How to choose curtains and blinds

Considering new curtains or blinds? Don't be in the dark - discover our easy to follow tips and advice.

Not only do curtains and blinds help keep a room warmer in winter and cooler in summer, but they also protect furniture from fading and can tie a room together with colour and texture. Whether for a living room, bedroom, or kitchen, we're here to help you consider all the important points with this curtain and blinds buying guide, so you can be sure that you're on the right track.

Choose your curtain lining

Habitat Faux Silk Fully Lined Eyelet Curtains - Dove Grey.

Which curtain type is best for your needs?

Blackout curtains
Our blackout curtains block out light fully and reduce noise, making them perfect for bedrooms. They’re great for keeping rooms warm in winter and cool in summer.

Thermal curtains
Feel the chill? Our thermal curtains are experts at keeping out the cold and draughts.

Lined curtains
Lined curtains hang in soft, loose folds. They reduce the amount of light entering a room and prevent heat from escaping, as well as protecting the curtain from fading.

Unlined curtains
Ideal for summer or decorative purposes, our unlined curtains are usually sheer and will allow light through.

Decide your curtain colour

Velvet curtains in four different colours.

Make a statement or blend in?

The next decision is whether you’d like your curtains to blend into the interior or to make a statement with a bold print or colour. We have a whole rainbow of hues available, from velvet mustard curtains to green and pink curtains. Curtains are long-lasting, so take time to colour-match with your existing pieces or use this as an opportunity to think about an overhaul of your space with a completely new look.

Which curtains for which room?

Bedroom curtains

Your bedroom is a place to relax and recharge, so help set the scene for a good night's sleep with blackout curtains to block out any light. A lifesaver in the lighter summer months.

Living room curtains

Keep it cosy with lined curtains to block out any unwanted street lights. Style is key here so go for a pair that will complement the rest of the room.

Kids' bedroom curtains

Jazz up their bedrooms with curtains in bold colours and statement prints.

How to measure your curtains?

When it comes to curtains, size really matters. Follow our guide below to get your sizing just right.

Diagram showing how to measure curtain width.

Measuring your curtain width

Think about where you want your curtains to sit in relation to the window.

Make sure to measure both inside (A) the window frame and out (B). Curtains will either hang from a track or a pole, and this will dictate the length of curtain you need. Be sure to measure the full length of the track and add on any overlapping area.

Diagram showing how to measure curtain length.

Measuring your curtain length

Make sure to check the drop lengths available in your chosen option.

Wondering where your curtains should drop to? We recommend:

Sill length curtains finish 1.25cm above the sill.
Curtains that fall below the sill finish 15cm below.
Floor length curtains finish 1.5cm from the floor unless you would like to create a romantic look by having them longer.

For curtains hanging from a pole, measure from the top of the frame to the floor (C) to get the full drop (ideally, they will be 2cm from the floor when hung.)

Diagram showing how to measure curtain pole width.

Measuring your curtain pole

The curtain pole should be wider than your windows by approximately 15-20cm either side (D), allowing for the material to be tied back when you'd like.

The current rule is that fabric width should be between 2 and 2.5 times the width of the window. So, for example, if your window is 1.5m wide, you need 3m width of curtain material.

Each of Habitat's curtain options are sold in pairs, so to explain a little further, if each curtain is 1.5m wide, equalling 3m in total, you'd have the perfect fit for a 1.5m window.

Choose your curtain heading

How your curtains attach to a pole or track will affect the drape and overall look of the curtains.

Eyelet curtains

These curtains have punched metal rings at the top which slide smoothly along a curtain pole. They hang in wide, even folds for a smart and stylish finish.

Habitat Herringbone Fully Lined Pencil Pleat Curtain - Cream.

Pencil pleat curtains

Plastic hooks attached along the header of these curtains are used to attach to a track or pole. This gives them a ruched, gathered look with many folds.

A Habitat button voile unlined tab top curtain hanging from the rail in a living room.

Tab top curtains

With a header of evenly spaced fabric loops through which a curtain pole or rod can be threaded, this is a neat solution.

How to care for your curtains

If machine washable, clean a pair of curtains together. Habitat's cotton curtains usually need to be professionally dry cleaned, but linen curtains can usually be washed at 40 degrees and smoothed out with a medium iron. Be sure to check your curtain's care instructions beforehand.

More curtain ideas

Dining room with pink velvet sofas and a blind with voile over the top.

Layer up

For added versatility you may want to consider layering curtains and blinds. In this instance, the blinds are ideal for blocking out unwanted light while the sheer curtains still provide privacy and allow light in when the blinds are open.

Go sheer

Perfect for daytime privacy while letting light in, our voile and net curtains are available in both plain or patterned styles to suit your taste.

Grey crushed velvet curtains in a living room.

Velvet touch

Add a touch of luxe to any room with our selection of velvet curtains. Choose from an array of colours and lengths.

Pink linen curtains in a bedroom with spotty bed linen.

Look to linen

Draping beautifully, our linen look curtains evoke comfort and luxury. They'll make any room feel lighter and airier, while also offering privacy and insulation. They're also super easy to take care of - what's not to love?

Blue velvet curtains and velvet cushions.

Go matchy matchy

Create a cohesive, pulled together look by matching the colour of your curtains to other bits and bobs in the room such as cushions and accessories.

Shop all curtains

How to measure blinds?

Get that tape measure out

First of all, decide whether the blinds will sit inside or outside the window recess. Blinds placed inside the recess will give a neater, tailored look while blinds outside the recess are great for making windows appear bigger and can be more effective at blocking out light arounds the edges.

Once decided, simply follow our steps below to get the perfect fit.

Measuring inside the recess

Take the measurement of the width inside the recess in three places – the top, middle and bottom. Note down the shortest measurement of the three.

To measure the drop, take the length inside the recess in three places – the left, middle and right. Again, note down the shortest measurement of the three to allow the blind to fit properly.

Measuring outside the recess

We recommend placing the blind 10cm past each side of the window to block out light effectively. Measure 20cm from the left edge of the window and 10cm from the right edge. Then measure from 10cm above the window to where you’d like the blind to drop to.

Window not have a recess?

No problem. Simply measure the length of width of your window, adding around 10cm on to the width and height measurements to ensure good coverage.

How to fit blinds?

Always read through the instructions with your blinds as not all types are installed in the same way. Check out our videos below to discover our general tips on how to fit a roller blind and how to fit a venetian blind.