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Curtains are picked in shops by colour. What decides whether your bedroom is dark at 6am, how hot the room gets by 3pm and how much of the street sees in, is the lining type, fabric , fullness ratio and the size you measure before you go.
Quick answer
Blackout lining for bedrooms; 2x fullness ratio.
Extend rod 15–20 cm beyond window on each side.
180+ polyester or cotton holds shape.
Thermal lining helps cut AC load.
In the shop
Read these off your phone at the counter. The answer tells you more than the price tag.
1.“Is this true blackout or just “room darkening”, and what is the GSM?”
A good answer: A GSM figure and an honest answer — most “blackout” curtains are 90% at best.
2.“Are these washable at home or dry-clean only?”
A good answer: A care label answer before you pay, not after the first wash.
A few questions about your situation, not about the product.
Add one short need not covered above.
Answer all 3 questions to see the spec sheet to shop with.
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Blackout blocks ~99% of light (usually a 3-pass coated or triple-weave fabric); room-darkening blocks 70–90%; sheers only diffuse.
Why it matters
Only true blackout gets a west-facing bedroom dark enough for day sleep or a baby's nap.
What to check
Light leaks around the edges — the rod must extend 15–20 cm beyond the window on each side.
Total curtain width divided by window width — 1.5x, 2x or 2.5x.
Why it matters
Fullness creates the folds. Flat panels look cheap and let light through the weave.
What to check
Ready-made 'pair' sizes assume a narrow window; measure and buy for 2x your rod width.
Polyester, cotton, linen blends, velvet; weight in .
Why it matters
Heavier fabric drapes better, insulates against heat and muffles sound. Cotton and linen breathe but crease.
What to check
Under 150 polyester ripples in the fan breeze and fades within one summer.
A foam or coated backing that slows heat transfer through glass.
Why it matters
On a west or south-facing window this measurably reduces AC load in the afternoon.
What to check
'Thermal' printed on the pack with no coating visible on the back is marketing.
Eyelet (grommet), pencil pleat, rod pocket, pinch pleat.
Why it matters
Eyelets slide easily and suit modern rods; pleats give a formal drape but need hooks and a track.
What to check
Eyelet inner diameter must be larger than your rod — check both numbers.
Door (7 ft / 213 cm), window (5 ft / 152 cm), floor-length custom.
Why it matters
Curtains that stop above the sill look unfinished and leak light at the bottom.
What to check
Measure from the rod, not from the window frame, and add 2–3 cm of clearance from the floor.
Solution-dyed or -treated fabrics hold colour under direct sun.
Why it matters
Indian sun bleaches untreated dark curtains along the fold lines in a year.
What to check
Very dark cheap fabrics fade fastest; check for a -resistant claim with a warranty.
Correct width matters more than costly fabric — 2x fullness in a mid fabric beats flat panels in a premium one.