Net curtains have been commonly used throughout homes since the 1700's. They allowed a level of privacy for the residents while letting light continue to shine through the window.

Net curtains were originally from England and were made out of lace, woven from cotton, silk or wool. Curtains made from silk lace were the premium and most sought after, however they were considerable more expensive than the other materials.

Since the 20th Century when man started producing synthetic fabrics, net curtains are now almost always made using polyester.

Net curtains were not just used for window dressings, they had other uses such as surrounding beds, or in doorways to enable a level of privacy, to keep insects out and as a decoration.

Some form of net curtains have been used around the world since weaving was invented. However the curtains of old were not normally used as window shades.

Types of Net Curtains

There are a variety of different net curtains. They are sorted according to their shape, size and use. The main three types are voile, cafe and jardiniere.

The drop on net curtains is not a rigid as regular curtains therefore it doesn't matter if they are slightly longer or shorter than the window frame.

Because of the somewhat delicate nature of net curtains, it is advised to have your nets hemmed to prevent fraying. Make sure you order enough material to enable you to do so.

Voile is a French word dervived from the Latin term vela translated as covering.

Voile curtains are originally made in Nottingham, England which was the hub or net curtain making for a great period of time from the 1800-1900's. These days voiles are made all over the world, but primarily in China, Eastern Europe and Turkey.

A voile curtain is a very fine, semi transparent material. Used in dress making it is made from wool. Voile nets are able to be embroidered with decorations, but most of the time are left plain, with only the fine weave as pattern.

Cafe curtains are a cheaper alternative to hanging full net curtains. You only screen the bottom half of the window which affords a level of privacy. The are normally used in the kitchen, but there is no rule saying they can't be used in any other areas of the house.

Cafe curtains can be hung using decorative curtain poles, rods or wires to give an extra special look. The curtains are placed inside the window frame, normally about half way down or where the glazing bar comes across.

Cafe curtains can be used in conjunction with another smaller curtain which is left hanging, this acts as a valance and gives a layered effect. You can leave a gap between the top and bottom layers to let light in or make the top layer longer to overlap the bottom layer, blocking the gap completely.

Jardiniere curtains are full window length. They are shaped so there is an arch in the middle so you can see outside. While allowing a gap to see through, they still cover a larger area than cafe curtains. (With the exception of a full layered valance cafe curtain).

Check out my general curtain guide over at Curtains Curtains & More