Checkered curtains carry a cadence that makes a house feel like home. Like the flap of laundry in a summer field, the hum of bees by the hedgerow, wind pulling gently at linen hanging on the line. While stereotypically wistful, belonging to landscapes where stone cottages huddle beneath wide skies, checked drapery wanders well. From farmhouse windows to city lofts, from nurseries to reading rooms, these perfectly symmetrical squares shift with the space around them. Shrunk to a whisper in delicate gingham or emboldened in grand buffalo check scale, checkered curtains adapt without losing their roots. 

In a world that moves all too fast, check curtains on a window beg you to linger. To gaze out. To come back home. And if you’re here with plans to bring that feeling home, you’ve come to the right place. With a collection boasting hundreds of check, plaid, gingham and tartan curtains, and friendly stylists who bring you ideas and tips to style ‘em, you have got all that you need to deck up your home with check curtains right here at Sewn. 

MORE FROM THE STORE: Check Roman Shades | Striped Curtains | Floral Curtains

Served On a Silver Spool: Top Ideas & Tips to Drape Your Home in Checkered Curtains

Woven from heritage, yet endlessly adaptable, checkered curtains work in more locales than you’d think. They can evoke the English cottage’s pastoral charm or tilt clean and contemporary with lean palettes.

In this guide, we’ve gathered our favorite styling ideas, pairings and tips to help you find your perfect rhythm in checks, whether you're after countryside charm, tailored tradition, or a modern twist on the classic square. Let’s unspool some charm, shall we?

Checks Come in Many Moods: Know the Square that Fits Your Decor Peg

Woven into uniforms, uniforms, kilts, and kitchen towels across centuries and continents, checks carry the soul of workwear, war, cultural traditions, celebrations, and the mundane daily rituals with equal grace. Understanding the different types of checks and the moods they carry is your first step in choosing a drapery that not only looks good but also feels right in your space and aesthetic. 

Woven into uniforms, kilts, and kitchen towels across centuries and continents, checks carry the soul of workwear, war, cultural traditions, celebrations, and the mundane daily rituals with equal grace. Some checks lean rustic and homey, others whisper heritage and sophistication. Understanding the different types of checks is your first step in choosing a drapery that not only looks good but also feels right in your space and aesthetic. 

Here’s a quick check checklist to familiarize you with the members of the square fam:

• Gingham: Charming and nostalgic, gingham is a two-tone check, typically white combined with a solid color, where the overlapping squares create a third, paler tone. The checks are evenly sized and small to medium in scale. Perfect for French country kitchens, cottage dining rooms, or sunlit garden nooks, they add a certain sprightliness to any setting, best when you want an easy-breezy aesthetic. 

• Plaid/ Tartan: The aristocrat of checks—layered, complex, and full of heritage—that’s plaid for you. Tartans feature overlapping bands of several colours, often in autumnal tones like moss, navy, or rust. They lend a rich, collegiate feel to interiors, evoking Scottish manors, mahogany libraries, and crackling fireplaces. Ideal for creating a grounded, moody atmosphere, plaids and tartans in darker palettes are your perfect choice for men’s dens or any space that needs the touch of masculine suave. 

• Buffalo Check: Bold and broad, this style of check wears its confidence on its sleeve. With large, square blocks (often in red and black or deep navy and cream),  buffalo check curtains suit farmhouse kitchens, stone-floored cottages, or cabins with exposed beams perfectly, settings that benefit from a dose of hearty pattern.

• Tattarsall Check: Polished yet unassuming, Tattersall is the English gentleman of the group, closely linked to elite equestrian culture. Its fine, evenly spaced grid, usually delicate lines of burgundy or navy on an ivory ground, feels quietly traditional. It’s an understated way to introduce pattern into home offices, reading rooms, or country-inspired drawing rooms. 

Scale Correctly: Pick Your Checks in Tandem with Space

The scale of the pattern is key to how it reads in the room or on a window. A pattern that feels charming on a grand bay window might feel overpowering on a small kitchen cafe curtain, and vice versa. The golden rule: keep the size of the check in proportion to both the window and the room.

• Large checks need room to breathe. They look best on wide panes, tall doors, or statement drapes where the pattern can unfold naturally.

• Small checks will work better on modest windows or in rooms where you want a quieter rhythm of pattern rather than a dominant feature.

Also, consider the room’s other existing patterns. If wallpaper, rugs or upholstery are already large-scaled, keep the check scale smaller so everything works together. In a more sparse scheme, larger-scaled checked curtains can create an enticing focal point. 

Pick Your Palette: Know the Impact of Colours

The palette of the pattern can tame or amplify the visual presence of your drapes. So, before shopping, start with the question, ‘Do I want my drapes to be the focal point or settle down into a hush?’ And let your answer guide your pick of palette in tandem with your choice of pattern’s scale, discussed above. 

If you want your checkered/ plaid curtains to command attention, don’t be shy. Go larger, go bolder, go brighter. Big, bold checks in spirited colours like crimson, forest green, and inky navy will rule the room with confidence. They’re less “supporting role,” more “scene-stealer.”

On the other hand, if you’d like your curtains to blend in gracefully, go for the soft-spoken types—small-scale checks in low-contrast hues. You’d find your match in misty blues, oatmeal neutrals, or gentle greys that hum quietly in the background while others do the talking. Such drapes add texture, not tension. Even if you have chosen a large-scale check, you can substantially tone down its presence with muted hues like soft greys or dusty blues.

Invite Swirls & Twirls to the Party: Add Curlicued Motifs to the Mix

Straight lines and curvy motifs have been a celebrated couple since time immemorial.  Checks, with all their crisp geometry, find their perfect counterpart in sinuous patterns like florals that unfurl, paisleys that swirl, and damasks that bloom in regal rhythm. 

If your checks are taking the lead with bold plaids or hearty buffalo checks, let their companions speak softly. Choose smaller, daintier prints like ditsy florals, delicate damasks, or petite paisleys.

And when your checks are gentle and unassuming, like a soft gingham or slim tattersall, there’s room to be bolder. Introduce sweeping florals, dramatic damasks, or sinuous paisleys that command attention. A statement chair, a bold wallpaper panel, or an upholstered ottoman can create delightful interplay between the measured grid and the flowing curves.

To Sew It All Up

Checks have had quite the social life. They’ve mingled with clans in the Highlands, strutted through ’90s high school hallways, and never once fallen out of favour. Checkered curtains carry the same quiet confidence, making a room feel stylish without even trying. And now that you’ve been introduced to the different members of the check family and are armed with expert styling tips, we hope you’re feeling ready to dive headfirst into Sewn's extensive collection of checkered curtains and plaid drapes. Shop as you like, style as you may, and meet us on the prettier side!