Do thermal curtains work?

Author: Lara Willmore | Last Updated: 14th January 2025

Do thermal curtains really work?

Are you looking to improve the thermal efficiency or insulation of your home and wondering whether or not thermal curtains are a good investment?

If you’ve already done your research, you’ll know that windows and doors are some of the biggest culprits of energy loss in homes throughout the UK, accounting for nearly 30% of heat loss. Therefore, improving the energy efficiency of your windows can be a great way to lower your bills and create a more comfortable indoor space. But with so much information online, it can be hard to know if thermal curtains are right for you, if they’re worth investing in and, most importantly, if they actually work.

In this post, we’ll explore what thermal curtains are, how they work, and the numerous benefits they bring, helping you decide if they’re a good fit for your home.

What are thermal curtains?

Thermal curtains are a type of curtain design that have been specifically created in order to better regulate the indoor temperature of your home, something that can be of real benefit in the ever changing seasons in the UK.

Unlike traditional or classic curtains that are usually made with a single layer of fabric, thermal curtains are made with multiple layers, such as cotton or polyester meaning that they can provide more insulating properties, including keeping your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

As well as temperature regulation, thermal curtains can provide other benefits such as blocking out light completely or helping with sound insulation, making them an excellent choice for bedrooms or home offices.

Given their functional design, you may be wondering whether you have to compromise on style. However, thermal curtains can be made in almost as many different styles and designs as regular curtains, meaning it’s easy to find a style that’s right for your home. If you’re interested in your own made-to-measure thermal curtains, why not chat to one of our expert design consultants for free?

How do thermal curtains work?

As mentioned above, thermal curtains are manufactured with several layers which makes them functional in both summer and winter.

To create a thermal curtain panel, several layers of fabric, including a heavy insulating material, are stitched together. These dense layers help seal air leaks behind the curtain, forming a thermal barrier that separates outdoor air from your indoor living area.

Here’s a bit more detail about the way thermal curtains work for specific use cases:

How thermal curtains help with insulation

The thermal lining in thermal curtains helps prevent heat transfer from your windows.

Draughty windows are common and are often caused by gaps and seams around the frame, not the window itself. These small openings allow outdoor air to creep into your home, making your space less comfortable.

Thermal-lined curtains offer a practical way to address this issue. They can minimize air leaks around the edges of your windows as well as help reduce heat transfer from sunlight. Insulating materials are rated by R-values and the higher the R-value, the better the insulating value. A properly installed insulating curtain can achieve up to R-6, which significantly reduces heat loss.

How thermal curtains help with light blocking

Due to the multiple layers of fabric, thermal curtains can be very effective at blocking out the morning sun or very bright windows in the home. This makes thermal curtains a popular choice for bedroom curtains, helping block sunlight and keep rooms darker and cooler on sunny days.

Although some thermal curtains are designed to block out light, they are not all blackout curtains, so it’s important to know the differences. Blackout curtains are usually made of tightly woven fabrics that don’t offer the insulating properties of thermal curtains. However, given the multiple layers of fabric involved in the manufacturing of thermal curtains, they are still very effective in blocking light.

How thermal curtains help with sound dampening

Again, given the thick, layered fabric, thermal curtains can also have noise reducing benefits. Noise will more easily penetrate thinner materials vs thicker materials, so the multi layered build of thermal curtains can be good for sound dampening.

This means they can be a great choice if you live in a city or more built up area, making your home a quieter, more peaceful place.

Benefits of Thermal Curtains

Thermal curtains are one of the more popular curtain choices amongst homeowners. This is because along with their design, they also come with a host of benefits.

• Help save energy: With less heat loss in winter and keeping your home cooler in summer, thermal curtains can help lower your energy bills. You might find you rely less on heating and air con, which can be a big benefit of thermal curtains.
• Increased Comfort: Thermal curtains help keep your home at a comfortable temperature all year round. With no cold draughts or overly hot rooms, this can make your space feel more relaxing and enjoyable.
• Enhanced Privacy: The thicker fabric of thermal curtains not only blocks out light, but can also provide greater privacy. This can make them a good choice if you live in a busy location or are overlooked by other houses.
• Noise Reduction: Similar to enhanced privacy, if you live in a busy or noisy area, thermal curtains can help block out unwanted outside noise.
• Protection for Furnishings: By blocking out or reducing the amount of direct sunlight in a room, thermal curtains can help protect your furniture, carpets, and artwork from fading and sun damage.

So, do thermal curtains really work?

One of the most important parts of ensuring thermal curtains really work is effective installation. The more air tight your thermal curtains are, the better they will be at preventing heat transfer out or in. They are also much more effective when they drop to the windowsill or floor, rather than sitting too high, as gaps will allow heat transfer and make them a lot less effective.

When installed, thermal curtains should be as close to the window frame as possible, ensuring that each side is properly sealed. This can reduce thermal transmission by up to 19%.

In addition, the quality of your thermal curtains can play a big part in whether or not they work. Cheaper, mass produced thermal curtains are far more likely to be made using cheaper and less-effective materials vs higher quality but more expensive options. So, it’s highly likely that how well they work will depend on the option you choose.

But, don’t just take our word from it. Here are some first-hand real experiences from users on Reddit:

• “In my experience, they do. We had a walk out basement room with a single pane sliding glass door that felt like someone left the freezer door open and it helped keep the room warmer.”
• “Yes! I’ve used insulated curtains in an apartment that got direct sun on one end. You could burn your hand on the aluminum window sill. They made a big difference.”
• “We have them in our master bedroom. My wife works nights a lot of times, so our purpose was to block light. They do a really good job of blocking light when you size them correctly. A side benefit is they seem to block out noise decently.”

Are made-to-measure thermal curtains more effective?

Made-to-measure thermal curtains are an ideal choice given that having curtains created specifically to fit your window shape, style and size can make your investment in thermal curtains a lot more effective.

Opting for standard curtain sizes can be a good choice, but as they won’t necessarily fit your window shades as precisely as needed to be the most efficient for insulation, it can be a good idea to consider made-to-measure thermal curtains to get the most out of your investment, particularly if insulation is a big consideration for you.

At Axford Interiors, we specialise in made-to-measure curtains for homeowners in Bath, Wiltshire and the surrounding areas. Please feel free to get in touch.

Conclusion

In conclusion, thermal curtains can help block out light, noise and regulate your home’s temperature throughout the year.

We hope this article helped highlight how thermal curtains work and the many fantastic benefits that they offer.

If you are interested in thermal curtains, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our team offers a free, no obligation initial conversation to talk about your next project, and answer any questions you might have.