.
- 3Put plastic hooks in a laundry bag. Take metal hooks off.
- 4Wash at 30 °C on a delicate or silk programme.
- 5Dry in the shade, or hang the curtain damp straight on the track: gravity straightens the fabric without ironing.
Do not wash hot
Washing at 60 °C or higher can shrink the fabric for good, and the curtain will no longer fit the window. Tumble dryers and direct sun are also out: the colour fades.
Sheers do not usually need ironing. Hang them slightly damp and gravity straightens the creases in 1–2 hours. If you must iron, do it through a damp cloth at the lowest temperature.
Prices and value
| Category | Price range | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Sheer fabrics | €9.50–16.50/m | Voile €9.50, net sheer €12, Nobel €16.50 |
| Lined fabrics | €11–43/m | Depends on whether it is dim-out or blackout |
| Poles and tracks | Ceiling track from €9/m, wall-fixed pole from €14/m | Pole, brackets, ceiling track |
| Making | €8/m (sheer), €13/m (lined) | Per metre of fabric |
A plain window 200 cm wide with a 2.5 m ceiling track and a wave heading takes 5.3 m of fabric: voile would cost €50.35, making €42.40 and the track €22.50, about €115 in all without fitting. A good fabric washed at 30 °C and dried in the shade keeps its shape and colour for a long time.
Work out what sheer curtains will cost
Enter the width and drop of your window and the fabric you have in mind for a first budget.
Open the price calculatorFrequently asked questions
How often should sheer curtains be washed?
Every 3–4 months. In a kitchen or a heavily used room, every 2–3 months, because the fabric picks up cooking grease faster. With pets or allergy sufferers in the house, every 6–8 weeks.
How do you wash sheer curtains with hooks on?
Plastic hooks can stay on the curtain, but the curtain must go in a laundry bag. Wash at 30 °C on a gentle programme. Metal hooks must come off before washing. After washing, hang the curtain on the track straight away: gravity straightens it without an iron.
What temperature should sheer curtains be washed at?
30 °C, on a gentle or delicate cycle. Higher temperatures can shrink the fabric for good. Before washing, soak the curtain in cold water for 15–20 minutes.
What is the difference between voile and net sheer?
Voile is a more closely woven, thin, semi-transparent fabric (about 85% see-through) and gives a little more privacy by day. Net sheer has a more open structure: it lets through more air and light, creases little and dries faster. Voile suits bedrooms better, net sheer suits kitchens.
What is the difference between voile and organza?
Voile is soft, matt and easy to care for, a fabric for everyday use. Organza is stiffer and glossier. It looks more formal but needs more careful washing, and it suits rooms used for receiving guests.
Which sheer fabrics suit a kitchen?
Net sheer or polyester voile. They crease little, dry quickly and wash easily. Curtains in a kitchen pick up cooking grease faster, so choose a fabric you can wash often. Natural fabrics such as linen are less practical in a kitchen.
Do sheer curtains give privacy at night?
No. When the light is on inside, the fabric becomes a screen and figures and movements can be seen from outside. The answer is two layers: sheers for the day, and for the evening a fabric with a dim-out layer (about 75–85% darkening) or a blackout layer (up to 100%).
How much do sheer curtains cost in Lithuania?
Sheer fabric costs €9.50–16.50 per metre. The cheapest is voile (€9.50 per metre), and Nobel is dearer (€16.50 per metre). The total for a window 200 cm wide starts at €50–60 without fitting.
Is linen suitable for sheer curtains without a lining?
No. Linen without a lining is too transparent and gives enough privacy neither by day nor at night. With a lining, linen suits anyone who wants a natural look.
How do you remove stains from sheer curtains?
Deal with stains as soon as you can. Work a little liquid detergent into the stain, dab the fabric gently and wash at 30 °C on a gentle cycle. Do not pull the fabric hard: it can distort the weave.
What is the difference between dim-out and blackout fabrics?
Dim-out fabric (Massive Dimount in our catalogue) blocks about 75–85% of the light. It suits a bedroom where you want darkness, but not complete darkness. Blackout fabrics block 95–100% of the light, for people who sleep in the day or want full darkness.
Which fabrics suit a bedroom?
A two-layer system: sheers of voile or lined linen for the day, and for the evening a fabric with a blackout layer. The combination looks good by day and gives full darkness at night.
How much fabric does a window need?
It depends on the heading: 2.0 times the track length for a wave heading, 1.5 times for a flex tape or an eyelet heading and 2.5 times for a pinch pleat. A 200 cm track needs 300–500 cm of fabric.