When a Pinterest feed starts filling with light and airy homes drenched in a sunkissed glow, it’s not long before sheer curtains get added to the shopping list. Stealing the sun’s golden rays and blending them with the softness of moonlight, sheer curtains are - after all - a dream in a drape! 

Whether your home is characterized by its grand picture windows beneath soaring double-height ceilings or by its intimate, cozy nooks — our versatile sheers can grace any space with equal splendor. And if you’ve found Sewn today - looking for that perfect veil of translucence for your windows - let’s raise a toast to your impeccable taste. And as a gift, we present you tips from our expert stylists, paired with a guided tour of our meticulously curated sheer curtain collection.

MORE FROM THE STORE: Sheer Roman Shades | Linen Curtains | Cotton Curtains

Why Choose Sheer Curtains 

Choosing sheer curtains is an undeniable win-win - not only for their chic aesthetic - but also for their unmatched functionality, making them a top recommendation for any home. Need a little more convincing? Read on for the many reasons to join the sheer-curtain fandom: 

FOR OPTIMAL LIGHT CONTROL: Instead of completely blocking the light, sheer curtains gently diffuse sunlight, allowing the space to be softly illuminated. They cut the harshness of direct sun exposure without plunging the room into darkness — the perfect solution for those who want to block sun glare, without sacrificing a warm, welcoming glow.

FOR PRIVACY PROTECTION: When the goal is to preserve privacy without negating incoming light, just dial in sheer curtains to do the job. One of the key benefits of sheer curtains, especially in densely packed apartments where windows often face each other, is their ability to serve as a veil that separates your interiors from the outside world, providing a layer of privacy without compelling you to give up on a breezy, light-filled home. 

FOR AESTHETIC VALUE: Well-chosen sheers that complement your decor bring in just the right amount of oomph with colors, patterns, or simply the soft texture of a fabric. Therefore, without taking away from the primary responsibilities of the window i.e. welcoming light and framing a stellar view – sheers add to what is already there. And, the softly filtered light through the gauzy veils creates a beautiful motion picture of light and shadows that make your home look like it has been swapped right out of a cinematic scene.

FOR LAYERING WITH BLACKOUTS: Sheers with blackouts are a celebrated pair in the world of window decor. This versatile coupling brings with it panache, pizzazz, and of course, top-tier performance. While sheers shoulder the responsibility of maintaining privacy during the day without blocking light, blackouts turn days into cozy nights whenever you want, so you can get your quick daytime naps whenever you want.

FOR SMALL ROOMS: When dealing with small rooms, stylists recommend steering clear of heavier fabrics since they tend to block light and air, making the space seem tinier, stuffy, and claustrophobic. Sheer curtains, on the other hand, can create an illusion of spaciousness by maximizing natural light alongside your artificial lighting. Their gauzy texture also allows for excellent air circulation, even when fully drawn across the windows. Therefore, sheers make for an ideal choice for small rooms with their functional benefits fitting the bill to the T. 

FOR SMALL WINDOWS: Heavier and opaque fabric drapery with dense pleats can overwhelm the Lilliputian dimensions of a small window, making low-fullness sheer curtains a more suitable choice. These delicate dressings not only complement the modest proportions of the window but also infuse a sense of softness while allowing ample light and ventilation to flow through.

FOR HUMID SPACES & SPLASH ZONES: Being thin and lightweight, sheer curtains are fast-drying and can handle moisture like a pro. This makes them a perfect fit for kitchens and laundry rooms which are prone to high humidity and wet splashes. Thanks to their loose weave and light bodies, sheers also don’t trap cooking smells. Lastly, one simply cannot overlook how the softness of sheer curtains balances the hard surfaces that dominate utilitarian spaces like kitchens and laundries. 

FOR PATIO DOORS: For patio doors, sheers make an excellent choice since they add a layer of privacy without completely cutting off the exteriors. Through the veil, you can still enjoy the view of your topiary garden, decked-up patio, or the birds casually coming by to say hello. 

FOR MODERN MINIMALIST DECOR: A modern home leaning on sleek, minimalist decor may find heavier drapes too traditional and out of place. However, the lightweight sheers billowing with the breeze falls right in line with the easy-breezy, streamlined aesthetic of a hush-hush home that wants to keep textiles on a lighter note (pun intended).

Home-Sewn Designer Wisdom & Tips

The true joy of shopping for custom curtains lies in envisioning and styling them exactly as you wish. However, with such great power comes the responsibility of making the correct choices. And to help make such judicious  choices, coming right up are the five tips to style your sheer curtains with designer finesse:

HEADING STYLES

At Sewn, we offer over a dozen heading styles, each with its own decor language and functional benefits. Ultimately, your choice will be anchored upon your aesthetic preferences as well as how you want your sheer curtains to perform. Let us break this down—

If your sheers will primarily serve as an ornamental accent, or you prefer to keep them drawn for privacy, styles like rod pockets or back tabs are your best bet. These pole-huggers stay put, resisting the urge to flutter away with every breeze. On the other hand, if you plan on maneuvering your curtains frequently, choose styles that easily glide on the pole like grommet tops or pinch pleats.

Also, factor in the aesthetic of each style so they sync with your overall decor. Tie tops are perfect for feminine or boho spaces, while pinch pleats lend themselves beautifully to more formal, elegant rooms. Rustic or farmhouse-style homes pair well with the simplicity of rod pockets, and for those sleek Scandi or Japandi spaces, ripplefold or flat panel top sheers create the perfect, clean-lined look.

For a more detailed discussion of each heading style on offer, check out our Drapery Heading Style Guide. 

FULLNESS FACTOR

In drapery terms, fullness refers to the width of the curtain panel, which determines how richly gathered or ‘full’ your drapes will appear. 

In general, the stylists advise maintaining a standard of 2x fullness for sheer curtains.

Let’s explain with an example. If your drapery pole measures 50 inches, and you’ve chosen a non-pinch, casual heading style, then you’d ideally order your sheer curtains at a total width of 100 inches (2x50). You can achieve this by either opting for a single sheer panel measuring 100 inches or two panels, each 50 inches wide. 

Since sheers are thin and have a low body volume, you can even consider going up to 3x fullness if you want your sheers to sport a denser gather for a rich look and enhanced privacy. Therefore, for the same 50-inch drapery pole, you would then order sheer curtains with a total width of 150 inches, translating to either one 150-inch sheer panel or two panels of 75 inches each. 

If you have ordered sheer curtains in any of our pinch pleat styles, be assured that our pinch pleat drapes are sewn with a built-in fullness of about 2.5x, that tends to offer a very opulent look.

While 2x fullness is our default recommendation, note that small windows may need further consideration. An overly dense gather will be disproportionate and may look overbearing when draping a small window. Therefore, consider lower fullness of about 1.5x fullness for small windows so the drapery looks fitting for the scale. 

For further assistance in measuring for your sheer curtains, check out our Drapery Measurement Guide.

CURTAIN LENGTH

Choose your drapery length based on the space and requirements but there’s one general rule for sheers: avoid puddling. Since sheers are delicate fabrics, they are at a higher risk of wear and tear if they are sweeping the floor every time you maneuver them.

When you are planning to dress your doors or windows with floor-to-ceiling sheer curtains, let them kiss or graze the floor subtly but it is not advisable to go overboard with the length by puddling them. On the other hand, for small rooms or kitchens where the window is in proximity to the sink, you may find a better match with sill-length and cafe curtains. 

CURTAIN TRIMMINGS

Show a little extra love to your sheers by adding tasteful curtain trimmings like pom poms or tassels that echo the playful, breezy nature of your sheers and also imbue them with texture and depth. And while you may think of trims as simple aesthetic add-ons, we beg to differ! Any trimming, when attached to sheers, adds an extra weight that helps the curtains to drape better and fall in more shapely pleats.

While selecting your trims, make sure they speak the same language as your decor. For instance, a boho retreat finds its echo in sheers lined with pom poms – an extravagance of whimsy. For a dressier look, tassel trims can be a perfect match, especially with the embroidered sheer collection. Lastly, if you are trying to match the aesthetic of your modern home with trims, choose the sleek and streamlined ribbon trims in colors ranging from popping hues to neutral nudes.

DRAPERY LINING

To line or not to line — that is the question and we have the answer. 

In general, we advise against lining sheer curtains because it somewhat negates the whole point of ordering sheers. However, in case you would like to line your sheer or semi-sheer curtains to ‘make them’ opaque for privacy or other reasons, keep in mind that the color of the lining behind will somewhat impact the final ‘face’ color of your curtains. Therefore, if you have chosen a white sheer, white lining will be the most well-suited. However, the same white lining behind colorful sheers might interfere with the chosen color of your sheers. So it’s advisable to carefully consider the impact of lining on your sheers before ordering. 

Going Beyond the Windows with Sheer Curtains

Sheers are not just great at draping your windows; they are quite the friends to creative minds who like to think ‘out of the window’ in design. To get your creative juices flowing, we will give you a headstart with a few ideas from our designers:

DECK THE BED: Transform your bed into a scene straight out of a period drama movie, where a canopy of sheer curtains billows on a poster bed, turning your sleeping space into an ethereal retreat. Imagine the soft fabric gently swaying like a silk gown in a ballroom, creating an atmosphere so enchanting that you half expect Mr. Darcy to appear with a proposal. It’s not just decoration; it’s a little slice of cinematic luxury that wraps you in a sense of timeless elegance.

DIVIDE & SLAY: Channel your inner interior designer and use sheers as room dividers. Floating gracefully and dividing zones without completely cutting them off, sheers keep the space light and airy, while adding a subtle visual cue that defines your layout. Whether you’re creating a cozy nook or carving out a private sleeping area in a studio apartment, you’ll find sheer curtains to be a worthy candidate. 

DRAPE A WALL: Now this one’s for clients who want a Great Gatsby moment in their interiors – an unexpected style statement that demands a second glance. Cascading like a waterfall, ruffled sheer curtains make for great feature walls or bedscapes. Their rounded pleats and lace-like makeup soften the hard walls and foster visual warmth in the room.  

The Sewn Sheer Curtains Collection Tour

When it comes to our sheer curtains collection, we can proudly say that it has multiple options for every client and their unique tastes. From a rainbow full of colors to the bright white of summer clouds, from plains to prints to embroideries, you’ll find all that you need right here. Let’s get straight to it:

THE SUPERNEUTRAL WHITES: Our white sheers have consistently been our bestsellers and have a cult following of their own. From New York’s penthouses to Malibu’s beach houses, our sheers have been gracing spaces of all styles and flavors. If simplicity entails your definition of beauty then our plain white sheers like Seraphic Touch and Cool Mana will appeal to you. For adding a subtle texture/ pattern to your white sheers, consider options like Birch Tale and Yara, that feature subtle texture weaves and patterns. 

THE NUDE PALETTE: If you love the versatility of white but not its starkness, the ever-mingling habit of non-white neutrals will surely win you over. Whatever the palette, decor, or age group, neutrals can fit in effortlessly. From the warm beige of Evelina to the pale gray of Vellura, and from the earthy brown of Felicia to the soft pastel yellow of Easy Pick, our collection has every hue of neutrals for you. 

SLICE OF THE RAINBOW:  Want to live life la vie en rose? Then your shopping cart needs sheers like Pelargonium and Crystal Barley. Want to steal the sun and hang it on your windows? Snag the ever cheerful Calgary for your home. Want to swap the blue of Maldives home? Cameo Floe will make you feel like you’re dipping your toes in serenity. Also, in case you want us to say it out loud — yes, it is indeed the best one for coastal interiors. With such a vibrant array of hues to choose from, you can not only effortlessly match the existing decor and palette of your home but also create a space that is a reflects your style. 

TEXTURE TALES: Sometimes patterns aren’t what you’re looking for, but plain curtains seem too mundane. Textured curtains will answer your call in such cases. Take Celery Bisque for example — striped but not quite, playing such an interesting visual game! On a similar ground, there is Stonewashed, with stripes that cover the drapery like veins of earth running through a snow-covered plateau. To introduce just a hint of drama without stepping on the patterned bandwagon, we have Obelink, making whimsical shadows dance with each flutter in your home.

PATTERN PLAY: From prints to embroideries – our patterned sheer collection is a treat for homes that love bold patterns as well as those looking to add patterns without attracting too much attention. Among our embroidered sheers, you’ll find options like Delicate Blossom and Heather Glen that are nothing short of a feast for the eyes with their colorful threads making art over a white sheer canvas. Our printed sheers like Avenior feature florals and can bring gentle softness to any room. Among more modern options are Magical Mist and Sherbet with their neutral palettes and fine embroidery work, oh-so-perfect for hush-hush homes.

Conclusion

We hope this has been a joyful ride across the stylists’ tips and our collection. We part here, leaving  you to the best part — shopping! — and it is so much more fun when you have hundreds of options to browse and choose from. Whether you are looking to add whimsy to your boho retreat or bring a note of softness to your sleek modern home, Sewn will bring your vision to life. So, go ahead and find your match, our collection awaits. Happy retail therapy!