How To Choose The Right Curtain Fabric For The Australian Climate?

Windows can be a significant contributor to heat gain and loss from houses in Australia. In the case where one selects a poor curtain material, then the air conditioner will have to work more, your furnishings will suffer from UV exposure, and the house becomes unpleasantly hot or cold.

In Australia, the perfect curtain material should take into account factors like ultraviolet rays, hot summers, and icy winter mornings based on your location. While a thick velvet curtain will help you stay warm in your bedroom, a sheer material will give you privacy but allow the sea breeze to flow through.

In Blinds by Design, our professional team offers you customised window treatments for Central West, Blue Mountains and Belmont/Lake Macquarie areas. Our practical experience proves to us that fabrics react differently to various environmental factors. This manual will tell you how to select the most suitable fabric for your curtains depending on climatic, orientational and other factors.

Why Curtain Fabric Matters In The Australian Climate

The material for curtains is important because windows are very conductive, meaning that windows are the main sources of heat transfer. The curtain material will serve as the first line of defence against temperature variations.

The Australian Government’s YourHome website indicates that unshaded windows may be responsible for up to 87% of the heating of the house during summer and up to 40% of heat loss during winter

According to this source, close-fitting curtains or blinds made from dense fabrics should be used to help regulate temperatures.

When you choose a curtain fabric in Australia, you are managing several environmental factors:

• Solar heat gain during summer: Lightweight, unlined and open weaved fabrics let sunlight in the glass and cause heating inside the building.
• Heat loss during winter: Lightweight unlined fabrics will permit warm air from inside to pass through cold window surfaces.
• UV: Strong UV radiation from Australia will deteriorate and fade delicate natural fabrics if not protected with synthetic fibres.
• Glare: Low sun angles in the morning and evening make rooms non-functional without correct light-filtering fabric.
• Comfort: Heavy fabrics can muffle the sound and protect against cold draughts, thus adding comfort in the room.

What Should You Consider Before Choosing Curtain Fabric?

Before you think about colour or patterns, you have to figure out what your curtain will have to do. Here are some practical questions to ask yourself:

• Local weather: Is it necessary to focus on heat rejection, heat retention, or humidity?
• Direction the windows face: Are the windows exposed to strong west-facing sunlight or do they face south and stay cool and shady?
• UV exposure: High exposure to UV rays needs fabrics that have the ability to withstand fading and sun damage.
• Function of the room: Bedroom and living room windows have their unique requirements in terms of light control and privacy.
• Privacy requirements: Are you seeking day privacy, night privacy, or both?
• Light level requirement: Are you trying to completely block out all light or simply have a subtle, diffused lighting effect?
• Low maintenance needs or not: Are you comfortable having to dry clean heavy draperies, or do you need low-maintenance draperies due to an active family?

Curtain Fabric Types Explained

Understanding how different materials behave in Australian conditions will assist you to choose between the options.

Linen

Is linen a good curtain fabric for Australia?

Of course, linen fabric is very good for achieving a relaxed and breath-able effect, but it needs to be lined if it’s used directly in full sunlight in Australia.

Linen fabric has a unique texture and light filtration ability. The main advantage of linen is its breathability, as it is a natural material. Linen fabric is commonly used in coastal areas of Australia because of its breath-ability. However, linen tends to wrinkle and expand/contract with humidity. Therefore, in case you need a linen effect in a sunny area, we usually recommend a combination of linen and polyester fibres.

Polyester

Are polyester curtains good for Australian homes?

Amongst all types of curtains, polyester would perhaps be the best suited for Australian weather conditions. Polyester is one of the most fade, stretch and shrink resistant materials.

Today’s polyester does not have the same stiff texture of its earlier version. Because of modern production methods, polyester can emulate the feel and appearance of linen, cotton or silk to a great extent. It is a low-maintenance, mould-resistant, and shape-retaining material. Polyester is extensively used in making blackout and thermal curtains.

Cotton

Cotton gives an elegant and neat look since it has a medium weight and therefore hangs well. The material has reasonable light control properties and can be made into very tight weaves that increase its insulation properties. Just like the linen material, cotton fabric is 100% natural and therefore highly prone to fading when exposed to strong ultraviolet rays.

Velvet and Heavier Fabrics

Fabrics such as velvet, suede and heavy weaves are superbly suited for thermal and acoustic insulation. These fabrics capture air very well; hence, they prevent any cold wind from blowing from the outside during winters and keep the warm heat inside during summers. Velvet fabrics do not allow light to pass through because of the heavy pile of the fabric; thus, they are an excellent choice for home theatres and bedrooms. However, the drawback of the fabrics is their heaviness, which needs a strong tracking system along with frequent dusting and dry cleaning.

Sheer Fabrics

Are sheer curtains suitable for heat?

The role of the sheer curtains is that of reducing the amount of glare and direct sunlight that hits your furnishings. However, they do not offer any form of thermal insulation by themselves.

Sheer curtains are usually constructed of light fabric like polyester, voile, or a combination of linen. Sheers give you the chance to see the natural light coming into the room while still allowing you to see through to the outside. The main problem with sheer curtains is that they don’t provide any privacy at night.

How Australian Climate Zones Change Your Curtain Fabric Choice

There is no one-size-fits-all climate in Australia, and just because something is suitable for a tropical environment does not mean that it is going to be suitable for a sub-alpine environment. Blinds By Design provides service to the many varying environments of New South Wales.

Bathurst, Orange, and the Central West

The houses in the Central West have unique and harsh seasons. The winter season in Bathurst and Orange is characterised by frost and temperatures dropping to below freezing.

• Requirements: Best insulation.
• Fabric: The use of thick curtain material along with good thermal or blockout lining is crucial. Materials that can weave tight and fit into the windows properly will prevent the cold air during winter months from coming inside and will keep the summer heat from warming the interiors.

Belmont and the Lake Macquarie Region

The Belmont and Lake Macquarie area have a relatively temperate and humid climate. While winters are relatively mild, summers are always humid and accompanied by coastal breezes.

• Requirements: Moisture resistance and ventilation.
• Fabric: Ventilating fabrics and synthetic fabrics are chosen for this purpose. Natural fabrics are heavy and hold moisture in humid coastal environments, thereby promoting the growth of mildew. Polyester curtains are very much in fashion since they screen out the glaring sun and allow the breeze from the sea to ventilate the house.

Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains area is much cooler compared to the coastal area, with frequent occurrence of moist, misty weather.

• Requirements: Draught proofing and mould proofing.
• Fabric: Medium weight to heavy materials made from synthetics which can provide thermal insulation without taking up any humidity are suitable. It is important that proper linings are used for the cold winter season.

How Window Orientation Affects Curtain Fabric

The direction your windows face dictates the type and intensity of sunlight the room receives.

• North-facing windows: These enjoy constant warm sunshine, especially in winter. You require flexible options in this case. Medium-weight cloth or a mix of sheers and block-outs enables you to admit winter sunshine or shade the intense summer heat.
• West-facing windows: These are subjected to harsh low-angled afternoon sunshine. This is the toughest form of light to deal with and causes the most heat and cloth fading. Highly UV-resistant synthetic cloths and heavy block-out linings are necessary in this case.
• Windows facing east: Windows receive sunlight from morning until midday. Although the sun rays are cooler at this time compared to the afternoon, they will wake you up too early. Fabrics that offer Blockout curtains are highly advisable for such windows in bedroom areas.
• Windows facing south: Such windows receive the coolest sun rays which are not very direct. UV protection is not needed much. Lightweight fabrics are very appropriate for maximising the natural sunlight.

How Important Is Curtain Lining?

Does curtain lining make a difference to insulation?

Yes, curtain lining is much more critical than the face fabric regarding the insulation process. The lining controls the insulating properties such as heat control, light blocking and protection of the face fabric from ultraviolet rays.

Homeowners always think that it is the face fabric which carries out all the work. It should be noted that the curtain face fabric provides beauty and drapes only.

• Thermal lining: Generally a coated material, whose main purpose is to form an insulating layer of air between the glass and the room.
• Blockout lining: A multiple-layer coating that will prevent light penetration and provide the greatest amount of heat insulation.
• Light filtering lining: The ordinary lining protects the face fabric from sunlight but at the same time provides some diffused light in the room.

Sheer Curtains vs Blockout Curtains

When choosing curtain fabrics, the most common decision is deciding between light-filtering sheers and heavy blockouts.

Why Double-Track Curtains Can Be Useful

As sheer curtains and blockouts have very different purposes, it is often not acceptable for most homeowners to combine the two into one product. Using the double-track system, you would be able to hang sheer curtain fabric on the front track during the daytime and the thick blockout fabric on the back track at night for insulation and privacy. In case you do not understand how this system works and what makes it so great for Australian homes, we would recommend checking out our article “What Are Double Track Curtains And Why Do Designers Love Them?”

Which Curtain Fabric Should You Choose For Different Rooms?

• Bedrooms: Good sleep requires darkness and temperature control. Select thick and tightly woven materials with good blockout lining.
• Living rooms: Versatility is what these rooms need. The best solution is a medium-weight linen material or double track with sheer material to reduce glare during the day but keep the view.
• Home office: Computer screen glare is the main concern here. Light filtering and tight woven materials help to minimise glare without blocking out all light, thus turning the room into a dark cave.
• Windows/sliding doors: Heavy materials become extremely hard to move over a large area. Synthetic and lightweight materials suit best here.

Common Curtain Fabric Mistakes To Avoid

• Making choices based on colour alone: A heavy-coloured material that is also unlined will absorb heat and emit it within the room.
• Overlooking window placement: Placing fine silk and linen on the west side window means quick exposure to the sun.
• Believing sheers give night privacy: Sheers in a bedroom or bathroom cannot do away with an additional blind in the night.
• Neglecting the material’s draping capacity: Rigid materials will not drape nicely. It is important to always see the material while it is hanging.
• Making purchase decisions without examining track capability: Heavier materials such as velvet and liners need a more robust track mounted on the wall stud.

How To Choose The Right Curtain Fabric: A Simple Checklist

Before committing to custom curtains, run through this checklist:

1. Define the function of the room (sleeping, living, working).
2. Identify the direction the window faces (north, south, east, or west).
3. Choose the light requirement (sheer, light-filtering, or blockout).
4. Find a fabric that suits your insulation needs.
5. Make sure you have the right fabric and lining combination.
6. Get the drop measurement done by an expert and identify the proper track.

To Conclude

Selecting the proper curtain material considering the Australian weather conditions is an exercise in finding that right balance between weather, window positioning, intended use of the room, and the look you want. From the thick thermal material that will keep your Bathurst winter warm through to the sheer and UV-resistant material suitable for your Belmont summer, everything will be different once done right.

Since custom curtains are an investment, it is important not to be guessing how the fabric will behave. Contact our team at Blinds by Design to book an appointment to review fabric samples and receive measurement and installation guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best curtain fabric for hot Australian weather?

The best choice of material for making curtains to use in summer conditions is a blend of UV-resistant polyester with blockout lining that stops solar radiation from passing through the glass into the room and keeps the face material from fading in the strong Australian sunlight.

Is linen a good choice for Australian homes?

Linen is certainly an attractive and light fabric, but it needs proper use. Being a natural fibre, 100% linen fades and deteriorates in the sun. Therefore, it should be used along with good lining or mixed with polyester for better durability in tough Australian conditions.

Are sheer curtains suitable for Australian summers?

Sheer curtains will work very well for blocking out glare and filtering the sun in summer without compromising your sightline. Sheer curtains do not offer good thermal insulation properties. To achieve optimal cooling in the summer, sheer curtains need to be combined with blockout roller blinds or curtains.

What curtain fabric is best for a sunny room?

Where there is an abundance of sunlight in a room, use synthetic materials such as polyester or acrylic. These materials should be resistant since natural materials such as silk and cotton cannot withstand excessive sunlight. The cloth should be fitted with a heavy blockout backing material that reflects the sunlight.

Are blockout curtains good for winter?

Yes, blockout curtains are quite effective as far as winter insulation is concerned. When the tightly woven fabrics along with the blockout lining are fitted in close proximity to the window frame, there is a layer of air that is trapped, and the cold is prevented from seeping into the room.

What curtains are suitable for homes in Bathurst or Orange?

Bathurst and Orange homes have wide-ranging changes in weather, and they need the best insulation possible. Heavier materials such as velvet and synthetic fabrics are ideal for dealing with harsh winters and hot summers.