2023's top 10 curtain fabrics

Tags: Fabric, Trends, Curtains, Inspiration,

Looking for inspiration for your curtains and Roman blinds? Check out our list of the most popular fabrics selected by our clients in the first half of 2023 (plus some examples of how we’ve used them in client homes).

Sheer curtain fabrics are in hot demand at the moment, with all ten of our best sellers being either translucent or semi-translucent. These are often layered with a blockout lining on a double curtain track, giving you the flexibility to draw the sheer curtain independently to the lining behind it.

Warm neutrals continue to be the go-to interior hues, with a lean towards earthy tones like sand, cream and taupe.

While linen looks remain sought-after, an increasing number of clients are now gravitating towards polyester blends. These offer the visual appeal of linen, but with all the practicality of synthetic fibres and a more budget-friendly price point.

So here they are, our ten top-selling fabrics of 2023 so far:

1. Odin

Polyester | 300cm wide

Wide-width fabrics like this one are a great option for seam-free curtains. Odin from Maurice Kain is a lovely textured sheer which comes in a range of light and dark neutral tones. This is a great choice for daytime privacy and light filtering. It’s also fire retardant, making it suitable for commercial applications.

Sheer curtains in Odin pair perfectly with the wood laminate floors in this Cambridge home.

2. Cannes

Polyester | 320cm wide (continuous)

Cannes topped our best-seller list in 2022, and it remains a strong favourite in 2023. This linen-look sheer by Nettex drapes beautifully and comes in 14 neutral shades. It’s a great choice for sheer curtains, but also pairs nicely with blockout linings for Roman blinds, lined curtains or double tracks.

Curtain in Cannes colour Driftwood, fitted on a double track.

3. Seaview

Polyester | 350cm wide

Inspired by natural vistas and the colours of the coastline, Seaview is an extra-wide sheer designed with high ceilings in mind. This timeless and tactile sheer is yarn dyed to emulate textured linen, but has all the durability of 100% polyester.

Woven in Turkey, Seaview has a textured linen-like appearance.

4. Pilbara

89% Polyester 11% Linen | 300cm wide

Returning to our top-seller list in 2023, this soft sheer from Maurice Kain comes in a choice of 12 easy-to-use colours. The polyester and linen blend gives this fabric a beautiful drape and finish.

For this Hamilton home we used Pilbara in colour Parchment, fitted on a recessed track.

5. Verne

Polyester | 320mm wide

With its good looks and affordable price tag, it’s no wonder Verne is flying off the shelves! This wide-width fabric has a subtle textured finish and comes in 10 neutral colours. Its polyester composition makes it easy to clean and resistant to wrinkling, stretching and shrinking.

Curtains in Verne colour Fawn were the perfect choice for this Ngahinapouri home.

6. Envoy 2

Polyester | 320cm wide

Faux linen has never looked this good! Envoy 2 has a beautiful organic appearance with subtle colour variations through the weave. This multi-directional James Dunlop fabric comes in a huge colour range and meets fire safety standards, making it a versatile choice for both residential and commercial applications.

Envoy 2 has subtle yarn colour variation through its weave.

7. Southport

Polyester | 330cm

At 330cm, Southport is an extra-wide fabric that’s great for those high windows and doors. This polyester fabric has a textured linen-like appearance and comes at an affordable price point. And with its extensive 32-colour range, there’s bound to be a choice for every home!

Southport is a beautifully textured linen-look sheer.

8. Beech

53% Cotton, 47% Polyester | 300cm wide

Inspired by the native New Zealand Beech tree, this tactile wide-width sheer combines the natural aesthetic of cotton with the functionality of polyester. With its range of versatile neutrals and fresh spring-inspired hues, Beech is equally at home within relaxed coastal schemes or urban settings.

Beech is a tactile and practical wide-width sheer.

9. Bali

Polyester | 330cm wide

A linen-look sheer that has stood the test of time. This affordable, versatile fabric is available in a huge range of 21 shades. It meets AS/NZS 1530.3 for flame retardancy and comes in a practical 330cm width.

Warm neutrals in the Bali fabric range.

10. Kumo Recycled

92% RPL, 8% PL (PES) | 300cm wide

Woven in recycled polyester, this fabric is both sustainable and good-looking. Embracing the “perfectly imperfect” quality of natural materials, Kumo has a slubby and delicate weave and comes in 15 nature-inspired shades.

Kumo is made from recycled PET plastic bottles.

Can’t find what you’re looking for? This is just a small selection of our top-selling curtain fabrics. We offer an extensive range from New Zealand’s leading fabric suppliers, from sheers to prints, neutrals and patterns. Get in touch and let us know your requirements - we’d love to help!