The right kitchen curtains may just be the magic your kitchen needs today and if you’re already out looking for them, this blog post with kitchen curtain ideas straight from our designers will be of great help on your journey. From the right fabric to the right size, there are a host of factors that contribute to making the best kitchen curtains and we’ll lay them all down for you: 

SHOP NOW: Custom Curtains for your kitchen in any size & style you like. Choose from over 2000 drapery fabrics, accessorise with trims and finish with add-ons like curtain tie-backs. Match your curtains with custom valances and table runners for the cosy breakfast nook and create a look that spells bespoke. Every day is your day at The White Window, so shop away!

‘Must Have’ Elements for the Best Kitchen Window Curtains

Image by Jenkins Interiors

Curtains relay a sumptuous visual appeal and organic beauty with their rippled contours. So, it is not surprising that many clients look to curtains to tone down the austerity and sterility of the kitchen.  With happy colours and patterns, kitchen curtains offer the perfect visual break in such a chore-oriented space. So, curtains are the best thing to happen to a kitchen window, if indeed, you are looking for their delicate beauty. 

But kitchens present several challenges for curtains to look and function at their best. Most clients are faced with the ‘small window problem’ - the window is too small to deck up lavishly but too significant to leave unstyled. Here, the challenge is to find the middle ground - a way to dress the window while making the most of it. If, on the contrary, you have a big window, no doubt luck is on your side. But dressing them right can be challenging still as long curtains sometimes get in the way of function and are harder to keep clean from floor dust and wet spills. In addition, kitchen curtains, both short and long, have to work harder to look pleasant between splutters and splashes. 

These are real challenges, but overcoming them is a breeze for those who can make wise design decisions. In this regard, we are about to share the top traits to look for to find the best curtains for your kitchen. Let’s begin with the first:

Flowy Fabrics & Swingin' Sheers: Lightweight Curtains for the Win

Image by April Tomlin Interiors

Kitchens typically being non-private spaces, don’t need bulky insulative curtains that block all light and air. So clients tend to look for functionally efficient kitchen curtains that are light and airy. These curtains don’t trap cooking odours as they don’t create an impenetrable block between the internal and external environment. They also allow light into the kitchen in a controlled manner and enable it to be naturally dry and sanitised. Should you want the entire window for access, they can be drawn to the sides with minimum stackback as they are light. 

To create this maximally efficient kitchen curtain, consider the fabric composition carefully. How close-knit the fabric is will have all the say in the amount of light and air that your kitchen will access. If  ‘the more, the better’ is your motto when it comes to natural light and airiness, go for loosely woven linen or sheer fabrics.  Delicate, translucent fabrics like Cheddar and Cosmic Navy or semi-sheers like Sweet Memories and Day Spring from The White Window collection are ideal as they can provide diffused light throughout the day. 

TIP IN A PIC!

USE LIGHTWEIGHT CURTAINS TO WELCOME LIGHT & AIR IN KITCHENS. The loose-knit linen drapery in this Scandinavian kitchen filters light softly. The curtains don’t look too obtrusive in this small space despite covering from floor to ceiling because they are lightweight. Add their wrinkled beauty and slubby texture to that softness, and you have a generous dose of lived-in magic in this modern minimalist kitchen.

• If semi-transparent curtains won’t serve your purpose or don’t align with your aesthetics, go for lightweight opaque curtains - or leave your curtains unlined. They provide a higher level of privacy and significant control over light inflow and can be gathered to the sides easily when you want to let in light and air.  
• Avoid chunky fabrics like heavyweight cottons and velvets as they will make the curtains heavy and insulative. And although silk is a lightweight fabric, we’d advise against using it in kitchens as it is most unforgiving to water stains. 

SHOP NOW: CUSTOM LINEN CURTAINS FROM SEWN

Lightweights & Blends: Your Kitchen's Best Friends

Image by Shannon Eddings Interiors

Spillage accidents are inevitable and humidity levels are naturally high in any active kitchen. Curtains may get wet often, and, in the long run, develop unpleasant grey edges. Therefore, kitchen curtains should be designed with a view of enabling them to dry faster and thereby withstand mildew formation. Stains can be spot-cleaned while curtains are still hung, thanks to the speed with which they dry on their own. And, should the curtains get wet, drying faster reduces the chances for them to get mouldy. 

Choosing lightweight fabrics does half the job of creating fast-drying curtains. Loose-woven pure linen curtains are a great choice for kitchens for this reason. But, if you like non-transparent curtains, consider tight-knit cotton and linen blends. The small percentage of polyester in these fabrics will enable the curtain to dry faster even with a thicker weave. Curtains like the linen Uster, polycotton Sherwood Forest and sheer Silky Pie are some examples from our collection. 

Furthermore, while curtain panels with dense deep pleats are ideal for other rooms, over-full curtains might not be ideal for your kitchen. Humid air and moisture get trapped between the pleats, making it harder for them to stay dry or dry faster when wet. Therefore, we recommend low-body curtains with relatively sparser pleats. More details on this point, coming ahead.

Trim & Trendy, Short & Sleek: Less is More in Kitchens

Image by Jenkins Interiors

Windows adjacent to kitchen patio doors call for long curtains. But, in almost every other case, a short curtain will keep you more thankful in the kitchen. Unless you want to make a style statement and have the convenience to do so in a generously sized kitchen, curtains in kitchens do a better job when short and sleek. So, here are our suggestions for the correct length and width:

• LENGTH: To cut your curtains’ exposure to water, especially if they are close to the sink or hob, keep them short, just up to the sill. This will also ensure that the curtains are light and airy. In contrast, long bulky curtains block light and air flow rigorously and stand a high chance of getting wet. But, if you do go for long curtains as they might suit your kitchen situation better, avoid puddling them heavily to reduce their potential to trap dirt and humidity. Also, that helps to keep them easily movable on the pole and to avoid tripping accidents on a busy day in the kitchen. 
• WIDTH: As discussed above, low-body lightweight curtains are ideal for kitchens. This is achieved partly by choosing light fabrics and partly by reducing the width. Thus, you get curtains with shallow sparse pleats. So, if your kitchen window is 100cms wide, we recommend that the total drapery width should not exceed 150cm as opposed to the 200-300cm that we would have recommended for, say, the living-dining rooms. Thus, you get a relatively flatter curtain with shallow pleats that offer more airiness than deep-pleated dense curtains.

With the right fabric and well-considered length and width, your curtains can stay safe and dry. Here are a few examples of curtains that are suitable for kitchens.