By: Gabriella King
Published on: November 24, 2025
The right curtains do more than simply block out the light; they are the finishing touch that transforms a house into a home. They can add warmth, drama, texture, and personality to any room. Yet, with a seemingly endless array of fabrics to choose from, making the right decision can feel overwhelming. How do you select a material that is not only beautiful but also perfectly suited to your space and lifestyle?
As an interior decorator here in the sunny Algarve, I’m Gabriella King, and I believe that the perfect window treatment is a blend of art and science. It’s about balancing aesthetics with practicality. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to select the ideal curtain materials with confidence.
When planning to have a custom curtain design for your home, it is always important to let your designer know the purpose of the curtain. The first questions to answer are:
Once these questions are all answered you can proceed to the material selection.
Understanding the character of each fabric is the key to making a choice you’ll love for years to come.
Natural, breathable, and effortlessly chic, linen offers a relaxed and airy feel.
Its natural texture adds depth and a touch of organic elegance to a room.
Cotton is a wonderfully versatile and durable choice. It offers a crisp, clean finish that can suit both traditional and contemporary interiors. It drapes well and is available in a vast range of colours, patterns, and weaves.
Modern polyester is a highly practical and affordable option. It’s incredibly durable, resistant to wrinkling, shrinking, and fading, and is very easy to care for.
There are however 2 other materials which are said to be great recommendations for curtains, but this one we would stay away from.
Although this heavy, plush material can block light and sound effectively and can provide good insulation to a room as a curtain, the fabric has a tendency to catch dust falling and would accumulate in time within the folds of the curtain material.
This makes for a heavy maintenance of your curtain design.
Best for: Cushions and lampshades.
Silk is one of the most elegant materials out there. It is beautiful and has a subtle sheen. It is also very soft and gives a sense of luxury (which is also reflected in its cost).
Best for: Bedsheets
Bear in mind: Real silk is delicate and can be damaged by the sun, so it must always be lined and interlined. Faux silk offers a similar look with much greater durability and a lower cost.
If we dive deeper into specific curtain designs that can elevate your interior space, there are 4 great curtain designs that are an absolute must.
My favourite curtain design usually consists of a two curtain system with a double rail.
The best combination I would suggest is to have sheer materials for the curtain closest to the window and a blackout material in the front.
This way when the curtain is open you have an option to keep the interior of your space private whilst allowing the light to enter the space.
For the sheer, I would recommend a very natural material… this could be a linen or semi-linen and polyester material… For the colour… it may be better to opt for a neutral tone such as whites or beiges.
For the main curtain, the blackout material will be sown in the back… the front can be another plain design or one that has different colours, shapes and patterns.
To select the right colours, it would make a very harmonious design to match the furniture colours or colour of bed sheets.
The second design is much more simple, a traditional curtain pole… and a hoop on design.
This style is timeless and effective. For this curtain a fabric that has instant blackout for a bedroom design and a sheer natural fabric for a living room space adding to the privacy concept and a softness to the room are both excellent choices depending on the room’s function.
The focus here is on the beauty of a single, well-chosen fabric.
This type of curtain is one of my favourites as they can perfectly slot themselves inside any windowsill.
They have a simple mechanism to open and can have the most beautiful patterns that are made more prominent when closed.
For the material selection I would always suggest to go full-out into very designed patterns. Stripes are also good.
The thickness also needs to be almost perfect for furniture upholstering as it will add a thicker cushion effect to the final folds.
This final design consists of curtains for a living space that is designed in the phase of construction of a property.
This needs to be planned in advance as the curtain’s upper part is indeed completely hidden in the moulds that shape the room itself.
The curtain will then hang from higher than the ceiling level all the way to the floor.
For this minimalist, high-impact look, the material also needs to be quite heavy as it will need enough weight to appear straight and tidy all the way through whether open or closed.
Living in our beautiful corner of Portugal presents some unique considerations.
The intense sun can cause delicate fabrics to fade, while the humidity requires careful thought.
Unless you are living in a very humid area (either by the sea or a lake front), in which case a copy of the material with a synthetic material would be more durable.
High-quality polyester blends are often the most practical choices to ensure your investment lasts.
A good lining is not just a recommendation here; it’s essential to protect your main fabric from the strong Algarve sun.
The “best” material depends entirely on the room and your needs.
For light and airy living rooms, linen or cotton are fantastic choices.
For durability and value, high-quality polyester is unbeatable.
There is no single rule, but here are two common design approaches:
For a luxurious, full look, the total width of your curtain panels should be at least 2 to 2.5 times the width of your window.
For length, the most professional finish is either “kissing” the floor or having a slight 1-2 cm “puddle” on the floor.
Choosing the right curtain material is about thoughtfully balancing function, fabric, and form.
By first defining what you need your curtains to do, you can then explore the wonderful world of textiles to find a material that not only performs perfectly but also brings joy and beauty to your space.
Ready to Find the Perfect Curtains for Your Home?
If you’re dreaming of beautiful, functional, and perfectly tailored window treatments for your home in the Algarve, I can help.
Disclaimer: This article is an independent editorial recommendation.
The author is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any of the brands mentioned.
