Curtains can either help fight summer heat or make a room feel stuffier. The right fabric and color choice makes a real difference to how a room feels through peak summer months.
Dark, heavy curtains absorb heat and can make a sun-facing room noticeably warmer through the afternoon. Light colors — white, cream, pastel shades — reflect more sunlight and keep the room feeling cooler, especially on west-facing windows that catch the harshest afternoon sun.
Heavy fabrics like velvet or thick jacquard trap heat and dust — exactly what you don't want in summer. Cotton and linen-blend curtains breathe better, let in some airflow even when closed, and are far easier to wash off the season's dust.
If your bedroom needs to stay dark for sleep but you also want the room to feel airy during the day, layer two curtains on the same rod: a sheer curtain for daytime privacy and light diffusion, and a blackout curtain you draw closed only at night. This gives you both without compromising on either.
Direct sunlight fades furniture, flooring and even wall paint over time. A lined curtain — even a light-colored one — blocks a meaningful amount of UV, protecting your furniture while still keeping the room bright.
Dust and pollen tend to build up faster in summer with windows open more often. Cotton curtains that can be machine-washed at home are far more practical than dry-clean-only fabrics you'll put off cleaning.
Browse light, breathable options in our curtains collection to freshen up your home for the season.