What curtain color to choose according to your room and your decor
7 colors cover 95% of interior design projects: neutrals (grey, off-white, cream) blend into all styles, cool colors (blue, green, mint green) visually enlarge the space, and bold shades (purple, lilac) create a focal point. The choice of curtain color depends on three factors: the room (bedroom, living room, office), the color of your walls, and the desired ambiance. Light colors (cream beige, off-white, mint green) reflect light and visually enlarge the space. Dark colors (grey, blue, dark green) absorb light and create an enveloping atmosphere.
Key point: for a multi-layer technical curtain, color does not affect performance. A cream beige curtain blocks as much light, cold, and noise as a dark grey curtain. Blackout, thermal insulation, and sound attenuation depend on the fabric structure (density, number of layers), not the shade. So you can choose the color purely based on aesthetic criteria.
Choosing the color according to the room
Adult bedroom: soothing tones for sleep
The bedroom is the room where the curtain color has the most impact on well-being. Soft and soothing tones promote sleep: blue, grey, off-white, cream beige, green. A study published in the journal Sleep (Travelodge, 2013) conducted on 2,000 British households showed that people sleeping in predominantly blue bedrooms sleep an average of 7h52 per night, compared to 6h58 for those in purple bedrooms and 6h35 in brown bedrooms. Blue is the most sleep-inducing color.
To avoid in the bedroom: stimulating colors (red, orange, bright yellow) that activate the nervous system and delay sleep onset.
Baby's room: soft pastels and blackout
Pastel tones (mint green, sky blue, cream beige) create a serene atmosphere without over-stimulating infants. Important point: a light blackout curtain blocks as much light as a dark curtain. 100%* blackout depends on the multi-layer construction of the fabric, not its surface color. You can choose a bright cream beige for the baby's room while ensuring total darkness for naps.
Living room and lounge: creative freedom
The living room offers the greatest color freedom. The curtain is a decorative element in its own right. The fundamental principle: echo a color already present in the room (sofa, rug, cushions) in a slightly different shade to create harmony without monotony. In a 20 to 30 m² living room, a wide curtain is one of the most striking visual elements, so the color choice deserves consideration.
Office and teleworking: neutral and distraction-free
For working in good conditions, prefer neutral and non-distracting colors: grey, cream beige, soft blue. The NF EN 12464-1 standard recommends 300 to 500 lux for screen work: a light curtain preserves this natural light when open. For video conferencing, a blackout curtain allows you to control backlighting. Grey and blue are the most flattering colors for a video call background.
Choosing the color according to your walls
| Wall Color | Recommended Curtain Colors | To Avoid | Technique |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Walls | Grey, cream beige, blue, mint green, lilac | Pure white on white (cold and clinical) | Almost all colors work |
| Light Grey Walls | Blue, mint green, cream beige, off-white | Dark grey on light grey (dull) | Cool and pastel tones in harmony |
| Beige / Taupe Walls | Cream beige, green, soft blue, lilac | Bright yellow (dissonance) | Warm and earthy tones for coherence |
| Colored Walls (duck blue, terracotta, olive) | Cream beige, grey, off-white | Second bright color (visual overload) | Neutral to balance, or monochrome in a lighter version |
The monochrome technique: choose a curtain color in the same family as the walls, but in a lighter or darker version. Example: light grey walls with anthracite grey curtains, or beige walls with cream beige curtains. This approach consistently produces a harmonious result, even without decoration skills.
Light or dark colors: what impact on the room
Light colors (off-white, cream beige, mint green) reflect 60 to 80% of incident light. They visually enlarge the space and are suitable for small rooms (less than 12 m²), low ceilings, and north-facing rooms that lack natural light.
Dark colors (anthracite grey, navy blue, dark green) absorb 60 to 80% of light. They create an enveloping, cocoon-like atmosphere, suitable for large rooms (more than 20 m²) where intimacy is sought. They add a touch of luxury and depth.
Common misconception to correct: a blackout curtain does not need to be dark to block light. A cream beige Kurtens curtain blocks exactly as much light (100%*) as a grey curtain. Blackout depends on the multi-layer construction of the fabric (620 g/m²), not the surface color. So you can choose a light color for a baby's room or a small room while achieving total darkness.
Does color affect the performance of a technical curtain?
No. At Kurtens, all 7 colors offer exactly the same performance:
- 100% certified blackout*
- Up to 7 °C thermal gain*
- 22 dB sound attenuation*
These performances come from the multi-layer structure of the fabric (620 g/m², 3 technical layers), not the color. The light-blocking layer is integrated into the internal structure of the curtain, regardless of the shade of the outer decorative fabric. A cream beige curtain for a baby's room offers the same thermal, acoustic, and light insulation as a grey curtain for a home cinema.
This is a fundamental difference from single-layer curtains on the market, where a light fabric does indeed let more light through than a dark fabric (light passes through the fabric). With a multi-layer technical curtain, light is blocked by the internal membrane, not by the color.
Our 7 colors: which choice for which ambiance
| Color | Ambiance | Recommended Rooms | Ideal Wall Association |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grey | Sober, modern, elegant | Bedroom, living room, office | White, beige, light grey walls |
| Off-White | Warm, natural, timeless | Living room, bedroom, lounge | Colored, grey, beige walls |
| Cream Beige | Bright, airy, enlarges space | Baby's room, small rooms, office | White, taupe, light grey walls |
| Mint Green | Soft, refreshing, natural | Baby's room, adult bedroom, living room | White, light grey, beige walls |
| Green | Soothing, organic, deep | Living room, bedroom, office | White, beige, taupe walls |
| Lilac | Delicate, original, poetic | Adult bedroom, teen bedroom | White, light grey, beige walls |
| Blue | Calm, serene, promotes sleep | Adult bedroom, baby's room, office | White, light grey, beige walls |
The 7 colors are available in 4 standard sizes (100x150, 150x230, 250x230, 300x270 cm) or custom-made to the exact dimensions of your window, up to 270 cm in height. To view the actual shades, consult the Kurtens color guide.
The 3 most frequent color mistakes
- Mistake 1: choosing a dark curtain in a small room. An anthracite grey or navy blue curtain in a 9 m² north-facing bedroom visually darkens and shrinks the space. Prefer cream beige, off-white, or mint green to reflect light and enlarge the room.
- Mistake 2: believing a blackout curtain must be dark. False. A cream beige Kurtens curtain blocks 100%* of the light thanks to its internal multi-layer structure, exactly like a grey curtain. Color is a purely aesthetic choice.
- Mistake 3: ignoring elements already present in the room. Before choosing, observe your sofa, rug, cushions, and bed linen. The curtain should echo tones already present in the room, in a lighter or darker version, for natural harmony. A color chosen in isolation, however beautiful, may seem out of place once the curtain is installed.
To choose the right dimensions for your window, consult the size guide. And for the type of fastening, the fastening guide will help you.
*Data from tests performed under optimal conditions.
Frequently asked questions
What color curtain to enlarge a room?
Light colors (cream beige, off-white, mint green) reflect 60 to 80% of light and give an impression of space. They are ideal for rooms under 12 m², low ceilings, and north-facing rooms. Avoid dark colors that absorb light and visually shrink the space.
Does a light blackout curtain really block light?
Yes. It is the multi-layer structure of the fabric (620 g/m², internal blocking membrane) that determines the blackout level, not its surface color. The 7 Kurtens colors, from cream beige to grey, block 100% of light*. A light curtain in a baby's room offers the same total darkness as a dark curtain.
What color curtain for a baby's room?
Soft pastel tones: cream beige, mint green, sky blue, off-white. They create a serene atmosphere without over-stimulating the infant. Total blackout is essential for naps (babies are sensitive to 10 to 20 lux of light). A light blackout curtain blocks as much light as a dark curtain thanks to its multi-layer structure.
What color curtain with white walls?
White walls offer the greatest freedom of choice. Soft tones (grey, cream beige, off-white, blue, mint green) add warmth without overwhelming. Bright colors create an elegant contrast if the rest of the furniture remains neutral. The only combination to avoid: pure white on white walls, which gives a cold and clinical look unless deliberate minimalism is sought.
Does the curtain color affect its thermal insulation?
No, for a technical multi-layer curtain. Thermal insulation depends on the structure and density of the fabric (620 g/m² at Kurtens), not the surface color. The 7 colors offer identical performance: up to 7 °C thermal gain*, 100% blackout*, and 22 dB sound attenuation*. You can choose the color purely based on aesthetic criteria.
What is the best curtain color for sleeping?
Blue is the most sleep-inducing color according to a study of 2,000 households (Travelodge/Sleep, 2013): people in predominantly blue bedrooms sleep an average of 7h52 per night, compared to 6h58 in purple bedrooms. Grey and green are also soothing. Avoid: red, orange, and bright yellow, which stimulate the nervous system and delay sleep onset.
Does a dark curtain heat the room more in summer?
For a classic single-layer curtain, yes: a dark fabric absorbs more solar radiation than a light fabric, and releases this heat into the room. For a Kurtens technical multi-layer curtain (620 g/m²), the difference is negligible: the internal insulating membrane blocks heat transfer regardless of the surface color. All 7 colors offer the same thermal performance in summer and winter.
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