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Short answer
For most homes, ivory or a soft white sheer is the safest choice: bright, flattering light that looks neat from outside. Because a sheer colours the daylight, each shade changes the room. White is crispest; ivory and cream are warmer; greige and stone hide dust; grey and charcoal cut glare and are easiest to see out through. Coloured sheers tint the whole room.
Which sheer colour is best?
| Sheer | Light in the room | Seeing out | Dust and marks | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bright white | Brightest, cool and crisp | Hazier | Shows dust and yellowing | Modern, minimal rooms |
| Ivory or cream | Warm and soft | Hazy | Hides a little | Most homes; flattering light |
| Greige, stone, oatmeal | Soft and natural | Clearer | Hides dust well | Japandi and natural schemes |
| Light grey | Cooler, calmer | Clearer | Hides dust | Cool-toned and modern rooms |
| Charcoal or taupe | Dimmer, cuts glare | Clearest | Shows lint | Sunny, glare-prone windows |
| Coloured | Tints the whole room | Varies | Varies | Children's rooms, accents |
Why are darker sheers easier to see through?
A white sheer reflects daylight back at you, so the fabric itself glows and the view looks hazy. A darker sheer reflects less, so your eye passes through it to the view outside, and it cuts glare more. That is why darker sheers suit windows with a view or strong sun. Privacy works the other way: from outside, in daylight, a pale sheer hides the room better.
Good to know
At night, with lights on inside, every sheer can be seen through. Add a dimout or blackout in front for evening privacy. See Layered Curtains.
Matching the main curtain
- Neutral sheer, any main curtain: ivory or soft white works with every colour.
- Tone-on-tone: a sheer one shade lighter than the main curtain looks calm.
- Contrast: a pale sheer behind a dark main curtain frames the window.
- Outside view: in condos and terrace rows, pale sheers keep the building looking even from outside.
Texture and weave change the colour too
A linen-look sheer looks warmer and more natural than a smooth voile of the same colour, and an open weave looks lighter than a dense one. In the JOTEX range, CALLIE is a plain voile about 325 cm wide in 62 colourways, and VALERY a linen-look sheer with 20% linen, about 320 cm wide. Always look at a sample against your own window, in morning and afternoon light. See Voile vs Organza vs Chiffon.
JOTEX sheers
Sheers in the JOTEX range, updated from the catalogue. See the sheer fabric page.
ALINA
ANDER.webp)
ANTONIA
CALGARY
CALLIE
DAYLIGHT
DEVARIO
DIMOS
EVERYDAY
FURLEY
GRADIENT
HANA
HENSLEY
MAPLE
MARTHA
MIA
MISTY
NATORI
OBERON
OFF WHITE
P.SHEER
PING
PISO
SOFT
VALERY
ZONA
Frequently asked questions
Should sheer curtains be white or ivory?
Ivory suits most homes: warmer light that flatters skin tones and wood. Bright white suits crisp, modern rooms.
Are grey sheer curtains a good idea?
Yes, for cool-toned rooms and sunny windows. Grey cuts glare, hides dust and is easier to see out through.
Which sheer colour is easiest to see out of?
Darker sheers, such as charcoal or taupe, because they reflect less light back at you.
Do white sheers turn yellow?
They can with age, sun and cooking smoke. Wash them gently and regularly, and choose ivory if you want a colour that ages more kindly.
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.