Double-Sided Curtains: Top Ideas & Tips to Double the Duty & the Beauty

Curtains don’t just soften daylight and cocoon interiors; they add depth and detail to the decor, serving as accent features and focal points. But most are made to be admired from one side only. Turn them around and you’ll find a lining, or the somewhat half-finished reverse of the fabric, saying, ‘Look away, I wasn’t meant to be seen!’ At a window, that hardly matters. In open doorways, room dividers and bed canopies, though, curtains can’t get away with just one ‘good side’, and that’s where double-sided curtains step in as winners. Also known as reversible curtains or double-sided drapes, they’re stitched with drapery fabric on both sides instead of a lining, so they look finished whichever way you face them, and you can even choose a different fabric for each side. They do ask for a little extra thought, as they’re heavier than ordinary curtains and some headings hide their reverse better than others. So read on for our stylists’ favorite tips for choosing the headings, fabrics and pairings that make reversible custom curtains shine on both sides.

Managing the Weight Game for a Smooth Glide

Double-sided curtains are heavier than ordinary ones for obvious reasons. In some scenarios - like an oversized doorway or a slow-gliding header style - this additional weight can hinder smooth operation. So, aim to keep the overall weight of the drapery in check in all your design decisions. Here are some considerations to be made in this regard:

• Fabric: Choose a light to medium-weight fabric for an extremely wide set of drapery to compensate for the surplus of the span with the lightness of the fabric. If you’ve fallen for a heavy fabric, choose a lightweight one for the rear, to balance the weight.

• Number of Panels: For a curtain far exceeding the standard width, consider breaking the drapery into multiple panels instead of one, so the weight gets distributed.

• Heading Style: Where weight is not in favor of an easy glide, the choice of heading style can be the saving grace. Opt for heading styles that employ rings, grommets, or drapery pins as they operate smoothly. Avoid styles with fabric pockets and tabs, unless you plan to leave the curtains stationary, needing no operation.

• Size: We make panels up to 288 inches wide and 252 inches long. Panels wider than about 48 inches are joined with vertical seams, with patterns matched across them, so a very wide doorway can still be dressed in one or two panels.

Choose Headers that Keep the Secret

The choice of the heading style requires much forethought when it comes to double-sided curtains because the header may become the tell-all sign of the curtain’s rear side. Depending on the heading style, the rear side may feature a heading tape, back side of the grommets, or tabs and loops - elements that you may want to hide away. So, it’s imperative to choose a heading style that keeps the signs of the reverse side as discreet as possible.

• Pinch Pleat Curtains: The tailored headers of pinch pleat curtains are formed by tacking inward-folded fabric, creating ornamental pinch pleats at intervals on the front side. On the reverse side, you’ll see the heading tape, the rear side of the pleats, and an irregular gather of fabric, making them our least preferred option for reversible drapes.
• Tab Top, Back Tab Top, Tie Top & Rod Pocket Top Curtains: In these heading styles, the curtains feature fabric loops, tabs or pockets that are slid around the drapery rod, performing the task of rings or grommets. On the rear side, they look just about the same as the front, making them aesthetically well-suited for double-sided curtains. The key caveat in relation to these styles is that fabric tabs, loops and pockets don’t have the same slickness of movement as is offered by metal accessories like rings and grommets. Therefore, these headers are better-suited for small-sized panels or drapery that is not expected to be operated often. It is also advisable to choose lightweight fabrics to ensure smooth operation of your drape.
• Flat Panel Tops & Grommet Top Curtains: In these heading styles, the curtains feature clean-lined headers and a uniform wavy look on both sides. They do drop a hint on the reverse side— flat panel tops, with their heading tape, and grommet tops, with the reverse side of the grommets—but since their gather looks almost similar on both sides and they glide smoothly on the rod with their use of rings and grommets, they prove the best candidates for double-sided curtains that are expected to be operated often.

Sewn offers over a dozen heading styles, and as you can see, some fare better than others at keeping the rear side neat. Note that the suitability of the heading style will depend on a range of factors, such as the overall weight of the panel, the expected frequency of operation, the desired level of light control, and so on. Therefore, consider the factors presented above specifically in view of double-sided curtains and also visit our Drapery Headings Style Guide for an in-depth evaluation of each style on offer at Sewn.

Whichever heading you choose, fullness matters too. Grommet, rod pocket, back tab, flat panel and pencil pleat curtains look best at 2x the rod length (1.5x at the least), tab tops and tie tops are made at 1.5x (sheers up to 2x), and pinch pleats come with a generous 2.5–3x fullness sewn in. For the length, start from the point our Curtain Measurement Guide gives for your heading. Sewn doesn’t sell curtain hardware, so measure your rod or track with a steel tape before you order.

HOMESEWN HANDBOOK: Curtain Measurement Guide | Curtain Headings Style Guide

Doubling the Aesthetic Opportunity

Double-sided curtains don’t just bring limitations to be tamed, they also bring opportunities to be claimed - the kind that a keen aesthete never lets go. If you think about it, instead of merely managing the show by keeping the reverse presentable, you can turn it into a ‘double-edged’ show-stopper by opting for two completely different fabrics, playing to a different aesthetic and palette on each side.

With more than 2,500 fabrics to choose from at Sewn, we’re confident of meeting the most adventurous design goals. So, push the limits and let your creativity take over. Here are some ideas to fuel your imagination:

• Pair a Solid with a Pattern: Pick a patterned fabric for one side and a plain fabric on the reverse. Keep them color-coordinated, ensuring that the plain fabric accents the pattern.

• Pair Two Prints: The perfect option for a pattern-lover who can’t get enough of one! If you’ve fallen for two prints, pair them unapologetically. However, if you’re worried that it may turn into a visual bustle, consider counterbalancing a bold, intricate pattern with a lighter one like checks, stripes, or floating petite motifs - bound by a common palette.

• Pair Two Plains: Each color brings its own personality, so pairing two different tones makes for a clever choice when opting for plain reversible curtains. Pair a calm neutral tone with a bold statement color, or two complementary tones, or two neutral hues - whatever your design goals call for. This is just the perfect solution for some scenarios, like the overly large en suite bedroom, where the sleeping area would feel more nap-ready with a serene neutral, while the TV zone on the other side calls for a bold accent.

• Pair Two Textures: If your design style is wary of mixing colors and patterns, consider the safer terrain of texture. No matter how small this detail might appear, the impact is big. Especially for a heavy fabric like velvet, pairing with a lightweight linen or poly-cotton helps not just to bring textural variety, but also to manage the overall weight of the drapery.

HomeSewn Wisdom: At Sewn, our seamstresses put their expertise to good use to ensure a clean, seamless look on both sides of your drapery, as much as reasonably possible. That said, some hems and seams will still be visible, so it’s worth keeping this in mind when setting expectations.

HAUL 'EM HOME: Velvet Curtains | Linen Curtains | Check Curtains

Double-Sided Curtains: FAQs

What are double-sided curtains?

Curtains made with drapery fabric on both sides instead of a lining, so they look finished from either side. They’re also called reversible curtains, and they suit places where a curtain is seen from both directions, like open doorways, room dividers and bed canopies.

Are double-sided curtains the same as lined curtains?

No. A lined curtain has a plain lining on the back (white privacy or blackout lining at Sewn), which is there to do a job rather than to be looked at. A double-sided curtain swaps the lining for a second face fabric, so both sides are meant to be seen.

Which heading is best for double-sided curtains?

Flat panel and grommet tops are the best all-rounders: their folds look much the same on both sides, and they glide easily on rings or grommets. Tab tops, back tabs, tie tops and rod pockets look almost identical front and back but slide less freely, so they suit smaller or stationary panels. Pinch pleats are the least suited, because the back shows the heading tape and the gathers.

Are double-sided curtains heavier than ordinary curtains?

Yes, as they have two full layers of fabric. To keep them gliding, choose light to medium-weight fabrics for very wide panels, pair a heavy fabric with a lighter one on the back, or split a wide curtain into several panels.

Are double-sided curtains expensive?

Since they use drapery fabric on both sides, doubling the amount of fabric as well as the time and labor to sew them, you can expect double-sided curtains from Sewn to be roughly 2x the price of single-sided drapes.

Can each side of a double-sided curtain be a different fabric?

Yes, and that’s half the fun. Pair a pattern with a plain, two prints in a shared palette, two different colors, or two textures, such as velvet with a light linen, which also keeps the weight down.

Will the seams and hems show on a double-sided curtain?

Some will. Our seamstresses keep both sides as clean as reasonably possible, but the hems, the heading and any joins will still show. Panels wider than about 48 inches are joined with vertical seams, with patterns matched across them.

Where do double-sided curtains work best?

Anywhere a curtain is seen from both sides: open doorways and passages, room dividers in open-plan spaces and studios, bed canopies, and alcoves or closets that open straight into a room.

Shop Double-Sided Curtains at Sewn

In the end, thoughtfully designed double-sided curtains are like those rare personalities who are photogenic from every angle. Whether dividing a room or softening the doorway, they steal the scene on both sides, proving that sometimes, it is possible to have it both ways. They demand some extra thought, but the payoff is worth it. So, head to our collection of more than 2,500 premium fabrics, all made to measure in our studios in India or the UK, and shop those perfect reversible curtains that look just as splendid on their back as on the front. To order double-sided curtains, or for a hand pairing fabrics, just drop us a line at hi@sewndrapesandshades.com.

HOMESEWN WISDOM: A Guide to Flat Panel Top Curtains | A Guide to Grommet Top Curtains