Cotton vs Linen for Curtains: The Short Version
Choose cotton curtains for crisp structure, easy washing, and budget-friendly prices. Choose linen curtains for a relaxed, airy drape and natural texture — and be ready to embrace the wrinkles. Both are excellent curtain fabrics; the right choice depends on the room, the light, and the look you want.
Cotton Curtains: Pros and Cons
Cotton is the workhorse of curtain fabrics. It holds pleats and folds crisply, comes in endless solids and prints, and most cotton curtains are machine washable — a huge plus for kitchens, kids' rooms, and rentals.
- Pros: affordable, holds shape, easy to sew and hem, machine washable, huge print selection.
- Cons: can look less "high-end" than linen, fades in strong direct sun over time, wrinkles if not pressed.
Linen Curtains: Pros and Cons
Linen gives that effortless, breezy look designers love. It filters light beautifully, drapes in soft folds, and gets softer with every wash.
- Pros: gorgeous natural texture, beautiful light diffusion, durable fibers, timeless look.
- Cons: wrinkles easily, usually costs more per yard, often needs lining for privacy, can shrink if washed hot.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Cotton | Linen | |
|---|---|---|
| Drape | Crisp, structured | Soft, relaxed |
| Light filtering | Good (depends on weave) | Excellent, glowy |
| Wrinkles | Moderate | High — part of the charm |
| Care | Machine wash, easy | Gentle wash, line dry best |
| Price | $–$$ | $$–$$$ |
| Best for | Kids' rooms, kitchens, tailored looks | Living rooms, bedrooms, relaxed luxury |
Which Should You Choose?
- Pick cotton if you want washable, budget-friendly curtains with a clean look — or if you are sewing curtains for the first time.
- Pick linen if you love the relaxed, textured aesthetic and do not mind a few wrinkles.
- Pick a cotton-linen blend if you want the best of both: some of linen's texture with cotton's easy care.
Either way, line your curtains if the room faces strong sun or needs privacy — lining also makes both fabrics hang better and last longer. One more consideration: fabric width. Curtain panels are usually cut from 54"–60" wide goods, so you need fewer widths than you would with 44" cotton fabric. Two widths of 54" fabric joined at the center back give a standard window a full, gathered look without a visible seam from the front.
Do Curtains Need Lining?
In most cases, yes. Lining protects the face fabric from sun damage, adds body so curtains hang in smooth folds, and gives you privacy after dark. A simple cotton lining works for most rooms; blackout lining is worth it for bedrooms and nurseries. If you are sewing curtains yourself, cut the lining 2" narrower and 3" shorter than the face fabric so it stays hidden behind the hem.
Sewing Tips for Curtain Beginners
- Buy extra for pattern repeats: add one full repeat per width when matching motifs across panels — large prints like toile can need 15–20% more yardage.
- Prewash before hemming: cotton can shrink 3–5% on its first wash; prewash exactly how you will wash the finished curtains.
- Hang before hemming: let panels hang for 2–3 days so the fabric relaxes, then mark and sew the final hem for a perfectly even drop.
Where to Buy Curtain Fabric by the Yard
For cotton curtains, the Solids & Textures collection has curtain-ready cottons and cotton blends from $8.99/yard. If you want a timeless printed curtain, classic toiles are a designer favorite: Blue French Toile ($14.99/yard) for a fresh traditional look, or Pink English Garden Toile ($14.99/yard) for a softer romantic feel — both in the Designer Fabric collection.
Not sure how much to order? Use the free yardage calculator — enter your window width and desired fullness and it does the math for you.
