Picture yourself stepping foot inside a well-designed Palm Jumeirah villa – sparkling Italian marble floors beneath your feet, bespoke furniture crafted to precise measurements, tastefully adorned walls reminding you of an art museum. Every inch of the property speaks of luxury and refinement. And then. The afternoon sun floods the space with harsh, hot light fading away all the meticulous details, drowning the opulent textiles and making the once refined villa feel like a steaming greenhouse. 

In that moment, you are reminded of the importance of the humble curtain. 

We often end up explaining to our clients that the most impactful and yet most underrated element in luxury interiors are window treatments. Your curtain selection can completely transform the way natural light will impact your interiors, how well your belongings and your skin will be protected from the glaring sun, and how cohesive your interiors look.

Curtains and blinds can completely make or break the design story you want to channel visually. Yet their presence is not just based on aesthetics, but functionality as well. In a region where light and heat are often the greatest challenges to overcome for residential designs, well-selected curtains serve as a refined environmental technology while staying true to the vision of luxurious elegance.

Curtain Fundamentals: What You Need to Get Right from the Start

curtains and blinds

Function First: What Are Your Curtains Actually Doing?

When guiding our discerning clients, we don’t start the discussion with questions on fabrics or style, we go straight in with its function. A touch of privacy for the apartment? Controlled light flow inside the bedroom? Reduced acoustic inflow in the media room? Improved thermal insulation to combat the classy yet heat-inviting floor-to-ceiling windows? 

There can be multiple applications for your curtain and each demands specific considerations:

  • Privacy without darkness requires a delicate balance that can be achieved through combination technique –  sheer curtains layered under heavier panels
  • Light management is an essential to control the UAE’s year-round sunshine – blackout curtains are often preferred by residents, especially with solar-reflective backs.
  • Acoustic requirements can best be achieved with the use of heavier curtains with interlining that have a better sound absorption rate, something that comes in handy in open plan apartments.
  • Thermal efficiency demands a proper curtain lining and even interlinings – pivotal for managing the relentless heat, efficiently reducing air conditioning costs during summer months

As evident in these examples, the purpose for your curtain needs influences the numerous variations involved such as in fabrics, weight, heading style, lining, etc. When you’re not focused on the purpose, any one of these elements could be selected incorrectly leading to a highly disappointing experience, no matter how beautifully the curtains are designed.

Window Type Matters

Many clients are surprised to learn that their window style will directly impact the type of curtain we suggest, as each demands a different approach:

Bay Windows

Whilst bay windows offer a timeless charm to interiors, they add a little complexity in terms of curtain design. Should we follow the protruding tracks of the bay window with the curtains, or should we go straight across the opening for its window curtain design ?

The former option will enhance the architectural appeal of a bay window, yet it requires more precious handling and manufacturing. Emphasizing a bay window creates a romantic appeal and suits classic interiors. The latter will cover up a bay window completely, offering a straighter, cleaner look when the curtains are opened. This can serve well if you want to maintain a contemporary appeal in  your space without losing the benefits of a window.

Floor-to-Ceiling Windows

A contemporary favourite, many homes opt for vast walls of glass yet they come with their own set of challenges. They require better heat control while maintaining their elegant appeal. In such cases, we recommend wave-headed curtains on recessed tracks for the clean, modern aesthetic.

Yet be warned that this curtain style requires a generous helping of fabric, 2.5 times that of your window’s width. For instance, a 5-meter wide window wall would need around 12.5 meters of fabric to achieve the look. Using less than the recommended amount might make your curtains look more tacky than they do refined.

French-Door Windows

A timeless choice, French doors serve a generous dosing of quintessential charm to the interiors but when planning your curtains, you need to ensure that the door function is not disrupted. The curtain rod must be well extended to ensure that the flow of the curtains clears the door opening completely. 

A tried-and-tested trick that we often apply in such cases is to recommend the use of a return wall – short extensions lying perpendicular to the main wall – to help house away the curtains neatly when they are drawn, away from the door swing.

Sash Windows

Also known as double-hung windows, they remain a popular choice for heritage-inspired houses that add an aura of culture, and period-inspired refinement, all while tackling the Arab climate.


We suggest pairing this period-chic windows with an equally elegant option such as full-length curtains that pool ever-so-subtly at the floor for adding just the right amount of muted opulence. Keeping them interlined will help improve the heat retention factor even more.

Skylights or Clerestory Windows

An increasingly popular choice for their ability to bring natural light to your indoors, skylights actually serve a challenge that can be overcome with the use of motorised systems. For such remote nooks and corners, using an electric curtain track from the comfort of your remote not only feels like a technological luxury, but is a practical necessity in managing sunlight levels for an improved lifestyle.

The Importance of Proportion: Fullness, Length & Scale

modern curtains blinds length

Let’s Settle the Debate: Floor-Length or Pooling?

The exact length of your drapes can make a world of difference on the impact they have on the room’s character. There are three primary approaches to curtain length:

Tailored to the Floor
Curtains that just barely touch the floor enhance a tailored, precise look that does well in contemporary spaces. Yet this approach requires measurements that are perfect down to the smallest millimeter and expert installation, because even a minute error will become glaringly obvious, and completely take away from its intended effect. When done right, tailored-length curtains achieve a refreshing clean, linear aesthetic.

Slight Break
Although this option is comparatively less trending, it continues to imbue spaces with a charming, easy-going effect. Creating a slight break of 1-2 cm where the curtain ends meet the floor offers more breathing space, enhancing a sense of relaxed sophistication. It also helps your curtains stay cleaner for longer time periods, as your curtain ends won’t accumulate dust from the floor

Generous Puddle
Dramatic, opulent, graceful. For grand formal rooms, especially those with high ceilings, curtains that puddle 10-15cm on the floor channel an undeniable amount of striking luxury. This impactful style works brilliantly in the reception halls of refined villas and formal dining spaces. Yet this curtain length requires a proper fabric selection to let the curtain fall gracefully in elegant folds rather than crumpled heaps.

The cardinal sin? Curtains that hover above the floor. This undeniable marker of ready-made inadequacy instantly diminishes even the most beautiful fabrics and interiors.

Width & Fullness: Say No to Stingy Curtains

Even the most expensive, luxurious and rich textiles fall flat of achieving the desired result when they are created with insufficient fullness. They look stingy, tactless, and make it look like you decided to cut costs at the last minute. To achieve proper draping, curtains must be substantially wider than the windows they cover, and must be in accordance with the curtain style you are opting for:

  • Pinch Pleat: Minimum 2.5× window width
  • Wave Heading: 2.3-2.5× window width
  • Goblet Pleat: 2.5-3× window width
  • Eyelet/Grommet: 2× window width

These proven, designer-approved ratios will ensure that the curtains appear generous and luxurious even when they’re opened, and not scantily stretched thin across the window. We have witnessed too many projects undermined by inadequate fullness calculations – an error that becomes obvious to the clients only once the installation is complete.

Raising the Roof: Tricks to Elevate Ceiling Height

One of our favourite and unconventional techniques is to mount the curtains significantly higher than the window frame – often just below the ceiling cornice. This simple and elegant solution creates the illusion of a greater ceiling height and larger windows, creating a lavish impact.

This trick works especially well for designer apartments with a standard 2.8-metre ceiling, where raising the curtain pole or track just 15cm above the window frame makes a remarkable difference. On the other hand, for grander spaces with 4+ metre ceilings common in luxury villas, curtains mounted well at the cornice level dramatically enhance the room’s vertical proportions.

Heading Styles: The Couture Details No One Talks About

modern curtains blinds black

Pinch Pleat vs. Wave vs. Goblet vs. Eyelet — What's the Difference?

The curtain heading is a term referring to how the fabric attaches to the track or curtain rod – which influences both its form and its function:

Triple Pinch Pleat
The classic heading style choice for traditional interiors, this category features groups of three pleats pinched together at regular intervals throughout the curtain. It creates a formal, delicately structured appearance which is perfect for refined spaces that want their drapes to look elegant and neatly styled. In fact, these defined tri-pleats maintain their shape beautifully quite well over time, and require a substantial amount of fabric due to their fullness.

Wave Heading
One of our most popular choice of curtain headings, wave curtains create smooth, endless waves with an S-shaped curve when they’re drawn. They imbue a sense of classy elegance while maintaining a hold on contemporary interiors. When paired with a recessed curtain rod and the specialist tracks, their clean aesthetic has a truly refreshing appeal by achieving a more impressive stack than its pleated counterparts.

Goblet Pleat
If you seek to create a more impactful heading style that maintains an elegant approach, the goblet style may serve you well. Resembling the alluring form of a wine glass in its profile, these sculptural pleats make for a highly formal, distinguished heading that pairs wonderfully with formal or grander rooms. This technique requires precise handcrafting and a generous use of fullness to achieve the style in all its authentic glory. We often recommend this style of heading for the formal dining rooms in palatial villas.

Eyelet/Grommet
Metal-ringed eyelets thread directly onto the curtain pole, creating simplified, uniform folds. Although the simplicity of this heading style makes it a popular choice for modern settings, we like to reserve it for less formal settings as it lacks the luxurious elegance and fine detailing associated with the other heading styles.

The heading choice affects much more than the looks of your curtain and the room, they also impact the possibilities in stacking widths, and how easily the curtains can be drawn.

Tracks vs. Poles: Hardware Makes the Look

Hardware selection fundamentally influences the curtain’s overall effect:

  • Concealed Ceiling Tracks
    Recessed tracks that disappear into the ceiling create the cleanest, most architectural look.

  • Decorative Poles
    From hand-forged iron to polished brass or carved wood, these visible hardware elements contribute significantly to the room’s character.

  • Electric Curtain Systems
    For the ultimate in luxury and convenience, motorised systems allow curtain operation via remote control, wall panel, or smart home integration.

Fabric Selection: Beyond Just Pretty Prints

luxury curtains fabrics selection

Heavyweight vs. Sheer: It's a Mood Thing

This goes without saying, but the fabric selection for your curtains shapes not just the its appearance but can completely alter its entire character:

Velvet

Few others can match the dramatic appeal of velvet curtain fabric when it comes to the way it absorbs and reflects light at the same time. Once reserved for royalty, this fabric effortlessly channels grandeur to the simplest of spaces. 

Velvet curtains work exceptionally well when selected in deep jewel tones that are subtly mirrored elsewhere in the room. For our clients based in UAE, we recommend going for a cotton-viscose velvet that has the same beloved tactile feel of velvet but offers better resistance to sun damage. 

When selected in modern cuts and styled efficiently, these luxury curtains can escape the tags of dusty, traditional, and old-fashioned often thrown upon them. Used well, they add the perfect amount of grandeur without overdoing it.

Linen
Linen curtain fabric remains the preferred choice for modern interior settings due to its sleek, minimalist appeal. It adds a very natural touch of texture and personality to the room.Heavy 100% linen curtain fabric drapes beautifully while offering a relaxed elegance. 

For UAE homes, we often recommend linen blends because they maintain a natural aesthetic while providing better resistance to the intense sunlight that can degrade pure linen over time. They also wrinkle less than their polyester-free counterparts. Opt for heavier varieties that are around 340-400gsm to better hold their folds and stand firm against air-conditioning winds, creating a more refined effect.

Silk
Silk has maintained a reputation for its luxurious, supple tactile appeal that offers unmatched luminosity. It plays wonderfully with even the most minimal amounts of light, adding a new layer of visual depth to the surroundings. They serve as an excellent choice of fabric for luxury drapes.

For our UAE based clients who face intense sunlight year-round, we recommend going for silk-wool blends in a 85:15 ratio, despite being present in a minimal amount, the wool content greatly improves the curtains durability without compromising on silk’s natural luster. 

Many seek to use natural silk in its purity as they believe it adds a more authentic dose of opulence, in such cases, we highly recommend pairing it with a UV-resistant interlining. 

Sheers
Modern-day sheer curtains are no longer limited to the flimsy nets associated with the past. Contemporary sheer curtains offer complete transparency control, UV protection, and excellent draping properties.

In warmer areas, we always recommend double sheer curtains that offer the same enchanting transparency without improved heat control. White sheer curtain fabric remains a popular choice for its ability to create a sense of airy openness. 

For an extra dose of luxury, sheer curtain panels can be used in double layers of varying opacity levels, which creates an interesting play of light and translucency, enchanting even the most minimalist of spaces with a dream-like aura. 

Lining & Interlining: The Invisible Game-Changers

What makes a luxury curtain stand out from the ordinary, is often the hidden, highly undermined curtain lining:

Blackout Lining

Many of our clients seek curtains that will enhance their lifestyle by blocking all the natural, harsh sunlight and the excruciating heat levels it brings with it. Blackout curtains are perfect for controlling even the smallest of those annoying sunrays that seep through during your nap. Bedrooms, media rooms, office spaces, there are many rooms in our home where light control is not a luxury but a necessity. 

White blackout curtains are often preferred by clients for their capability to retain a sense of light and openness even when the sunlight is completely blocked out.

Modern blackout curtains Dubai homes often feature specialized solar-reflective properties. So your curtains not only block light but reflect heat, significantly improving energy efficiency during the intense summer months. 

For rooms where you alternate between seeking a complete blackout, and sunlit room – it’s always a good idea to layer sheer curtains at the back with decorative blackout curtains at the front.

Thermal Lining
Modern UAE architecture is known for featuring stunning, wall-to-ceiling glass areas. Although they add a refined sense of grandeur, they come with some downsides – namely their ability to bring in a lot of unwanted heat to your interiors. 

Using thermal linings with your curtains can greatly bring down the average temperatures, reducing the burden on your cooling systems in terms of energy and financial conservation.

Particularly valuable for properties with large glass areas so common in contemporary UAE architecture. These linings dramatically improve energy efficiency and comfort while protecting the face fabric from sun damage – a critical consideration in Dubai’s harsh climate.

Interlining

Interlining consists of a soft flannel layer sandwiched between the curtain fabric and back lining. This offers an unmatchable level of sculptural volume, greatly elevating the thermal and acoustic performance as well. Using the right interlining can make all the difference when it comes to enhanced energy and light management through drapes.

The weight of your interlining depends on the face fabric you’re using. For sheer curtains and lighter silk varieties, use a lighter 180gsm and a 280gsm for a standard level of insulation across a range of fabrics. For optimal insulation and creating an impressive body, 400gsm serves as a good weight.

Form, function, and longevity – an interlined curtain lasts approximately 50% longer than other curtains due to its use of layering and improved UV control.

The combination of the right face fabric, appropriate lining, and quality interlining transforms ordinary curtains into exceptional ones – it’s a difference you can literally feel even as you’re drawing them.

Beyond Drapery: The Strategic Integration of Blinds and Curtains

blinds curtains drapery

No conversation about window treatments can be truly complete without addressing the highly refined integration of blinds and curtains Dubai residents have increasingly begun seeking. Although they’re often conceived as being completely exclusive counterparts, when used together, they create a comprehensive window treatment that serves as a perfect amalgamation of form and function.

Where the blinds provide precise control over sunlight and enhance privacy, curtains soften their appearance and improve acoustic control. Practically speaking, we recommend pairing a recessed UV-reflective technical blind with a delicate sheer curtain. This combination serves much better functionally and aesthetically than when used in isolation.

Technical Specifications for Premium Applications

There are several technical elements that must be kept in mind when selecting a blind for your space:

Control Systems and Motorisation
A smart curtain blinds system allows for easy control and automation over your blinds through a simple control system. Subtle alteration such as dual motors, environmental sensors, and ultra-quiet motors can help make the experience feel even more luxurious.

Blackout Solutions
In spaces such as media rooms or bedrooms where complete daylight control is paramount, black out blinds require enhanced side channel systems that are subtly extended beyond the window’s width for eliminating any light possibly sneaking through.

Fabric Selection and Integration
When window blinds and curtains are used in combination, the fabric of both must be used in a way that it complements and builds up on one another. The key word is complement and not match with fabric curtain blinds.

Common Mistakes That Ruin Even the Best Rooms

white blinds luxury kitchen

Ready-Made Curtains from Mall Retailers

Even the most lavishly, meticulously designed homes can get completely sidelined by the use of off-the-shelf curtains. They come with several limitations:

  • Standardised curtain lengths that don’t perfectly align with a window’s dimensions.
  • Unimpressive widths that don’t have the right amount of volume and appear flat when closed.
  • Machine-finished details that clearly signify their mass-produced origins.
  • Limited lining options compromising light control and insulation

Any discerning eye can easily pick the details between a quality, tailored curtain and an off-the-shelf alternative: uneven hemlines, stingy curtain dimensions, puckered headings, and an ill-hanging form. Even the best curtain shops in Dubai and UAE cannot overcome these standard limitations that come with mass-produced curtains.

Incorrect Measurements & Installation

Even with tailored curtains, we see a lot of errors that mainly stem from incorrect measurements and are escalated by incorrect installations. Some errors include:

  • Taking only the window’s measurements and not factoring in the wall dimensions.
  • Incorrect height placement that does not utilise full ceiling height.
  • Installation that doesn’t factor in customisations for floor or wall unevenness.

Curtain Trends We Actually Approve Of

luxury curtains trends

At FCI, we stay wary of trends in favour of offering timeless solutions that look fresh even after years of installation. Yet some design trends are worth keeping an eye on for the unique advantages they bring to the table:

Climate-Responsive Treatments
In the intense, warm climate of UAE, the recent innovations of solar-reflective fabrics and backings and automated climate-responsive systems offer a refreshing relief for clients. This means that the curtain positions are adjusted throughout the day according to the sun’s position and intensity.

Sheer Layers with Concealed Tracks
Using technical sheers on invisible ceiling tracks brings a dreamy softness to contemporary rooms. Unlike most trends based on fashion, this style greatly improves a room’s natural light quality by filtering the harsh rays and providing a soft, ethereal glow.

Sustainable Fabrics
In the modern interior world, luxury and sustainability go hand-in-hand as more brands are realising their ecological responsibilities. The constant research and experimentation has led to the development of sustainable fabrics that are made responsibly with minimum wastage of material and energy sources.

Return to Traditional Craftsmanship
As the world leaps ahead with amazing technological innovations every day, subtle details like elements of traditional craftsmanship in our homes help us retain a sense of groundedness in balance that is pivotal to improved mental well-being. Traditional touches such as hand-finished headings, weighted hems and mitred borders can make your curtain look so much classier.

Final Thoughts: It’s Not Just Fabric — It’s Architecture in Motion

When done right, your curtains will mimic the elegance of a functional, living sculpture. They don’t just amplify a space with their presence, but enhance it with their continuous dance with the light and air in your space. Their tactile softness juxtaposes well with the hard surfaces of a space, creating an overall harmonious composition.
In over three decades of creating exceptional interiors, we have never designed a space without focusing as much on our window treatments as we do on the more ‘prominent’ ones such as furniture, floorings and kitchens. You might have considered curtains as a secondary element, but our experience has made us realise that it’s often these minor details that transcend a space from basic to exceptional.

At FCI Dubai, our design team offers comprehensive consultation on luxury window treatments for discerning clients. From initial concept to final installation, we provide bespoke solutions that enhance your architecture and lifestyle while addressing the unique demands of the UAE climate. Contact us to arrange a free design consultation.