Sheer & Voile Curtains

Sheers and voiles soften daylight and create a lighter layer between the room and the outside. They work on their own, or as the daytime layer behind heavier curtains.

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What sheers and voiles do

Sheer and voile fabrics are fine, open or semi-transparent weaves. They filter daylight rather than block it, softening glare and blurring the view in from outside while keeping the room bright. They also add movement and texture to a window, which is why they are often used even where privacy is not a concern.

Privacy by day, and after dark

During the day, when it is brighter outside than in, a sheer can make it harder to see into the room. After dark the situation reverses: with the lights on inside, a sheer may give much less privacy. We do not describe sheers as night-time privacy on their own. For evening privacy, pair them with lined curtains or a blind, or see our privacy guide.

Headings and fullness

Sheers look best with generous fullness, so the fabric reads as soft folds rather than a flat screen. Wave headings give an even, contemporary rhythm; pleated and gathered headings suit a more traditional room. Compare the options on our curtain headings page.

Layering

Sheers are at their most useful as part of a layered scheme:

a sheer with blackout curtains for bedrooms
a sheer with lined curtains for living rooms
a sheer with a Roman blind
a sheer with shutters, where the architecture allows

A double track lets the sheer and the main curtain move independently, so you can draw one without the other. See layered window treatments.

Large windows and doors

On wide glazing and doors, sheers soften a large expanse of glass without making the room feel closed in. The track and stack are planned so the sheer clears door handles and the traffic route.

Care

Care depends on the fabric you choose; we give you the care information for your chosen sheer.

Measuring and fitting

Sheers are usually hung on a track or pole close to the glass, with the heavier curtain in front. We check the space for both layers, the ceiling height and any obstacles at your free home survey.

Honest suitability

Is it right for your window?

Every recommendation comes with a reason. Where something else would serve you better, we say so — and suggest what to consider instead.

Where this works well

Layered with heavier curtains Recommended
A sheer is the ideal daytime layer behind lined or blackout curtains.
Daytime privacy on street-facing windows
Sheers blur the view in while keeping rooms bright.
Worth knowing: Privacy drops after dark when the room is lit.
Large windows and doors
Softens a wide expanse of glass without closing the room in.
Softening glare
Filters harsh daylight while keeping the view.
Worth knowing: Sheers diffuse light rather than block solar heat.

Where we’d suggest something else

Night-time privacy on their own
Why: With lights on inside, a sheer can let people see in.
The limitation: Sheers filter light; they are not designed to screen a lit room.
Consider instead: Privacy blinds
Darkening a bedroom
Why: Sheers let daylight through by design.
The limitation: They will not help with early sunrises or light evenings.
Consider instead: Blackout curtains

Fabrics and linings

Sheers and voiles are usually left unlined, so light passes softly through the weave. They are often paired with a separate lined, blackout or interlined curtain on a double track.

Standard lining is a separate backing layer sewn behind the face fabric. It protects the fabric from direct sun, adds body and helps the curtain hang and fold consistently.

Blackout lining is designed to stop light passing through the curtain itself. It does not make a room completely dark: light can still find its way around the edges, above the track or pole, beneath the hem and where the curtains meet.

Interlining is a soft layer placed between the face fabric and the lining. It adds weight, fullness and a more insulating construction, and gives many fabrics a richer drape.

The exact fabrics and linings available, and how they behave together, depend on the fabric you choose. We confirm the construction at your consultation.

Tracks, poles and operation

Sheers are light and easy to draw. The main ways to operate them:

Hand-drawn: the simplest option, and quiet in use. Suits most headings on poles and tracks.
Wands: a slim rod clipped to the leading edge, so you draw the curtain without handling the fabric. No cords involved.
Cord-drawn tracks: a continuous cord opens and closes the curtains. Any looped cord must be held taut by a tensioner or safety device fixed to the wall.
Motorised tracks: available on selected track systems, with control options that depend on the system chosen. Motorisation removes operating cords altogether.

Child safety

Where a curtain track is operated by a looped cord, the loop must be held taut by a cord tensioner or safety device fitted to the wall, so it cannot form a hanging loop within reach of children. We fit any required safety devices as part of installation.

Hand-drawn curtains and wands have no looped cords, and motorised tracks remove operating cords altogether, which makes them sensible choices for children's rooms and family homes. See our guide to child-safe window coverings.

Compared with the alternatives

Day & Night blinds

Alternating sheer and solid bands give adjustable privacy in a single blind. More control in one product; a sheer curtain is softer and more decorative.

Blackout curtains

Designed to reduce light rather than filter it. Often hung in front of a sheer on a double track.

Pleated and cellular blinds

Light-filtering fabrics in a compact blind that sits in the window, useful where there is no space for curtains to stack.

Related options

Related advice

Questions we get asked

Will people see in at night?

Possibly, when your lights are on. Sheers give daytime privacy; for the evening, pair them with lined curtains or a blind.

Do sheers need a separate track?

For a layered scheme, a double track is usually best, so the sheer and the main curtain can move independently.

What is the difference between a sheer and a voile?

Both are fine, light-filtering fabrics. Voile usually describes a very fine, soft weave; sheer is a broader term covering many open or translucent fabrics.

Do sheers stop heat from the sun?

They soften glare and diffuse light, but they are not a solar-control product. For heat, compare internal and external shading options.

More curtain options

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