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Short answer
For a home theatre, use dark, matt velvet with a blackout lining, on a ceiling track or in a curtain box, wider than the window and down to the floor. Velvet absorbs light instead of reflecting the screen, and full velvet curtains, even wall to wall, soften echo too. For the seats, choose a hard-wearing velvet or tight weave with a good rub count.
Darkness first
- Blackout fabric or a blackout lining behind a velvet face. See Blackout Curtains.
- Ceiling track or curtain box, so no light spills over the top. See Curtain Boxes for Condos.
- Wider than the window and to the floor, with a centre overlap, to close the side and bottom gaps.
- Dark colours: black, charcoal, deep navy, burgundy and forest green absorb stray light.
Tip
Sit in the room in daytime with the curtains closed and the screen off. Any line of light you see will show as a bright patch during a film.
Why are cinema curtains made of velvet?
Velvet's dense pile traps light, so a dark velvet looks deep and matt instead of reflecting the screen's glow back at you, which is why cinemas use it. Its weight and pile also absorb sound. In the JOTEX range, CINEMA and VELVET are dense polyester velvets of about 280 gsm, rated at 20,000 Martindale rubs; VELVET comes in 46 colourways. See Velvet Curtains.
Good to know
Shiny fabrics such as satins and metallic weaves reflect light from the screen. Keep them out of a media room.
Do curtains improve home theatre sound?
- Full, heavy curtains absorb echo from hard walls and floors; lined or interlined velvet does most. See Noise-Reducing Curtains.
- Wall-to-wall drapes along a side or back wall soften the room even where there is no window.
- Fullness: about 2 to 2.5 times gives deep folds that absorb more. See Curtain Fullness Explained.
- Upholstered wall panels behind or beside the seating add more. See Upholstered Wall Panels.
Curtains soften echo; they do not soundproof a room. Serious sound isolation is a building job.
Seating fabric
Recliners and media sofas get daily use, snacks and drinks. Choose a velvet or tight weave of about 15,000 to 25,000 Martindale rubs for home use, or more for families. Dark, matt colours keep the seats from reflecting the screen. In the JOTEX range, YarnGuard PURIFY and REPEL velvets are about 450 gsm and rated at 40,000 rubs. See How to Choose Sofa Fabric.
Velvets for a home theatre
Curtain velvets in the JOTEX range, updated from the catalogue. See the velvet fabric page.
Browse velvet fabric →
Frequently asked questions
What curtains are best for a home theatre?
Dark velvet with a blackout lining, on a ceiling track or in a curtain box, wider than the window and down to the floor.
Why do cinemas use velvet curtains?
Velvet's pile absorbs light, so it looks matt rather than reflecting the screen, and its weight absorbs sound.
Do curtains improve home theatre sound?
They reduce echo, especially full, heavy curtains along the walls. They do not soundproof the room.
What colour is best for a media room?
Dark, matt colours such as black, charcoal, deep navy, burgundy and forest green.
Curtain maker, upholsterer or designer?
Specifications are public on every collection page. JOTEX dealers can log in for live stock and pricing, and our team can send samples or open a dealer account.