Autumn Curtain Style Guide: How to Layer, Choose Colours and Keep Cosy
There’s a moment every autumn when you notice it. The light has turned a little golden, the evenings are drawing in, and the sofa is calling a good hour earlier than it did in August. It’s the perfect time to look at your windows with fresh eyes.
Curtains do more than most of us give them credit for. They frame the view, soften the light and give you privacy, and with the right lining they help hold on to the warmth too. Change them for the season and the whole room feels different. In this guide, our team shares the ideas we come back to every year: how to layer your curtains, which autumn colours to choose, and when thermal or blackout curtains are worth it.
Why layering curtains works so well in autumn
Autumn days are a funny mix. Bright, crisp mornings, grey afternoons and dark evenings can all arrive in the space of a few hours. Ask one curtain to handle all of that and something has to give. Layering simply shares the job out: a sheer for the daytime and a heavier curtain for the evening. As a bonus, two layers add depth and texture, which instantly makes a room feel more inviting.
The sheer layer: privacy and soft daylight
Your sheer hangs closest to the glass. A voile or net curtain filters daylight and keeps prying eyes out, without blocking the precious light we get at this time of year. For autumn, try swapping bright white for something warmer. Our Duffield Voile Curtain in Oatmeal or Beige adds a gentle warmth, while the Clarke & Clarke Midori Linen Voile comes in seasonal shades like Spice, Khaki and Raffia that give daylight a soft, honeyed glow.
If you love a traditional net, the Autumn Leaves White Net Curtain and the Fontwell Trailing Leaf Express Net Curtain bring a subtle leaf pattern that feels right for the season, and the express design is with you in just a day or two.
The heavy layer: warmth for the evenings
This is the curtain you draw across as soon as the lamps go on. Texture is your friend here, so look for velvets, bouclés and soft-touch weaves. The Clarke & Clarke Alvar Plain Velvet Curtains are made to measure in shades like Herb, Sand and Charcoal, while the ready-made Royal Boucle Thermal Eyelet Curtains and Tokyo Soft Touch Thermal Eyelet Curtains give you cosy texture with a thermal lining built in.
Getting the hardware right
To hang two layers, a double curtain pole is the neatest option, with the sheer on the back pole and the heavier curtain on the front. Alternatively, hang your sheer on net wire inside the window recess and your main curtains on a pole above. A wooden pole like the Laura Ashley Mitchell Wooden Eyelet Pole in Dark Chestnut brings a natural warmth, and a pair of tie-backs keeps everything tidy in the daytime.
Choosing an autumn colour palette for your windows
The easiest way to find your autumn colours is to look outside. Here are four palettes we love this season.
Spice, copper and rust
Warm, glowing tones that feel instantly cosy. The Tokyo Thermal Eyelet Curtains in Spice are an easy way in, or make a statement with the Prestigious Whimsical Leaf Print Lined Curtains in Copper. Both look beautiful against a natural-toned voile.
Moss, olive and forest green
Greens bring the outdoors in and work in almost any room. Try the Ravello Faux Silk Curtains in Moss for a soft sheen, the Vogue Thermal Dim-out Eyelet Curtains in Green, or the Harlequin Mirabello Stripe Voile in Olive for a lighter touch.
Oatmeal, sand and soft natural
If you prefer a calmer look, layered neutrals let the season shine through your styling rather than your curtains. Pair the Pavilion Boucle Ivory Voile Panel with Alvar velvet in Sand, then add colour with cushions and throws.
Deep navy and charcoal
Darker shades feel wonderfully snug once the nights draw in. The Oxford Thermal Velvet Pencil Pleat Curtains in Navy and Alvar velvet in Charcoal pair well with a crisp white or ivory sheer.
Top tip: autumn light is warmer and lower than summer light, so colours can look quite different in your home than on screen. Order a few free samples and hold them up at the window at different times of day before you decide.
Thermal curtains vs blackout curtains: which do you need?
These two often get mixed up, and plenty of curtains do both, so here’s a quick guide.
What do thermal curtains do?
Thermal curtains have an insulating lining that slows down the heat escaping through your windows. Keeping that heat in for longer may help cut your energy use over the colder months. They’re ideal for living rooms, draughty rooms and doorways, where the Oxford Velvet Thermal Pencil Pleat Door Curtain is a real help against chilly draughts. Browse our full thermal Autumn Favourites.
What do blackout curtains do?
Blackout curtains are designed to block out light. They come into their own in bedrooms and nurseries, for shift workers, and for anyone who struggles once the mornings turn dark. Their dense fabric adds an extra layer of insulation too. The Dallas 100% Blackout Pencil Pleat Curtains in Natural or Grey are a lovely, understated choice. See all our blackout Autumn Favourites.
Can I make my existing curtains thermal?
Yes. If you’re happy with the curtains you have, our Thermal White Pencil Pleat Curtain Lining and Thermal White Eyelet Curtain Lining hang behind them to add insulation without changing the look.
Your autumn curtain questions, answered
When should I change to autumn curtains?
Whenever it feels right, but many of our customers make the switch in October, before the clocks go back. That way your thermals are up and ready before the first properly cold evenings.
Do I need to measure differently for layered curtains?
Usually your sheer sits inside the recess or close to the glass, while your heavier curtains hang wider so they can be drawn right back off the window during the day. Our measuring guides walk you through it step by step, and our team is always happy to help.
How quickly can I get my curtains?
Our express nets and voiles are available in just one to two days, and our made-to-measure curtains are sewn in our UK sewing rooms and made within ten days. There’s free UK delivery on orders over £59, too.
Ready to dress your home for autumn?
A soft sheer, a cosy second layer and a few colours borrowed from the season are all it takes to make your home feel warm and welcoming right through to spring. Browse our Autumn Favourites collection for more ideas, order a few free samples to try at home, or give our friendly team a call on 02380 844714. We’d love to help you find your perfect autumn look.
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