Net curtains can screen us from the public gaze, obscure an unwanted view, or filter the daylight coming into a room to soften the light or protect soft furnishings. Getting the measurements right makes them look their best.

Essential measurements

Our net curtains

We sell our net curtains by the metre, ready to hang with a hem sewn at the top to take wire or rod. They also come in a choice of drops; you simply choose the nearest drop to your measurement. This may be slightly less or more than your measurement but can still work for your window.

If a standard drop is not quite right for your window, you can shorten the curtain net by turning over a new top hem, or our experienced makers can shorten the next longest drop to your measurement. The standard drops available are:

Gather, or fullness

Once you know your drop, you then need to decide how full (gathered) to have your curtains. Standard fullness is 2 x width measurement, but for additional privacy go for 2.5 or even 3 x fullness. Multiply your width measurement by the fullness you’ve chosen to get the metres of net curtain fabric you need to buy. Most net curtains do not fray, so you can leave the cut edges. If you prefer a hemmed edge, you can do this yourself or our seamstresses can hem them for you. Browse the full range below and on our webshop.

An example calculation for net curtains

Example window measurements:
Drop 142cm, Width 183cm
Drop chosen 140cm, 2x fullness so 366cm of net curtain needed. You may need to round this up to 4m of net curtain fabric, depending on how it is sold.

Wire or poles

We sell plastic-coated net curtain wire by the metre, as well as all the fixings. For each window you will need slightly less than the width of the window to allow for the eyes(loops) on the end of the wire and so the wire is slightly stretched. We would usually take about 2″/5cm from the width measured to allow for this, but you can cut the wire yourself at home with a pair of pliers to get the correct tension for your window. Alternatively we also sell net curtain rods; these fit into the window recess. They are extendable, and come in standard sizes to fit a range of window sizes.

Do you need more curtain making information?

For lots more information about curtains and net curtains, including how to measure, how to choose a fabric, making your own curtains, ordering made to measure curtains, and how to hang your finished curtains, take a look at our curtain making information knowledge bank here.