Curtain Design Ideas for Malaysian Homes and Condos

By the JOTEX Fabrics product team · Updated

Short answer

The curtain designs that work best in Malaysian homes are layered sheer and dimout curtains on a ceiling-mounted double track, hung floor to ceiling and often wall to wall. Choose colour by the walls and sofa, use pattern to add height or character, and pick textured or linen-look fabrics for a relaxed feel. Blackout linings or fabrics keep bedrooms dark and cool.

Design rules that make any curtain look better

  • Hang high. Mount the track at or near the ceiling, or at least 10 to 15 cm above the window frame. It makes ceilings look taller.
  • Go wide. Extend the track 15 to 30 cm beyond each side of the window, so open curtains stack clear of the glass and the window looks bigger.
  • Get the length right. Finish curtains about 1 cm above the floor for a crisp look, or let them just kiss the floor for a softer one.
  • Use enough fabric. Skimpy curtains look cheap. Allow the right fullness for the heading; see Curtain Styles Explained.
  • Line for the sun. A lining protects colours on sunny windows and helps curtains hang in fuller folds; see Curtain Lining.

12 curtain design ideas

  • 1. Layered sheer and dimout. A sheer on the window side and a dimout on the room side of a double track: bright and private by day, private at night. The most versatile set-up for condo living rooms. See Blackout vs Dimout vs Sheer.
  • 2. Floor-to-ceiling S-fold. Continuous waves from a ceiling track draw the eye up and suit modern, minimal rooms. See S-Fold Curtains.
  • 3. Wall-to-wall curtains. Running curtains across a whole wall hides awkward window sizes, air-conditioner units and columns, and makes a room feel calmer and larger.
  • 4. Tone-on-tone. Curtains a shade or two from the wall colour, in greige, stone or warm white, give a quiet Japandi or minimal look.
  • 5. A statement colour. One bold plain or velvet curtain in a deep green, navy or terracotta against neutral walls becomes the focal point of the room.
  • 6. Vertical stripes. Stripes running down the curtain make a low ceiling feel taller. Try stripe dimouts such as DANI, LEXI, REGENT or POSH Creation ROME.
  • 7. Checks and plaids. A relaxed, tailored look for studies and bedrooms: OCEAN and POSH Creation ATLANTIC dimouts, or TEKUSU AKARI and SADAKO blackouts.
  • 8. Florals and geometrics. Pattern adds character to plain rooms: the floral LIBERTY or geometric AMELIA dimouts, or woven florals and geometrics in jacquard such as MORGAN and JODI.
  • 9. Subtle texture. Herringbones and textured weaves, such as the CALBY dimout or MERCATO jacquard, add depth without a bold pattern.
  • 10. Linen-look and resort style. Linen-blend sheers and relaxed S-folds give a light, tropical, resort feel. See Linen-Look Curtains.
  • 11. Ombré and gradient. Colour that fades from dark to light, as in the OMBRE dimout and GRADIENT sheer, adds softness and movement.
  • 12. Hotel-style bedroom. Blackout curtains on a ceiling track with returns and a sheer behind: dark for sleep, bright by day, like a hotel suite.

Ideas by room

RoomDesign ideaFabric
Condo living roomLayered sheer and dimout, S-fold, floor to ceilingSheer and dimout
Formal living or diningFrench pleats with a subtle patternJacquard or velvet
Master bedroomHotel-style blackout with a sheerBlackout or a blackout lining
Children's roomsPlayful prints and blackout for napsPrints such as DREAMS or TOKIDOKI, lined with blackout
Study and home officeChecks or plain dimout, or a sunscreen blindDimout; see Curtains vs Blinds
Balcony and sliding doorsWall-to-wall S-fold on a ceiling trackHard-wearing dimout, sheer for daytime

Choosing curtain colours

  • Match the walls for a calm, spacious look; choose a shade slightly darker or lighter than the wall.
  • Pick up the sofa or rug for a coordinated room; take a colour from a cushion or rug pattern.
  • Contrast for a focal point: a deep colour against pale walls.
  • Think about the sun. Dark colours absorb heat and fade faster on west-facing windows; line them, or choose mid-tones.
  • Check at night. Colours change under warm lighting; look at a large sample by day and by night.

Pattern and scale

Match the pattern scale to the window and room. Large patterns suit big windows and tall rooms, where the repeat can be seen; small patterns and textures suit smaller windows and busy rooms. If the sofa or rug is already patterned, choose a plain or textured curtain, and vice versa. Patterned fabrics need extra length to match the repeat across widths.

Patterned curtain fabrics

Stripes, checks, florals, geometrics and herringbones from the JOTEX catalogue, updated automatically.

  • AKARI
    TEKUSU · 100% PES · 34 colourways
  • AMAYA
    JOTEX FABRICS · 85% PES 15% LINEN · 38 colourways
  • ATLANTIC
    POSH CREATION · 100% POLYESTER · 30 colourways
  • DANI
    JOTEX FABRICS · 100% PES · 32 colourways
  • FURLEY
    JOTEX FABRICS · 100% PES · 44 colourways
  • LEXI
    JOTEX FABRICS · 100% PES · 32 colourways
  • LIBERTY
    JOTEX FABRICS · 100% PES · 34 colourways
  • REGENT
    JOTEX FABRICS · 100% POLYESTER · 32 colourways
  • ROME
    POSH CREATION · 100% PES · 45 colourways
  • SADAKO
    TEKUSU · 100% PES · 27 colourways

Browse all collections →

Sheers for layering

Sheers for the day layer of a double track. See all of them on the sheer fabric page.

  • ANTONIA
    JOTEX FABRICS · 100% POLYESTER · 36 colourways
  • CALGARY
    JOTEX FABRICS · 100% POLYESTER · 48 colourways
  • CALLIE
    JOTEX FABRICS · 100% PES · 62 colourways
  • DAYLIGHT
    JOTEX FABRICS · 100% POLYESTER · 54 colourways
  • DIMOS
    POSH CREATION · 100% POLYESTER · 9 colourways
  • FURLEY
    JOTEX FABRICS · 100% PES · 44 colourways
  • GRADIENT
    JOTEX FABRICS · 100% POLYESTER · 6 colourways
  • HENSLEY
    POSH CREATION · 100% POLYESTER · 30 colourways
  • MAPLE
    POSH CREATION · 100% POLYESTER · 27 colourways
  • MARTHA
    JOTEX FABRICS · 100% POLYESTER · 24 colourways
  • MIA
    JOTEX FABRICS · 100% PES · 34 colourways
  • NATORI
    JOTEX FABRICS · 100% PES · 47 colourways
  • OBERON
    POSH CREATION · 100% POLYESTER · 29 colourways
  • PISO
    JOTEX FABRICS · 100% POLYESTER · 4 colourways
  • VALERY
    JOTEX FABRICS · 80% PES 20% LINEN · 31 colourways
  • ZONA
    POSH CREATION · 100% POLYESTER · 17 colourways

Browse sheer fabric →

Frequently asked questions

What curtain designs are popular in Malaysian condos?

Ceiling-mounted double tracks with a sheer and a dimout, S-fold curtains hung floor to ceiling, and wall-to-wall curtains in warm neutrals and natural, linen-look textures.

How do I make a small room look bigger with curtains?

Hang the track at the ceiling, extend it beyond the window, run curtains floor to ceiling, and choose a colour close to the walls. Vertical stripes add height too.

What colour curtains go with a grey sofa?

Warm whites, greige and soft blues keep a calm look; mustard, rust or deep green add contrast. Take the colour from a cushion or rug to tie the room together.

Should curtains touch the floor?

For a crisp, modern look, finish them about 1 cm above the floor. For a softer look they can just kiss the floor. Avoid curtains that stop short of the floor, which look too small.

Plain or patterned curtains?

Choose plain or textured curtains if the sofa, rug or walls are already patterned, and patterned curtains to add character to a plain room. Match the pattern size to the window size.

Are sheer curtains still in style?

Yes. Layered sheers on a double track are one of the most popular set-ups, softening light by day while a dimout or blackout gives privacy at night.

Curtain maker, upholsterer or designer?

Specifications are public on every collection page. JOTEX dealers can log in for live stock and pricing. Contact the JOTEX team to request samples or open a dealer account.