Sheer Curtains: Types, Fullness, Colours and Care
By the JOTEX Fabrics product team · Updated
Short answer
Sheer curtains are lightweight, translucent curtains that soften daylight and give privacy by day while keeping rooms bright. They give no privacy at night, so they are usually paired with a dimout or blackout on a double track. For a full look, use two to two-and-a-half times the track width, a weighted hem and an extra-wide sheer with no seams.
What sheer curtains do
A sheer is an open, lightweight weave that lets most daylight through while diffusing it. By day, because it is brighter outside than in, a sheer screens the room from the street and from facing condominium blocks while you can still see out. It softens harsh sun and glare across floors and furniture, and makes a window look finished even when the main curtains are open.
At night the effect reverses. With lights on inside, people outside can see in, so a sheer alone gives no night-time privacy. That is why sheers are almost always the day layer of a pair. See Blackout vs Dimout vs Sheer.
Types of sheer
| Type | Look and feel | Good for | JOTEX examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain voile | Soft, fine, matte plain weave | Any room; the classic day curtain | CALLIE, MISTY, NATORI |
| Linen-look sheer | Slubbed, natural texture | Relaxed, resort and Japandi rooms | VALERY, 20% linen |
| Striped sheer | Woven stripes in the sheer | Adding height and interest | FURLEY |
| Gradient sheer | Colour fading across the fabric | Soft colour and movement | GRADIENT |
| Designer sheers | Patterned and textured sheers | Feature windows and design projects | POSH Creation DIMOS, HENSLEY, MAPLE, OBERON, ZONA |
| Organza | Crisp with a sheen | Formal, decorative looks | — |
Choosing a sheer colour
- White and ivory give the brightest, freshest light and suit almost any room.
- Greige, stone and oatmeal feel warmer and softer, and hide dust better than pure white.
- Darker sheers, such as charcoal or taupe, cut glare more and are easier to see out through, because the dark yarn reflects less light back at you.
- Match the main curtain with a sheer a shade lighter, or contrast them deliberately for a layered look.
- Remember that the sheer colours the light in the room: warm tones make it warmer, cool greys make it cooler.
Fullness, width and headings
- Fullness. Sheers need more fabric than heavier curtains to look rich: about 2 to 2.5 times the track width. Too little and they look thin and flat.
- Width. Extra-wide sheers let one piece run the full width with no seams, turned sideways so the fabric width becomes the drop. CALLIE is about 325 cm wide and VALERY about 320 cm, enough for floor-to-ceiling sheers of about three metres.
- S-fold. The most popular heading for sheers, with soft, even waves; see S-Fold Curtains.
- French pleat. Uses a clear or sheer buckram so the heading stays translucent; see French Pleat Curtains.
- Eyelet. Works with sheers at about 2 times fullness; see Eyelet Curtains.
- Weighted hem. A weighted hem tape keeps sheers hanging straight and stops them flaring or blowing about.
Sheers on a double track
The standard Malaysian condo set-up is a ceiling-mounted double track with the sheer on the window side and a dimout or blackout on the room side. Use the same heading and fullness on both layers so they stack neatly when open. For bedrooms, pair the sheer with a blackout or a blackout lining; for living rooms, a dimout. A sheer can also sit in front of a roller blind; see Curtains vs Blinds.
Heat, sun and privacy
- Sheers diffuse direct sun and reduce glare, but they block much less heat than a dimout, blackout or sunscreen blind.
- On west-facing windows, combine the sheer with a heavier curtain or a sunscreen roller blind for the afternoon.
- For daytime privacy from facing blocks, a denser or darker sheer screens more than a very fine white voile.
Caring for sheer curtains
Polyester sheers are among the easiest curtains to care for. Follow the care label: most can be machine washed cool on a gentle cycle in a large laundry bag, then rehung while damp so their weight pulls out the creases. Wash every three to six months, more often near kitchens or busy roads, to stop dust and smoke yellowing them. See How to Wash Curtains.
JOTEX sheer collections
The full range of JOTEX and POSH Creation sheers, updated from the catalogue. See the sheer fabric page.
- ANTONIAJOTEX FABRICS · 100% POLYESTER · 36 colourways
- CALGARYJOTEX FABRICS · 100% POLYESTER · 48 colourways
- CALLIEJOTEX FABRICS · 100% PES · 62 colourways
- DAYLIGHTJOTEX FABRICS · 100% POLYESTER · 54 colourways
- DIMOSPOSH CREATION · 100% POLYESTER · 9 colourways
- FURLEYJOTEX FABRICS · 100% PES · 44 colourways
- GRADIENTJOTEX FABRICS · 100% POLYESTER · 6 colourways
- HENSLEYPOSH CREATION · 100% POLYESTER · 30 colourways
- MAPLEPOSH CREATION · 100% POLYESTER · 27 colourways
- MARTHAJOTEX FABRICS · 100% POLYESTER · 24 colourways
- MIAJOTEX FABRICS · 100% PES · 34 colourways
- NATORIJOTEX FABRICS · 100% PES · 47 colourways
- OBERONPOSH CREATION · 100% POLYESTER · 29 colourways
- PISOJOTEX FABRICS · 100% POLYESTER · 4 colourways
- VALERYJOTEX FABRICS · 80% PES 20% LINEN · 31 colourways
- ZONAPOSH CREATION · 100% POLYESTER · 17 colourways
Frequently asked questions
Can people see through sheer curtains at night?
Yes. With lights on inside and dark outside, sheers become see-through from outside. Pair them with a dimout or blackout curtain on a double track for night-time privacy.
What is the difference between sheer and voile?
Voile is one type of sheer: a soft, fine plain weave. Sheer is the wider family and also includes linen-look, striped, patterned and organza sheers.
What colour sheer curtains are best?
White and ivory give the brightest light; greige and stone feel warmer and hide dust better; darker sheers cut glare and are easier to see out through.
How much fabric do sheer curtains need?
About 2 to 2.5 times the track width, plus side hems. Extra-wide sheers of 320 cm or more can be run sideways to make floor-to-ceiling curtains without seams.
Do sheer curtains block heat?
Only a little. They diffuse sun and cut glare but let most heat through. For sunny west-facing windows, add a dimout or blackout curtain or a sunscreen blind.
Why do my sheer curtains blow about or flare at the bottom?
The hem is too light or the fullness too low. A weighted hem tape and about 2 to 2.5 times fullness keep sheers hanging straight.
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.