Curtain Lining: Blackout, Thermal, Interlining and When You Need It
By the JOTEX Fabrics product team · Updated
Short answer
A curtain lining is a second layer of fabric behind the face fabric. It protects the curtain from sun, helps it hang in fuller folds and adds privacy. A blackout lining makes almost any curtain block light, a thermal lining reduces heat through the window, and an interlining adds body and insulation. Sheers are usually left unlined.
Why line curtains?
- Sun protection. The lining takes the direct sun, so the face fabric fades and weakens far more slowly. This matters most on west-facing windows in Malaysia.
- Better drape. A lining adds weight and body, so curtains fall in fuller, more even folds.
- Light and privacy. Even a standard lining cuts glare and stops the room showing through at night; a blackout lining makes the room dark.
- Heat. Blackout and thermal linings reduce the sun's heat coming through the window, easing the load on air-conditioning.
- A neat view from outside. Every window shows the same plain lining to the street.
Types of curtain lining
| Lining | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Standard lining | A plain woven polyester or polyester-cotton cloth | Protecting the face fabric and improving drape |
| Blackout lining | A coated or densely woven lining that blocks almost all light; a 3-pass lining has three coats (white, black, white) | Bedrooms, nurseries, media rooms, hotels |
| Thermal lining | A lining with a coated or brushed back that reduces heat transfer | Sunny and west-facing rooms |
| Dimout lining | A denser lining that reduces light without full darkness | Living rooms that need less glare |
| Interlining | A soft, blanket-like layer sewn between the face fabric and the lining | Luxurious, full folds and extra insulation, especially with French pleats |
Blackout lining or blackout fabric?
There are two ways to make a curtain block light. A blackout fabric is opaque in itself, so it needs no lining. A blackout lining sewn behind any other fabric, such as a dimout, velvet, jacquard or linen blend, makes that curtain dark too, so you can choose the face fabric for its look alone.
In the JOTEX range, LINER from POSH Creation is a light, plain blackout, about 100 gsm and 280 cm wide, that can be used as a blackout lining behind other fabrics. See Blackout vs Dimout vs Sheer for how the three light levels compare.
Sewn-in or detachable?
| Sewn-in lining | Detachable lining | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Stitched to the curtain along the sides and heading | A separate lining with its own tape, hung from the same hooks |
| Drape | The best: face and lining move as one | Good, slightly less unified |
| Cleaning | Cleaned together with the curtain | Washed or cleaned separately, which suits coated linings |
| Adding later | Needs remaking | Can be added to existing curtains |
| Suits | French pleat, S-fold, eyelet | Pencil pleat and pleating-tape headings |
When a curtain does not need lining
- Sheers. A sheer is meant to let light through; lining would defeat it.
- Coated blackout fabrics. A blackout with its own backing, such as TEKUSU MIDORI with its silicon backing, is already opaque.
- Some S-fold curtains. Soft, unlined dimouts form the smoothest waves. If an S-fold curtain needs lining, choose a soft, supple lining so the waves stay even.
- Easy-wash curtains. Where curtains are washed often, as in some hotels and clinics, unlined or detachable-lined curtains are simpler to launder.
Lining and curtain headings
Lining works with every heading, but the choice of lining affects the result. French pleats take the heaviest linings and interlinings well, and gain the most from them. S-fold needs a soft, sewn-in lining so the waves stay even. Eyelet curtains use a sewn-in lining that passes through the rings with the face fabric. With pencil pleat and pleating tape, a detachable lining hangs from the same hooks; see Types of Curtain Hooks.
Lining in Malaysia's climate
- Choose polyester or polyester-blend linings: they absorb less moisture than cotton and resist mildew better.
- On west- and south-facing windows, a blackout or thermal lining protects the face fabric and keeps rooms cooler.
- Coated linings can crack if washed hot or folded hard. Follow the care label, and prefer detachable linings where curtains are washed often. See How to Wash Curtains.
- Linings take the sun first, so on very sunny windows they may need replacing before the curtain itself.
How much lining do you need?
Plan roughly the same quantity of lining as face fabric: the same number of widths, cut a little narrower and shorter so the lining does not show at the sides or hem. Extra-wide linings, like extra-wide curtain fabrics, can be railroaded to avoid joins. Your curtain maker will confirm the exact quantity, and interlining is calculated the same way.
Frequently asked questions
Do curtains need lining?
Most curtains benefit from it: a lining protects the fabric from sun, improves drape and adds privacy. Sheers and self-backed blackout fabrics are the main exceptions.
What is the difference between blackout lining and blackout fabric?
A blackout fabric is opaque in itself. A blackout lining is sewn or hung behind another fabric to make that curtain block light, so you can choose any face fabric for its look.
Can I add lining to existing curtains?
Yes. A detachable lining with its own heading tape hangs from the same hooks as the curtain, so it can be added without remaking the curtain.
What is interlining?
A soft, blanket-like layer sewn between the face fabric and the lining. It gives curtains fuller, rounder folds and extra insulation, and is often used with French pleats.
Does lining stop curtains fading?
It slows fading a great deal, because the lining takes the direct sun. The face fabric can still fade over time on very sunny windows.
Do blackout linings keep a room cooler?
They help. Blackout and thermal linings reduce the sun's heat coming through the window, especially on west-facing windows in the afternoon.
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.