Hotel curtains are usually considered only after the furniture, lighting, and finishes have already been decided. But these details shape guests' first impressions. People often ask about how much light the room gets, whether it feels bright or dark, what it looks like at night, and whether the window looks tidy when the curtains are open.
The requirements vary from one section of the hotel to another since guest rooms have to provide privacy and good light control, as people might sleep at any time of night. A suite might have a bedroom that needs blackout curtains and a sitting room that only requires a lighter curtain. On the other hand, a lounge, a restaurant, or a common area generally needs daylight during the day, so it doesn't make sense to use the same heavy curtains as in a bedroom.
The easiest way to avoid causing problems is to stop thinking about hotel drapes as a single piece of textile that can be utilized all across the hotel. Fabric weight, number of layers, finished size, and privacy needs can all change depending on the room, even if the overall look stays the same.
Can hotels use sheer curtains with blackout curtains?
Yes, and guest rooms are one of the places where using both makes practical sense.
The sheer curtains are useful during the day because they soften bright sunlight and add privacy without darkening the room. The blackout curtain comes into play when a guest wants to sleep or block out the room completely at night.
Think about a city hotel where the room faces an office building across the street. A guest may want the sheer closed at 11 a.m. while working at the desk, but they probably do not want the room in blackout mode all day just to avoid feeling exposed.
Later that evening, the blackout layer does what the sheer cannot.
This is less about creating a “luxury layered look” and more about giving the guest two useful options instead of one.
The custom drapery collection includes sheer and heavier curtain options for projects where both layers need to be made to the room dimensions.
Can you see through sheer curtains at night?
Usually, yes. Sheer behaves differently after sunset because the light changes direction. In the afternoon, daylight outside is usually stronger than the light inside the room, which helps obscure the view through the fabric. At night, the lamps inside the room can make the interior much easier to see from outside.
This is worth noting in lower-floor rooms, hotels facing neighboring buildings, internal courtyards, and rooms adjacent to patios or other public spaces.
A denser sheer provides more privacy than an open weave, but it is still not as opaque as a curtain.
For hotel rooms where nighttime privacy matters, the sheer works better as one part of the window treatment rather than the only layer.
Finding the right balance with light is one of the main goals when making any hospitality space feel warm and cozy for guests. Too much light feels exposed, while too little makes rooms feel closed off.
Sheer curtains can add depth, light, and elegance to the room. You can also use Venetian blinds to offer soft lighting in living spaces and add a gentle design layer. They help maintain privacy while still allowing natural light into the room.
Do hotels need blackout curtains in every guest room?
For bedrooms, blackout curtains are useful because guests do not all sleep at night.
It is possible that somebody wants to get some rest following an overnight flight. The flight crew might be sleeping during the day, and a family could be putting their child down before sunset. Such situations are normal in a hotel, and a room that doesn't get dark enough can become very frustrating quickly. The same rule does not apply to all areas of the property where the guest visits.
A complete blackout might never be necessary for a suite. A hotel lounge may require softer lighting rather than darkness. During lunch, a restaurant might prefer the windows to be visibly open, and in the evening, they may prefer more privacy. The room itself determines whether blackout is useful or not, which is why using the same drapery construction everywhere can add fabric and money with no benefit.
How should suites use drapery differently from standard guest rooms?
A suite often consists of at least two discrete areas, with windows that work differently in each.
The two most crucial factors in the bedroom are privacy and sleep. The visitor might be eating, working, reading, or meeting someone in the sitting room during the day, for which a more translucent curtain might be more effective there because it keeps the area open to sunlight.
It is not mandatory that the two areas appear disconnected. Blackout curtains can be added solely in the bedroom, or the same color scheme can be used throughout the suite. Even if the layers are different, a consistent design style can make the curtains appear to be a part of the same job.
This is similar to the broader question, which is covered in this guide on What to Customize and What to Standardize in Boutique Hotels." Read the guide to understand it better.
What curtain length works best in hotel rooms?
A panel that stops quite clearly above the floor might appear to be the wrong size. On the other hand, a curtain with a great deal of fabric lying on the floor may look attractive in a neatly arranged photograph but is less practical when housekeeping staff uses it every day.
In the case of rooms that are used by guests more than once, it is generally easier to keep a clean floor-length finish.
Trouble arises when a single standard length is ordered for several room types that are in fact not identical, since one panel may fit exactly while another turns out to be too short due to a slight change in the ceiling or track position.
Simply put, longer curtains always give the impression that a room is taller. A drape that stops 10 cm above the floor breaks the line and gives the impression that the room is shorter. The guide on Why Curtains Make a Room Seem to be Shorter than the Ceiling describes how the length, fullness, and position of a curtain alter the appearance of a wall.
What level of privacy do sheer curtains provide during the day?
There isn't just one answer since the term "sheer" applies to a wide variety of fabrics.
A very fine sheer will make the window appear light and open, but at the same time it allows more of the room to be seen. A heavier semi-sheer, on the other hand, provides greater separation yet still lets in daylight.
Custom Sheer curtains add a decorative element that guests often notice right away. A simple layer of fabric softens the room, and sheer curtains feel light and elegant without drawing too much attention.
For hotels, the room's location affects what is considered acceptable. A room on an upper floor with a view of a park can have a more lightweight design than one on the first floor which faces the sidewalk, even if the two rooms are in the same hotel.
You should look at a fabric sample in actual daylight rather than under indoor lighting since the difference can be surprisingly great.
Should hotel curtains match the pillows and cushions?
Not exactly. A room can feel more natural when the fabrics relate without repeating one another.
When the curtain has a stripe, one of the colors might then be reproduced in the form of a solid pillow. When the drapery has a textured appearance, the cushions can remain smoother. When the curtain is plain, the pillows can have a more prominent pattern.
It also leaves the hotel with the possibility of refreshing that area at a later stage.
Changing a few pillows and throws is far easier than changing a full set of drapery, so the smaller pieces can handle more of the color and pattern that may change over time.
The pillow collection can be used for custom sizes where those smaller accents need to follow a particular room palette, whereas in lounges or suites where a richer texture is needed, the velvet cushion collection can introduce that texture on a much smaller surface.
Does adding lining to curtains make sense in hotel rooms?
They can, depending on what the room needs. A lining can give a curtain some body and affect the way it hangs; in some cases, a blackout lining is useful since the room requires better light control, while in another room a lighter layer behind the face fabric will be enough.
There is no obligation for all the curtains in a hotel to have the same lining since the rooms serve different purposes.
A privacy lining adds body and a little sun protection. A room-darkening lining cuts most of the light. A thermal lining insulates a big window and takes some load off the heating and cooling bill, which matters more than people expect in a lounge with a full wall of glass. A blackout lining brings the room close to full darkness for events or screenings. As you move up, each lining adds weight, making the curtain hang fuller and richer and absorbing more sound, so the room feels calmer.
Fabrica Kraft makes both custom drapery and sheer panels and the heavier performance upholstery fabric for hotels and other spaces. You can pull the sheer, the main curtain, and the cushion fabric from one place and one color story, instead of ordering from three suppliers and hoping the shades match once they are in the room.
What curtains work well in hotel lounges and shared spaces?
Shared spaces tend to need a different balance because people use them while awake and active rather than trying to sleep.
A room needs protection from harsh midday light without losing sight of the exterior. A lobby facing the street could benefit from some visual separation without feeling closed off. A restaurant might desire natural light during lunchtime and more privacy when serving dinner.
Sheer and semi-sheer panels suit these cases because they soften the window's impact without turning it into a solid wall. When the room is used for evening functions or private events, you can add a thicker layer for added privacy. However, if the room never requires that degree of separation, extra fabric can still be added without addressing any new problem.
A neutral sheer fabric like Warwick Syros Curd is well suited to a shared area where the window needs a more delicate finish without adding strong color or pattern.
What do customers say about made-to-size soft furnishings?
Only custom work is of any use when the completed item conforms to the measurements and the fabric that were agreed upon at the beginning.
A customer named Christie shared this after receiving a made-to-spec order:
“Cover was made to specs provided with fabric of choice. Seller was proactive and responded to all messages in a timely manner; worked with me to resolve the fabrication issue to my satisfaction. Overall, very pleased! Would recommend!” Christie’s order was a custom soft furnishing rather than hotel drapery, but her review reflects the part of the process that matters in any made-to-order project, which is that the measurements and fabric selection need to translate correctly into the finished piece.
If you're speccing fabric for a hospitality project and want to see a velvet like this in person before it goes anywhere in the indoor seating, ask us for a swatch of Warwick Lovely Asphalt. Send us your measurements and images, and we'll work with you to create a set that will fit in every space.
Where can hotels order custom drapery and soft furnishings?
Fabrica Kraft works with hotels, resorts, interior designers, and architects in the US on made-to-order drapery and other custom soft furnishings.
For hotels and resorts, Fabrica Kraft creates custom draperies, sheers, and soft furnishings that are made to your precise sizes and fabric. They offer trade pricing, a price-match guarantee, and the ability to keep your specifications on file so that reorders throughout the property remain consistent. If you are an interior designer designing window treatments for a hotel, restaurant, or hospitality project, send an email to business@fabricakraft.com or use the Contact Us page to discuss room measurements, required quantities, and fabric specifications.
