Curtains and blinds are the room element most consistently underinvested during home decoration. Walls get painted, floors get rugged, sofas get replaced — and the windows retain the beige curtains from the previous decade or the plastic venetian blinds that came with the rental. This is the most cost-effective intervention available in a room that otherwise feels considered.
The window treatment determines two things simultaneously: the privacy and light control of the room, and the visual height of the ceiling. Curtains hung close to the ceiling and extending to the floor make a room appear taller and larger. Curtains hung just above the window frame make the room appear shorter and smaller. This single decision — where the curtain pole is mounted — transforms the proportions of a room at no additional cost.
Available at: Bemz (bemz.com)
Best for: Those who want quality linen, velvet, or cotton curtains in an IKEA-compatible format at mid-range prices.
Bemz produces curtains specifically designed to work with IKEA’s curtain track systems while using fabrics — genuine Belgian linen, cotton velvet, heavy cotton — that IKEA’s own curtain range doesn’t offer. The result is IKEA-compatible hanging systems with luxury-feeling fabric at prices between IKEA’s accessible tier and the specialist curtain brands.
The linen range specifically — stonewashed, unlined, in the specific muted palette of contemporary interior design — produces curtains that read as significantly more expensive than their price in a room.
Available at: Terrys Fabrics (terrysfabrics.co.uk)
Best for: Those who want to have curtains made from quality fabric at the best value available.
Terrys Fabrics provides quality curtain fabric — blackout, velvet, linen, patterned weaves — at prices that make having curtains made by a local seamstress the most cost-effective route to truly custom window treatments. The curtain-making service available from most local tailors and seamstresses, combined with Terrys Fabrics’ fabric quality, produces results that outperform ready-made alternatives at comparable prices.
Available at: Hillarys (hillarys.co.uk), in-home consultation
Best for: Those who want made-to-measure blinds fitted professionally, particularly for awkward window sizes.
Hillarys provides the in-home consultation, measurement, and fitting service that removes the measuring and installation challenges of made-to-measure blinds. The professional fitting ensures the blind sits correctly against the window frame — eliminating the gaps at the sides that light comes through in self-fitted alternatives and producing the clean, professional appearance that makes blinds look considered rather than functional.
Available at: IKEA (ikea.com), in stores
Best for: Those who want the velvet curtain aesthetic at an accessible price.
IKEA’s SANELA curtains in velvet provide the specific warmth and texture of velvet window treatments at a price that makes the full-length velvet curtain look accessible. The weight of the velvet hangs correctly in floor-length format, and the range of colours covers most interior directions.
Window treatments transform rooms most effectively when hung correctly and chosen in quality fabric. Bemz for the IKEA-compatible linen curtain upgrade. Swoon for made-to-measure at mid-range prices. Terrys Fabrics for the custom curtain route that provides the best fabric quality for the price. Hillarys for professional blind fitting. IKEA SANELA for the accessible velvet curtain. And Silent Gliss for the professional track system. Hang the pole at ceiling height rather than above the window frame — this single change to the installation plan transforms the proportions of any room.