Stylish and Practical: F&P Interiors Guide to Door Curtains

Hanging a door curtain can be both a stylish addition to your interior scheme as well as offering a practical solution within your house. Also known as a Portière, in the days before central heat heavy drapes of fabric were hung within rooms, across windows and along hallways to ward off cold drafts.

Today, these doorway dressings serve a more decorative purpose, creating an eye-catching welcome into a room and injecting colour and pattern. But with a bit of design inspiration, they can also help to keep your home warm, control the light and conceal the entrance to private spaces. We’ve chosen our favourite door curtain ideas that strike the perfect balance between style and function to inspire your interior design…

Front Door Curtain Ideas

Hanging an entrance curtain over your front door offers a multitude of benefits. A stunning way to frame your doorway, it can also be a stylish solution to reducing heat loss in your home. A heavy fabric curtain will help to prevent cold air from passing through a drafty entranceway. Make sure your curtain covers the entire doorway and lightly sits on the floor to maximise its efficiency.

If your doorway features a decorative glass window or sidelight, a curtain will provide a cost-effective way to gain privacy in your home. A flexible solution that can be used as and when you wish, choose a complementary tieback to hold the curtain to one side when not in use.

Hanging a Curtain to Divide a Room

A curtain can offer a stylish way to divide spaces without the need for permanent walls or doorways. Whether used to create separation between rooms, or along a hallway to close off private spaces, curtains can offer a softer, more fluid approach to zoning. 

Especially popular in country cottages as a space-saving solution, a curtain can provide a practical alternative to a fixed door frame. Alternatively, if space isn’t a concern, a divider can serve as a striking design element, adding pattern and colour to your interior scheme. When styled as a focal point, it can accentuate architectural features like high ceilings or decorative cornicing. For a purely aesthetic touch, feel free to experiment with bold patterns - geometric designs, abstract prints and large-scale florals which make a statement and elevate the room's overall atmosphere.

French Door Curtain Ideas

For most of the day, we love our French doors for the uninterrupted views they offer of the garden beyond. But when the sun dips low and light starts pouring in, patio door drapes provide a beautiful way to soften and control the light within your home. When measuring your fabric, ensure the curtains hang about half an inch above the floor. This slight clearance prevents them from becoming a tripping hazard or catching under the door as it opens and closes.

Lightweight linens and cottons are excellent choices, as they allow gentle sunlight to filter through while still offering privacy. Their mid-weight weave creates a graceful drape from ceiling to floor, perfectly framing both the doors and the view outside. Floral prints and nature-inspired designs work particularly well, echoing the greenery and blossoms of the garden to bring a fresh, serene atmosphere to your space.

Adding Curtains to Conceal Storage

Adding curtains to conceal storage in your home is an innovative way to maintain a clean, clutter-free environment while also enhancing your interior decor. Often seen in kitchens, utility rooms and boot rooms to conceal under-counter storage, this design choice is gaining popularity for its practicality and charm. Since these curtains are likely to endure frequent use, it's wise to opt for machine-washable or performance fabrics that offer built-in resistance to stains, moisture, and mildew. This ensures both durability and style, making them a long-lasting solution.

As demonstrated in this bedroom closet, curtains can offer a budget-friendly way to refresh your cabinetry. A practical solution where hinged doors may not be feasible, the pencil pleat curtain creates a softer, more inviting look than traditional wardrobe doors. It seamlessly transforms an awkward under-eave nook into a functional storage space, whilst adding a stylish focal point to the room. Since these curtains are purely decorative, you can explore our extensive curtain fabrics and choose the ideal curtain heading to reflect your home's personality.

Choosing a Fabric for Your Door Curtain

Depending on why you’re adding a door curtain to your home, the fabric you choose will play a key role in both its appearance and practicality. Since aesthetics and function are equally important, opt for a material that strikes the perfect balance between suitability and style. Below we've highlighted some of the most popular fabric choices for door curtains, along with where and how they are best styled in your home...

Hanging Your Door Curtain

Hanging a door curtain in your home is a simple addition that can completely transform a room. Depending on where you are hanging the curtain and how it will function within the space, you have a few options. Traditional curtain poles are great for high trafficked areas, such as across front doors and above French doors. They offer a permanent fixing that is strong and can withstand the frequent opening and closing of the heavy weight fabric. Make sure your pole extends a few inches either side of your frame to ensure that the entire doorway is covered by the curtain.

Another option is fixing a portière rod to your door so that the curtain moves with it. A great solution if you don’t have enough space above the door frame, this clever contraption rises as it opens which means you can hang a generous curtain that sits on the floor for better draught proofing.

Finally, if you are planning to hang a door curtain that will be ordinarily be tied back to one side, then pinning or hooking your fabric in place can be an option. An important thing to consider here is the weight of the material and the level of stress this could cause on the cloth. If you are in doubt about which fixing will best suit your project, then contact us to speak to one of our design experts who are always happy to help.

Our Made To Measure Services

With an extensive selection of designer curtain and upholstery fabrics, we specialise in creating bespoke, made-to-order pieces tailored to your exact measurements and unique specifications. Each of our made-to-measure curtains are meticulously handcrafted by our skilled design team in Sussex, using traditional sewing techniques to ensure a durable, high-quality finish that stands the test of time. Click the button below to find out more...