How to layer sheer and blockout curtains.

Accent a contemporary or traditional room with double curtains.

In this post, I'm going to show you how you can use layers of curtains, to add softness and luxury to any home. Whether you love the vintage style of lace curtains and heavy drapes or prefer a striking modern look, there many curtain layering combinations to consider.

Dark sheers over blackout curtains are one modern style that you may have seen trending on Instagram. Another popular style is layering neutral fabrics for a bohemian vibe. To inspire you, here are some of the creative ways you can combine sheer and blackout curtains.

Whatever your style, you can find the fabrics and advice to achieve the look you want with iSeekBlinds custom made curtains.

Blackout curtains over sheer curtains.

Placing sheer curtains close to the window glass and blackout curtains towards the inside of the room allows for privacy during daylight and darker hours.

During the daytime, opening blackout curtains will allow natural light to flow into the room. Sheer curtains can remain closed as these transparent fabrics allow light to enter, softening the harsh sunlight in the summer months. In the cooler months, you may open sheer curtains to allow maximum light to fill the room.

In the evening, you can maintain privacy and warmth by closing the blackout curtains.

Sheer curtains and blockout curtains can be hung as single or multiple panels. Two panels create traditional centre-opening curtains, multiple panels can be free-floating and move along the track to where you want them to sit, whereas one single curtain will gather on one side when open.

Sheer curtains over blackout curtains.

Blockout curtains can help improve sleep, but you may prefer the visual softness of sheer curtains facing the inside of a room. This modern curtain layering style is perfect when you want a contemporary twist on a traditional window treatment. This is also the favoured option of the iSeekBlinds team as it allows our beautiful sheer curtain fabrics to really shine!

Bringing sheer curtains to the inside is an elegant way to soften any room's decor. S-fold sheer curtains can be allowed to hang to the floor, or you may drape curtains back with ties for a more theatrical and romantic effect.

Ceiling mounted sheer and blackout curtains.

Mounting curtains from the ceiling adds a sense of height to the room while enhancing elegance with smooth visual lines. Ceiling-mounted curtains can open on the left, right, and centre, or be free-floating, to suit your room and style.

If you want both curtain layers to move freely and independently, mounting S-fold curtains on separate tracks is most effective. Our curtain tracks have a small profile that blends seamlessly with the ceiling, hiding the brackets for an elegant finish.

Wall-mounted sheer and blackout curtains.

Wall-mounted curtains are attached to the wall directly above the window. Different bracket lengths ensure that sheer curtains and blackout curtains can both move freely.

Wall-mounted curtains often have a centre opening, but you could also use a left-hand or right-hand stack, or free-floating curtains, to suit the layout of the room you are decorating.

Choose motorised curtain tracks for blackout curtains.

For added modernisation, you can choose motorised curtain tracks. Motorised curtain tracks allow the curtains to be opened at a distance, even when you are still in bed.

This style of curtain track is ideal for blackout curtains. Imagine being able to set a timer so that the curtains open automatically, allowing light into the room for a natural awakening — no alarm necessary!

You may choose to mount both curtain layers on motorised tracks or mount sheer curtains on hand-operated tracks and blackout curtains on motorised rails.

Which curtain layer should be longer?

Before ordering sheer and blackout curtains for layering, you will need to plan the curtain length. The total length of the curtain is known as the 'drop'. The drop is the length of the curtain from the curtain tracks at the top to the floor.

When layering sheer curtains with heavier drapes, the lighter fabric can fall slightly shorter than the heavier fabric to maintain movement. For example, if your sheer curtains are measured to hover just above the floor, your blackout curtains might lightly touch the flooring.

Sheer curtains mounted over blackout curtains will look elegant with a longer length. While blackout curtains might hover or barely touch the floor, sheers facing into the room may break gently to provide a sense of luxury.

Ultimately the choice is yours - you can make them the same drop, or one longer,  it's totally up to you — with custom-made curtains, you can achieve the exact look you are after.

You can find instructions on exactly how to measure for sheer and blackout curtains, and our founder Mike has prepared video demonstrations for each step to guide you on your DIY journey!

Benefits of layering curtains.

Combining sheer curtains with blackout curtains has many advantages. Here are just a few:

• Layering curtains can help maintain the room temperature

• Curtains can help protect furnishings and decor from fading in the sunlight

• Blockout curtains can reduce sound from outside

• You can customise the level of light in any room to suit the season and your requirements

What next?

If you’re in need of some inspiration, visit our gallery or Instagram page for ideas and real-life photos from our customers.  Once you’ve decided which product you prefer, make use of our free fabric samples. They will allow you to see and feel the fabrics before selecting the one you like best.

So, if you've got a bedroom that could benefit from a refresh, let us help you! The DIY process is easy to follow, and it will make a world of difference to your home, we promise.

Need some help? You can either Contact our customer service team or book in a free design consultation with me.

Thanks for reading!
Cheers, 

Mike Gubby. 

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