Should curtains touch the floor?

In bedrooms, lounges and dining rooms, yes - floor-length curtains look more finished and provide better insulation. In kitchens and bathrooms, shorter curtains (sill or below-sill) are more practical. Curtains that stop awkwardly mid-wall, above or below the intended length, look unintentional. The safest rule: go floor length or sill length - avoid the in-between.

Do I need blackout curtains in a bedroom?

Blackout lining is strongly recommended for bedrooms, especially in homes with streetlights or east-facing windows that catch early morning sun. Standard lining cuts most daylight but still leaves a noticeable glow at dawn. Blackout lining blocks 95-99% through the fabric, though some light still enters at the edges where curtains meet the wall.

Can I use the same curtains throughout the house?

A consistent fabric or colour palette ties a home together visually. However, the lining, drop length and fabric type should be chosen for each room's specific needs rather than matched exactly. A polyester linen-look fabric in a consistent neutral tone can work across the lounge, bedroom and dining room while using different linings (blackout in the bedroom, standard elsewhere).

What window treatment is best for a sliding door?

Vertical blinds are purpose-built for sliding doors - the slats draw to one or both sides to match how the door opens. Floor-length curtains on a wide track can work but require more space to stack when open. Roller blinds are less suitable for wide sliding door openings as a single blind becomes very heavy.

Are curtains or blinds better for a small room?

Blinds take up less space when open as they stack tightly above the window. Curtains on a wider track extend beyond the window frame when drawn open, which can feel crowded in a small room. However, hanging curtains high (close to the ceiling) and wide (beyond the frame) on a small window makes the window - and the room - feel larger.

How do I reduce heat in a north-facing room?

North-facing windows in South Africa receive the most direct sun. A light-filter or blackout roller blind fitted inside the recess reduces heat gain significantly. Pairing it with thermal-lined curtains creates an insulating air gap. This combination is particularly effective in the Northern Suburbs, Winelands and Cape Flats where summer temperatures are highest.

Curtains & Blinds by Room

Every room has different light, privacy and moisture requirements. This guide covers the right fabric, lining, drop length and blind type for each room in a Cape Town home.

How much light should each room block?

The recommended light blockage varies significantly by room. A bedroom needs near-total darkness for sleep; a study needs just enough to reduce screen glare without feeling closed in.

Recommended light blockage by room

Loading chart...

Figures are a guide to ideal lining choice, not a precise specification. Actual results depend on fabric colour, lining type and how well curtains seal at the edges.

Drop length by room

Drop length affects both the look and the practicality. Use this table as a starting point - ●●● means strongly recommended, ● means not ideal for that room.

Room	Sill	Below sill	Floor	Puddle
Bedroom	●●●	●●●	●●●	●●●
Lounge	●●●	●●●	●●●	●●●
Dining room	●●●	●●●	●●●	●●●
Kids' room	●●●	●●●	●●●	●●●
Kitchen	●●●	●●●	●●●	●●●
Bathroom	●●●	●●●	●●●	●●●
Study / office	●●●	●●●	●●●	●●●

●●● strongly recommended · ●●○ works well · ●○○ not ideal

Not sure what suits your specific rooms? Send us a photo or your window measurements and we will advise - no obligation.

Get free advice

What to choose for each room

Detailed recommendations for each room - what to choose, what to avoid, and one practical tip for Cape Town conditions.

Bedroom

Priority: Darkness for sleep

Light ● ● ● Privacy ● ● ● Moisture ● ● ●

Curtains

Lined or blackout curtains, floor length. A sheer layer lets in soft light during the day.

Blind

Blackout roller blind pairs well under curtains for maximum darkness.

Lining

Blackout lining

Drop length

Floor length

Fabric

Any — polyester blends hold colour longest. Avoid pale unlined fabrics on sun-facing windows.

Avoid

Unlined curtains — they give no light or temperature control.

Cape Town tip: North and west-facing bedrooms in the Northern Suburbs get intense afternoon sun. Thermal lining keeps them cooler in summer.

Lounge

Priority: Light control + finished look

Light ● ● ● Privacy ● ● ● Moisture ● ● ●

Curtains

Floor-length lined curtains with a sheer panel in front or behind for daytime light.

Blind

Light-filter roller blind — controls afternoon glare without darkening the room.

Lining

Standard lining (or thermal for north-facing rooms)

Drop length

Floor length

Fabric

Wide choice — velvet for a formal look, linen-blend for relaxed style, polyester for durability.

Avoid

Very short curtains — they look mismatched against large lounge windows.

Cape Town tip: A sheer + lined layer combination is a popular lounge choice - diffused light during the day, privacy and warmth in the evening.

Kitchen

Priority: Easy to clean + practical

Light ● ● ● Privacy ● ● ● Moisture ● ● ●

Curtains

Short curtains (sill or below-sill length) in a machine-washable fabric. Avoid floor length near a hob.

Blind

Wipe-clean roller blind or aluminium Venetian — both handle cooking steam and grease well.

Lining

Unlined or light lining only — keeps weight down for short curtains

Drop length

Sill or 15 cm below sill

Fabric

Polyester or cotton blend — machine washable essential. Avoid velvet and linen.

Avoid

Floor-length curtains and fabric blinds — both are difficult to clean near cooking areas.

Cape Town tip: A roller blind is often the most practical kitchen choice — wipeable, compact and keeps the window clear when cooking.

Bathroom

Priority: Privacy + moisture resistance

Light ● ● ● Privacy ● ● ● Moisture ● ● ●

Curtains

Short curtains in a synthetic fabric if used at all. Most bathrooms suit a blind better.

Blind

Aluminium Venetian or moisture-rated PVC roller blind — both handle steam and humidity without warping.

Lining

Unlined (if curtains used) — lining traps moisture

Drop length

Sill length

Fabric

Polyester or synthetic only. Never linen, velvet or real wood Venetians.

Avoid

Fabric blinds, real wood Venetians and lined curtains — all absorb moisture and deteriorate quickly.

Cape Town tip: Homes within a few kilometres of the coast should use aluminium (not steel) Venetian components — salt air accelerates corrosion on cheaper fittings.

Kids' room

Priority: Full blackout + washable

Light ● ● ● Privacy ● ● ● Moisture ● ● ●

Curtains

Blackout curtains, floor length or below-sill. Choose a durable, machine-washable fabric.

Blind

Blackout roller blind inside the recess — pairs with curtains for maximum darkness and a neater look.

Lining

Blackout lining

Drop length

Below sill or floor length

Fabric

Polyester or polycotton — durable, machine washable, holds colour well.

Avoid

Pale unlined fabrics and tie-backs within child's reach. Cord-operated blinds — choose cordless for safety.

Cape Town tip: Cordless blinds are the safe choice for children's rooms. Child safety guidelines recommend cordless or inaccessible cords where children are present.

Dining room

Priority: Ambiance + warmth

Light ● ● ● Privacy ● ● ● Moisture ● ● ●

Curtains

Floor-length or puddle curtains in a heavier fabric. Pencil pleat or wave heading suits the formal setting.

Blind

Optional — a roller or Venetian blind can be used under curtains for daytime light control.

Lining

Standard or thermal lining

Drop length

Floor length or puddle

Fabric

Velvet, linen-blend or quality polyester. Darker colours absorb light and add to the evening ambiance.

Avoid

Sheers as the only layer — they offer no privacy or warmth for evening dining.

Cape Town tip: The dining room is the best place in the home for a floor puddle — it looks dramatic for evening entertaining and the room is not high-traffic enough to be a problem.

Study / office

Priority: Glare control without full darkness

Light ● ● ● Privacy ● ● ● Moisture ● ● ●

Curtains

Light-filtering lined curtains — below sill or floor length. Avoid blackout, which makes the room feel closed.

Blind

Venetian blind — adjustable slat angle lets you cut screen glare while keeping natural light.

Lining

Standard lining only

Drop length

Below sill or floor length

Fabric

Neutral tones — avoid bright colours that bounce light onto screens. Polyester or cotton blend.

Avoid

Blackout lining — it makes the room gloomy and uncomfortable for extended work sessions.

Cape Town tip: A Venetian blind at a slight downward angle blocks direct sun on a screen while still letting diffused light into the room — more effective than pulling a curtain closed.

Visualising drop lengths

The four standard curtain drop lengths and where each sits relative to the window and floor.

Track or rod is fitted 10-15 cm above the window frame in all cases.

Fabric quick reference by room

Not all fabrics suit all rooms. This table shows which fabrics are practical for each room type.

Room	Polyester	Cotton blend	Linen	Velvet	Sheer
Bedroom	✓	✓	✓	✓	–
Lounge	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Kitchen	✓	✓	–	–	–
Bathroom	✓	–	–	–	–
Kids' room	✓	✓	–	–	–
Dining room	✓	✓	✓	✓	–
Study	✓	✓	✓	–	✓

Need more detail on fabric types? See the Curtain Guide fabric section.

Frequently asked questions

Ready to choose for your rooms?

Send us your window measurements or a photo of the room and we will recommend the right curtain or blind - free, no obligation. We supply and install across all Cape Town suburbs.

Get a Free Quote

Read the Curtain Guide · Blinds Guide · Rail & Rod Guide · Care Guide · Pricing Guide · see our work · check your area