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Your Guide to Curtains and Window Treatments

Where Should I Shop?

There’s no substitute for touching fabric and feeling its heft, so it’s a good idea to check out curtains in the store or order swatches (higher-end sites will allow you to do this) before making a purchase. Some retailers will even lend you large fabric samples to take home and hang in front of your window. Below are some reliable sources, most of which you can visit in person as well as online.

Lower Priced

A range of colors and pretty patterns abound, but materials are mostly limited to unlined cotton, linen, and polyester.

Midpriced

Many curtains from these retailers are lined, so they’ll drape better.

Higher Priced

Expect to find every style, rendered in especially luxurious fabrics.

calicocorners.com (only made to order)
horchow.com
laylagrace.com
smithandnoble.com (also has made to order)
thecurtainexchange.com (also has made to order)
theshadestore.com (also has made to order)

Our Panel (Get It?) of Curtain Experts:
Ian Gibbs, cofounder of The Shade Store, a custom-drapery retailer
Jackie Von Tobel, an interior designer and the author of The Design Directory of Window Treatments
The Real Simple decorating editors

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Skip to Daily Finds slides.

Child sleeping on 2 chairs in front of heavy golden drapes

Short curtain hanging from rail on lower part of kitchen window

Illustration of how curtains frame window

Hands using chalk pencil and ruler to measure curtains

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