The Importance of Insulated Drapery
If you’re looking for an easy way to keep your home warm in winter and cool in summer, you have probably heard of insulated curtains or drapery. These energy-efficient curtains and drapery do more than make your home comfortable—they also help to cut down on seasonally high heating and cooling bills. But do insulated curtains work, or are they just another trend? And if they do, are they worth the investment?
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about insulated curtains and drapery, from how they work to how you can choose the best one for your space.
What Are Insulated Curtains?
Insulated curtains became popular in the 1970s, largely as a response to the oil crisis that sparked interest in energy-efficient solutions for homes. During this time, homeowners and manufacturers sought ways to reduce heating and cooling costs, leading to the development and commercial availability of insulated curtains. These curtains were designed to retain heat in winter and keep interiors cooler in summer, making them a popular energy-saving option as environmental and energy efficiency concerns grew.
Do Insulated Curtains Really Work?
The short answer is yes, insulated curtains work. But how? Their thick, layered materials create a barrier between your room and the outside temperature to form air pockets that stop drafts and heat from slipping through. In winter, these layers help trap the warmth inside and keep cold air out so your home remains warm and toasty without the usual blast of dry heat.
When summer hits, these curtains do the opposite and block out hot sunlight to help keep you feeling cool inside.
What’s the Difference Between Thermal and Insulated Curtains?
When it comes to choosing the right curtains and drapery, it’s important to understand the difference between thermal and insulated options. While they may sound similar, they serve slightly different purposes.
Thermal curtains have one clear goal: to keep rooms warm in the colder months (reaching approximately 10% savings on heating energy). These are often made of heavier fabrics, like fleece or foam, that trap heat and prevent it from escaping, making them a cozy choice for winter. They’re perfect for colder climates but aren’t as effective at keeping things cool in the summer, so they’re more of a seasonal solution.
Heat insulating curtains and drapery, on the other hand, are built for all-year comfort. They work to keep rooms warm in winter and cool in summer, making them versatile for homes with big temperature changes throughout the year. Insulated curtains and drapery typically have multiple layers, including a face fabric, interlining and a light filtering or blackout lining that keeps heat out during the summer and helps retain warmth in the winter.
Benefits of Insulated Curtains
Common curtains are mainly used for decoration while insulated curtains and drapery offer decorative appeal and more. Let’s take a look at some of their main benefits.
Energy Saving
One of the main benefits of heat insulating curtains and drapery are that they can help you spend less energy while maintaining a comfortable temperature in your home. These curtains are built with multiple layers, sometimes including a layer of foam or thick fabric, which traps air and keeps drafts from creeping in. This extra layer means your home stays warmer in the winter without needing to raise the heat as much. Properly designed insulated curtains and drapery can lower heat loss through windows by as much as 60% for single-glazed windows and 40-50% for double-glazed windows.
In summer, they also block the sun’s heat from entering, so your air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard to keep things cool. The result? You consume less energy and save on utility costs all year long.
Comfortable Spaces
Another benefit of insulated curtains and drapery is that they make your home more comfortable, whether it’s hot or cold outside. If you choose to use insulated curtains for winter, they will trap the warmth inside, so you don’t feel the chill of a drafty window. This keeps your rooms feeling cozy and lets you relax without feeling a draft.
During the warmer months, insulated curtains and drapes help keep things cool by blocking out intense sunlight. Overall, heat insulating curtains help indoor temperatures stay stable without you having to adjust the thermostat. Sounds great, right?
Less Noise
Insulated curtains and drapery aren’t just for temperature control; they’re also helpful for cutting down on noise. The thicker, layered fabric acts like a sound barrier, making them especially useful if you live on a busy street or in a noisy neighborhood. When you close insulated curtains, they absorb a lot of outside sounds, so your home feels quieter and more peaceful.
If you work from home or just like some quiet time to unwind, this sound-dampening feature can be a real bonus. While they won’t make your home completely soundproof, insulated curtains and drapery can reduce the volume of outside noise, making a noticeable difference.
Privacy
Since they’re made of thicker material, insulated curtains and drapery block people from seeing into your home, especially at night when the lights are on. This is particularly useful if you live in a city or have neighbors close by and don’t like the feeling of prying eyes.
With heat insulating curtains you get an added layer of privacy, which can make your home feel more secure and personal. Plus, they give you the freedom to enjoy your space without feeling exposed to the outside world.
Choosing the Right Insulated Curtains for Your Home
If you decide that insulated curtains and drapery are the right fit for your home, the next step is choosing the best one for you. Start by thinking about what you need from them. If you’re looking to completely block out light, blackout heat insulating curtains are a fantastic choice, especially for bedrooms or media rooms. Not only do they keep out light, but they also reduce noise, helping you enjoy a quieter, more restful space.
If you are looking for something more adaptable, then multi-layer insulated curtains might be the way to go. These have multiple layers, offering insulation in both cold and warm weather, so your home stays comfortable all year long.
When considering materials, heavier fabrics like velvet usually provide better insulation than lightweight options. After selecting your fabric, be sure to measure your windows accurately. Insulated curtains and drapery that fully cover and slightly overlap the window edges will do the best job of keeping out drafts.
How to Take Care of Your Insulated Curtains
Once you select your fabrics and hang your insulated curtains, it is time to make the most out of them. How can you do that? With a good, regular care routine. Some of the main things you should be focusing on to take care of your insulated curtains include:
- Dust and Vacuum Regularly: At least once a month, you should use a vacuum with a brush attachment to remove dust and keep curtains looking fresh.
- Some Fabrics Allow for Spot Cleaning When Needed: Small stains can happen, and it’s best to clean them right away. Mix a little mild detergent with warm water, and use a soft cloth to dab at the stain. Be sure to work from the outside of the stain toward the center to prevent it from spreading. Avoid harsh cleaners, as they can damage the fabric. If the stain doesn’t come out, consider getting help from a professional cleaner.
- Check Washing Instructions: Washing techniques are largely based on fabric, so always look at the care label on your curtains before washing them. Some can go in the washing machine, while others need to be hand-washed or dry-cleaned. If machine washing is okay, use a gentle cycle with cold water.
- Air Dry for Longevity: After washing, let your curtains air dry. You can hang them back up to dry, which helps keep their shape. Avoid using a dryer, as the heat can harm the fabric and insulation. If you need to use a dryer, choose the lowest heat setting and take the curtains out while they are still slightly damp.
What if Insulated Curtains Are Not for You?
Insulated curtains are great for keeping rooms cozy, but they aren’t always the best choice if you want to show off unique features like arched windows. Curtains can hide that beautiful curve, which is often a focal point in a room. If you want to avoid this, then you can opt to go for custom arched window treatments, like wood shutters or cellular shades, that are designed to fit perfectly into the shape of your arch.
They give you the benefits of energy efficiency and light control while also letting your arched windows shine.
Are Insulated Curtains Worth It?
With all those benefits, insulated curtains and drapes are definitely worth the investment: they can help you keep your home comfortable all year long while also helping you save on your energy bills.
Schedule your in-home consultation with one of our experts to find the perfect heat insulating curtains and drapery for your window style and home decor.
