7 Best Living Room Curtains to Transform Your Space (2026)

It’s Not as Hard to Shop for Living Room Curtains as You Might ThinkStart with our seven favorite stylesIn the library of a cozy Connecticut home by AD100 Designer Stephen Sills, both the curtains and a pair of skirted armchairs are dressed in a Jasper Tree of Life print.Photo by Max Burkhalter, Styling by Mieke ten HaveIf you’re sitting in your living room sensing something isn’t right—maybe there’s not enough color, personality, privacy, or coziness—the problem might be your living room curtains. Any fan of historical homes knows just how integral curtains are to ornamental interiors: a velvet drape creates a warm sense of enclosure and occasion, a linen curtain gives an otherwise stale room an element of lightness and breeziness, and the right patterned curtain brings the whole room together.From sumptuous Marie Antoinette–inspired velvet blackout curtains to minimalist sheer pinstripe Belgian linen curtains, the market options are incredibly varied—meaning your perfect curtain companion is out there. The world of pinch pleats isn’t so scary once you’ve narrowed in on a few great retailers well versed in custom curtains. Start with the effect you’re after—dramatic (silk), cozy (velvet), coastal (linen), practical (blackout)—and narrow in on your color options from there.Our Top Picks for the Best Curtains for Your Living RoomBest Linen CurtainsQuince Coastal Stripe Linen Cotton CurtainRead moreBest Blackout CurtainsWest Elm Crossweave Blackout CurtainRead moreBest (Faux) Silk CurtainsSeda Dupioni Silk Window Curtain PanelRead moreOur Top PicksFAQsBest Linen CurtainsQuince Coastal Stripe Linen Cotton CurtainMaterial: Front panel: 55% cotton and 45% linen; inner lining: 100% cottonSizes: 48x84; 48x96; 48x108; 48x120; 96x84; 96x96; 96x108; 96x120Beloved by designers like Jeremiah Brent, linen curtains exude casual elegance, much like your go-to summer bedding or the airy pants you couldn’t stop wearing to August happy hours. Available in both sheer and blackout designs, linen curtains can wear many hats depending on the type of light filtration you’re looking for. Our Quince pick is a cotton linen blend available in three different levels of light filtering—sheer, less sheer, and full blackout curtains—an ideal situation if you love the coastal stripe but still want some say in how much sunlight gets through As these come in eight set sizes, you won’t be able to perfectly customize the dimensions, so make sure to hang your curtain rod accordingly.Best Blackout CurtainsWest Elm Crossweave Blackout CurtainMaterial: 100% PolyesterSizes: 48x84; 48x96; 48x108A staple in hotels across the world, blackout curtains are based in utility, but can still earn you major style points when properly executed. The magic of these types of drapes is in a tightly woven middle lining, typically a darkened hue, that blocks light while allowing the exterior fabric to do the talking. That might mean airy linen or cotton for a lighter look, though heavier textiles like velvet and jacquard prints have natural light-blocking abilities of their own. In short, a blackout curtain doesn’t need to look heavy or menacing. West Elm mastered shades that have blackout capabilities, but their fabrics—especially in the stone white—retain a sense of levity. If you’re chasing a living room rooted in sleek, modern, and simple design, it’s your best bet for light control without weighing down the living room interior.Best (Faux) Silk CurtainsSeda Dupioni Silk Window Curtain PanelMaterial: 100% PolyesterSizes: 48x84; 48x96; 48x108This super high-end set of silk curtains can make a huge statement in both minimalist and maximalist spaces. Paired with a cream couch and solid wood furniture, the yellow or green drapery stands out against otherwise neutral colors, bringing a necessary variation to the space. If you’re working with a floral couch and a patterned rug underfoot, the cream silk curtain leans into your maximalist sensibilities with its texture without overwhelming the space. With a natural sheen and texture, the material also lends itself well to a desirable drape and elegant folds. Not sure which color silk suits your space best? You can order fabric swatches in all four shades to test before purchase.Where it earns its keep is in a living room with a clear point of view—this isn't the curtain for a space still finding itself.Best Designer CurtainsItosashiko Custom Pojagi CurtainMaterial: Not listedSizes: CustomThose in pursuit of something that relays a lived-in sense of taste should reach for this Korean pojagi. It’s completely custom, so you can have it shaped to even the most bizarre window dimensions, making it a perfect choice, too, for spaces a pre-fitted curtain from one of the big-box chains can’t tackle. This style makes an especially sweet kitchen window covering for those of you with open floor plans, or those operating in typical New York setups where the dining room is the living room is the kitchen is also the guest room…Best Striped CurtainsEmma Chamberlain Multi-Stripe CurtainMaterial: 100% cottonSizes: 48x84; 48x96; 48x108A bit ‘70s and a bit midcentury, this striped curtain (from the mind of Emma Chamberlain) sets the scene for a shag rug, a well-loved couch, and a brass floor lamp. The color palette also evokes something bookish—perfect for a living room that’s really your library. The stripes feel modern, not stuffy, thanks to an unexpected olive and light blue pairing. If you’re one to lean on layered patterns and material, this striped set perfectly complements your sensibilities.Best Sheer CurtainsNordic Knots The Sheer Linen Curtain Without LiningMaterial: 100% polyesterSizes: 55" or 110" for panels, custom curtain lengths between 40”–250”Sheer curtains achieve a softer look as window treatments go, letting natural light spill in while still providing some privacy. Luxury hotels often install linen curtains and blackout curtains on the same line so you can experience your room bathed in soft daylight, then pull the blackout curtains when you’re turning in. The five-star experience should include sleeping past 6:00am. What’s good enough for the Four Seasons is good enough for you, and these Nordic Knots curtains supply the same effect. “Few curtains are so sheer as these,” reports shopping writer Julia Harrison. “They’re barely there—more like fog on the window than anything truly substantial.” And it’s just how she likes them. With a small bedroom, she wanted to make the most of its natural light. With curtains this sheer, she gets “ample sunlight, albeit no privacy—but that’s where the third floor comes in handy.” She considers them an even better pick, for a living room, where you really want to maximize light (and style!) all day.Best Velvet CurtainsAnthropologie Velvet Embroidered Floral CurtainMaterial: 71% cotton, 29% rayonSizes: 63" X 50"; 84" X 50"; 96" X 50"; 108" X 50"Velvet curtains are most prized for their rich texture and luxe appearance, lending themselves naturally to more formal or elegant interiors. For a moodier take, look to jewel tone fabrics like this Anthropologie pick, meticulously embroidered with florals for even more visual interest. Despite its weighty appearance, the curtain is described as “light filtering” than truly blackout, so you’ll still get some natural light throughout the day.FAQsHow Do I Measure for Curtains?Ideally, curtains should gently “kiss” the floor, ever-so-slightly touching the ground without pooling at the bottom. Use that as your guide when measuring the length of your ideal panels. For width, make sure your panels will cover the full span of your window. “Always hang them high and wide, which will make the room feel taller and allow the window to feel larger,” says AD PRO Directory designer Alvin Wayne. “And don’t be afraid to layer! You can pair blackout curtains with sheers underneath for softness and versatility.”Julia Harrison is a shopping writer at AD. Previously, she was a writer and editor for Coveteur, and The Sewanee Review. She writes Interior Monologue, and feels passionately about coastal inns and mission tile. She runs a creative resource called saloon, and writes a personal newsletter called orzo bimbo. Her ... Read More