Home > Curtains > Sheer Curtains
Soft Light & Daytime Privacy
Sheer curtains are lightweight, semi-transparent window coverings made from soft, flowing fabric. They’re sometimes called screening curtains, voile curtains, or one-way curtains (because during the day you can see out but people outside can’t easily see in).
They let natural light pour into the room while softening the brightness and reducing glare. They add warmth, texture, and a sense of openness that heavier curtains and blinds can’t match. Rooms with sheer curtains feel brighter, bigger, and more relaxed.
On their own, sheer curtains provide daytime privacy and a beautiful finished look. Paired with blockout curtains or blinds on a double track, they give you complete flexibility: soft filtered light during the day, total privacy and darkness at night. All our sheer curtain fabrics are fire retardant as standard.
Nighttime Privacy, What You Need to Know
During the day, sheer curtains provide good privacy. They let light in while making it harder for people outside to see clearly into your home. From inside, you can still see the view through the fabric.
At night, the situation reverses. When it’s dark outside and your lights are on inside, sheers become more transparent. Anyone outside can see silhouettes and shapes through the fabric.
That’s why sheer curtains are almost always paired with a second layer for nighttime privacy. The two most popular options are sheers + blockout curtains on a double track, or sheers + roller blinds. Both give you full control over light and privacy at any time of day.
Perfect Pairings
Sheers + Blockout Curtains (Double Track): The most popular pairing. Sheers closest to the window for soft daytime light and privacy. Blockouts on the outer track for total darkness and insulation at night. Each layer draws independently.
Sheers + Roller Blinds: Mount a blockout or sunscreen roller blind inside the window recess with sheer curtains on a track in front. The blind handles light blocking. The sheer adds softness and style without bulk.
In both setups, the sheer curtain is the visible design element that makes the room feel warm and finished.
Choose How You Use Them
Standalone Elegance
Used on their own, sheer curtains provide daytime privacy and a soft, airy look. Ideal for rooms where you don’t need complete darkness at night, or where you want a light, breezy atmosphere all day long.
Best For
Living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms where you wake up wanting natural light.
Full Flexibility
Mount both on a double curtain track. Sheers closest to the window, blockouts in front. Sheers during the day for soft light and privacy. Blockouts at night for total darkness and insulation. The most popular and flexible curtain configuration we install.
Best For
Bedrooms, living rooms, and dining rooms where you want both daytime light and nighttime darkness.
Clean Function + Style
Mount a roller blind inside the window recess with sheer curtains on a track in front. The blind handles light blocking and privacy. The sheer adds softness and style. Get the clean function of a blind with the decorative look of curtains.
Best For
Any room where you want the sheer as the visible design element and a blind doing the practical work behind the scenes.
Our Fabric Range
The colour and fabric you choose affects how your sheer curtains look, how much light they let through, and how private the room feels during the day. White and off-white are the most popular choices. They let in the most light, suit almost any room, and work with both warm and cool interiors. Light greys, oatmeal tones, and soft beige add warmth without darkening the room. For more mood and depth, tinted sheers in smoky grey, charcoal, or soft blush create a layer of interest. Darker colours filter more light and give a little extra daytime privacy.
The weave and weight of the fabric also matters. A more open weave lets more sunlight through and feels breezy. A tighter weave gives more softness and privacy. Stiffer fabrics create a crisp, tailored look. Soft-touch fabrics hang with a gentle, flowing drape. Our team brings fabric samples to your home so you can see how the colours and weaves work with your lighting, walls, and furniture before you decide.
Want to see samples?
Choose Your Heading Style
Your heading style determines how the fabric hangs and folds. All heading styles are available across our full sheer curtain fabric range.
SMART HOME READY
Motorised sheer curtain tracks let you open and close your sheers from a remote, smartphone, or voice command. Set schedules so they open with the morning sun and close in the evening. Pair with a motorised blockout curtain or blind on the same system for fully automated day-and-night coverage. Works with Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Apple HomeKit.
Our Fabric Range
Yes. Sheer curtains have never really gone out of style, and they’re not about to. Their simple, airy design fits modern, coastal, minimalist, and classic interiors equally well. They’re one of the few window treatments that works with almost any design trend.
What has changed is how people use them. The biggest trend right now is layering sheers with blockout curtains or blinds on double tracks. This gives you the soft, open daytime look of sheers with the full privacy and insulation of blockouts at night.
S-fold (wave fold) headings have become the most popular heading style for sheers, replacing the more traditional pinch pleat in many modern homes. The smooth, even ripple creates a clean, contemporary look. We also supply curtain rods, tracks, and tiebacks to complete the look. Everything is custom made to fit your specific windows.
Why Watson Sheers
All Watson sheer curtain fabrics are fire retardant as standard. No upgrade needed, safety is built in.
Sheer curtains make it difficult for people outside to see clearly into your home while still letting natural light in.
Hanging sheers higher and wider than the actual window frame creates the illusion of taller ceilings and bigger windows.
Our Recommendation
Sheer Curtains with S-fold heading, paired with blockout on double track.
Sheer curtains on their own won’t block enough light for sleeping. But paired with blockout curtains or a blockout roller blind, they create a beautiful, flexible setup. Sheers for soft morning light when you’re awake. Blockouts for total darkness when you’re not.
Our Recommendation
Sheer Curtains + Blockout on double track or Sheer Curtains + Blockout Roller Blind.
Sheer curtains create a beautiful dining atmosphere. The filtered light is softer and more flattering than direct sunlight. Sets the mood for both casual meals and formal entertaining.
Our Recommendation
Sheer Curtains in soft linen or voile, floor-to-ceiling.
Sheer curtains can work in bathrooms where the window doesn’t face a close neighbour. Choose a moisture-resistant fabric and ensure good ventilation. For bathrooms where privacy is a concern, pair with a roller blind.
Our Recommendation
Sheer Curtains in moisture-resistant polyester fabric.
Sheer curtains are all about how the light passes through the fabric. That changes depending on your windows, your orientation, and the time of day. The only way to really know how a sheer will look is to see it in your own space.
Book a free in-home consultation and we’ll bring sheer curtain fabric samples to your home. Hold them up to your windows. See how the light filters through. Compare colours, weaves, and transparency levels in your own room.
We measure your windows, recommend the right fabric and heading style, and give you a clear quote. No obligation.
Plus, you’ll get up to 25% off your order when you book today.
"*" indicates required fields
100% free. Zero obligation. We’ll call to confirm a time that suits you.
Pricing Guide
Custom sheer curtains start from $500 per window. The final price depends on the fabric, the heading style you choose, such as S-fold or pinch pleat, and the size of your windows. Motorised tracks and double curtain setups with a blockout pair sit higher in the range.
Book a free consultation for an accurate quote on your specific windows.
Book your free consultation today and we’ll bring samples to your home, measure your windows, and give you a clear quote. No obligation.
Real Watson Homes
Your Questions Answered
During the day, sheer curtains provide good privacy because the outside light is brighter than inside. At night, when your lights are on and it’s dark outside, the situation reverses and silhouettes become visible through the fabric. That’s why sheers are almost always paired with blockout curtains or blinds for nighttime privacy.
Custom sheer curtains start from $500 per window. The exact price depends on fabric, window size and heading style, and motorised tracks or a double curtain setup add to that. Book a free consultation for an accurate quote.
During the day, yes. Sheer curtains make it difficult for people outside to see clearly into your home while still letting light in. At night, they become more transparent when interior lights are on. For full 24-hour privacy, pair sheers with blockout curtains or a roller blind.
Yes. Sheer curtains have remained consistently popular for decades. Their simple, airy design suits modern, coastal, minimalist, and classic interiors. The current trend is layering sheers with blockout curtains on double tracks, and S-fold (wave fold) headings are the most popular style for a clean, contemporary look.
Use a double curtain track. The sheer curtain hangs closest to the window. The blockout curtain hangs in front on the outer track. Close the sheers during the day for soft light and privacy. Close the blockouts at night for total darkness and insulation.
Yes, with the right fabric. Choose moisture-resistant sheers and ensure good ventilation to prevent mould. Sheers work well in bathrooms that don’t face close neighbours. For bathrooms where privacy is critical, pair with a roller blind or consider a light-filter blind instead.
Lighter colours like white, ivory, soft grey, and beige reflect more light and make rooms feel more open. They blend with walls and surroundings. Hanging sheers higher and wider than the actual window frame also creates the illusion of taller ceilings and bigger windows.
Sheer curtains (also called screening curtains or voile curtains) are lightweight, semi-transparent window coverings that filter natural light while providing daytime privacy. They’re made from soft, flowing fabric that lets light pass through while softening brightness and reducing glare. Often paired with blockout curtains or blinds for full nighttime privacy.
Regular curtains are made from heavier, opaque fabrics that block light and provide full privacy. Sheer curtains are made from lightweight, semi-transparent fabrics that filter light rather than blocking it. Sheers let you see outside during the day while regular curtains don’t. Many people use both together on a double track.
Yes. A popular option is mounting a roller blind inside the window recess with sheer curtains on a track in front. The blind handles light blocking and privacy. The sheer adds softness and style. This works well when you want sheers as the visible design element.
Yes. Most sheer curtains can be machine washed on a gentle cycle or hand washed with mild detergent and hung to dry. Some fabrics are dry-clean only. Always check the care instructions for your specific fabric. Regular light vacuuming with a brush attachment prevents dust buildup between washes.
Yes. Watson custom makes every sheer curtain to fit your specific windows. We measure, manufacture in our own factory, and professionally install. Custom sheers give you a precise fit with no gaps, the exact fabric and colour you want, and your choice of heading style (S-fold, pinch pleat, etc.).
Sheer curtains can work in homes with pets, but choose durable, easy-care fabrics. Lighter sheers can snag on claws, so heavier-weave sheers may be more practical. Regular vacuuming removes pet hair. If your pet is particularly active around windows, consider pairing with a roller blind that can handle more wear.
The most popular heading styles are S-fold (wave fold) for a smooth, modern ripple effect, and pinch pleat for a more structured, tailored look. S-fold has become the dominant choice for contemporary homes. The heading style affects how the fabric drapes and how much stack space is needed when the curtains are open.
Customer Stories
Verified Customer · Google Review
Verified Customer · Google Review
Verified Customer · Google Review
Watson Blinds offers custom-made sheer curtains (also called screening curtains or voile curtains) in a wide range of fabrics, colours, and heading styles including S-fold and pinch pleat. Sheer curtains filter natural light, add softness and texture, and provide daytime privacy. Pair with blockout curtains on a double track or with roller blinds for full day-and-night flexibility. All sheer curtain fabrics are fire retardant. Every curtain is custom measured, manufactured in our own local factory, and professionally installed with a lifetime warranty. Visit our showrooms in Canberra (Fyshwick), Batemans Bay, Nowra, or Wagga Wagga, or book a free in-home consultation today.
