Buying guide

Curtain Linings Explained: Blackout vs Thermal vs Sateen

Q: Blackout, Thermal or Sateen: Which Lining Fits Your Room Best?

Blackout, thermal and sateen linings solve different problems. Blackout controls light, thermal supports warmth, and sateen is the lighter decorative option.

Q: How Do You Balance Light, Warmth, Privacy and Fabric Drape?

When one room needs several things, choose the dominant need first, then use the other needs as checks. A room can need privacy and warmth, or light control and a soft decorative finish, but one lining will not maximise every outcome equally.

Q: How Do You Move From Lining Choice to Made-to-Measure Curtains?

Once you know the room's main need, choose the fabric, heading style and made-to-measure curtain order alongside the lining. Do not treat the lining as a separate decision at the end.

Choose between blackout, thermal and sateen curtain linings for made-to-measure curtains by room use, light control, warmth, privacy and fabric finish.

British Made Interiors21 July 2026

Choosing a curtain lining is easier when you start with the room, not the product name. Choose blackout for light control, thermal for colder rooms, and sateen where fabric pairing, colour and drape matter most.

Key Takeaways: Choosing Between Blackout, Thermal and Sateen Linings

For made-to-measure curtains, solve the room's main problem first.

Blackout option suits bedrooms, nurseries and guest rooms where reducing light matters most.
Insulating option suits colder rooms, older homes and draughtier windows where comfort is the main need.
Decorative cotton sateen suits rooms where fabric colour, handle and drape matter more than extra performance.

Quick decision table for blackout, thermal and sateen linings
Your priority	Start with	Trade-off	Before ordering
Darker sleep space	Blackout lining.	It blocks fabric light, but edge light depends on fitting.	Check the lining and curtain style together.
A colder or draughty room	Thermal lining.	Warmth takes priority over maximum darkness.	Match it to the fabric and room use.
A decorative finish	Cotton sateen lining.	It offers less darkness and insulation.	Check the lining colour against the face fabric.

What Do Your Curtain Linings Need to Do First?

Start by naming the room's main need: reducing light, improving warmth, adding privacy or supporting the decorative finish. If more than one matters, choose the one that would make the order feel wrong if it failed.

A front bedroom on a bright street needs a different lining from a dining room where fabric colour and drape lead the scheme. Good fabric also deserves care: Ian Mankin says good quality curtain fabric can cost around £40 – £80 per metre^[1], while Groundwork says a high-quality set of thermal curtains costs around £90-£100^[6] on average. Protect the look and use of the finished curtains before you order.

British Made Interiors offers hand-sewn options for Roman blinds and curtains. Not every project needs the most technical lining; the lining, fabric, heading and finish should work together.

If you are unsure, begin with our guide to blackout, thermal and sateen options, then check the fabric options on the curtain product you are considering.

Blackout, Thermal or Sateen: Which Lining Fits Your Room Best?

Sateen, blackout and thermal curtain linings shown for British Made Interiors made-to-measure curtains — Sateen, blackout and thermal lining options for made-to-measure curtains.

Choose the blackout option when light is the main problem. British Made Interiors describes it as composed of 3 separate layers of fabric and termed “3 Pass Blackout”^[2]. That makes it a strong fit for bedrooms, nurseries, guest rooms and spaces affected by morning sun or street lights.

The tradeoff is that blackout fabric is not the same as a sealed room. House Beautiful's product testing notes that blackout curtains and shades can keep bedrooms dark, while warning that not every blackout product performs equally well^[3]. Homes & Gardens says a true blackout feel also depends on controlling light at the top and edges^[4]. Ian Mankin advises the full 8 inches^[5] on either side for bedrooms needing complete darkness; treat that as fitting guidance, not a promise that lining alone removes edge light.

Choose the insulating option when warmth is the bigger problem. British Made Interiors describes this lining as made from a blend of Polyester and Cotton as well as a special thin foam layer^[2]. Groundwork, citing the Energy Saving Trust, says 18%^[6] of heat is lost through windows in an uninsulated house. British Made Interiors also cites studies suggesting up to 35%^[2], though that page does not name the studies. The warmth-focused lining is a comfort choice for colder rooms.

Choose the cotton sateen option when the curtains are mainly fabric-led. British Made Interiors states that this option is made from 100% cotton^[2] and says the best colour depends on the main fabric. A cream decorative lining may not suit a lightweight white fabric^[2]. The key point: lining can affect how colour, weight and finish read once the curtains are made.

If the bedroom is your focus, see whether blackout curtains help you sleep. If warmth is the bigger issue, use the explanation of how thermal curtains work before finalising the lining choice.

How British Made Interiors' curtain-lining guidance compares with two other UK curtain retailers
What to compare	British Made Interiors	Just Furnishings	Curtains Curtains Curtains
Lining choices	Sateen, Blackout and Thermal.	Four main lining types.	Standard, Blackout, Standard Interlined and Blackout Interlined.
Blackout	3 Pass Blackout blocks almost all fabric light; edge light depends on fitting.	Less than 2% light through the lining, for darkness and privacy.	100% blackout through the fabric; some edge light can remain.
Thermal performance	Polyester, cotton and foam lining for colder rooms.	Insulating lining reflects heat inward in winter and outward in summer.	Blackout adds insulation; interlining helps reduce draughts and heat loss.
Drape and finish	Lightweight cotton sateen supports an easy drape.	Cotton-poly lining smooths the drape and feel.	Cotton-poly sateen limits fading and creates a fuller drape.

Should Every Room in Your Home Use the Same Curtain Lining?

No. Different rooms in the same home can need different linings because they are used in different ways. A child's bedroom, a formal dining room and a draughty sitting room should not all be forced into the same answer.

For a hotel-style bedroom, British Made Interiors explains how blackout curtains and interlining can support a calmer bedroom scheme in its advice on blackout curtains and interlining for a hotel-style bedroom.

Large windows, bays and sunny aspects can also change the decision. A sunny bay in a sitting room may make light control and fabric protection feel more important than they would at a small shaded window. A north-facing room may make warmth the bigger concern.

Room-by-room lining decision matrix
Room	Main need	Start with
East-facing bedroom	Sleep and morning light.	Blackout, plus enough width to limit edge light.
Large sitting-room bay	Warmth, glare and fabric protection.	Thermal; compare blackout if the room is also bright.
Evening dining room	Colour, drape and finish.	Cotton sateen, unless warmth or light is a concern.

For example, a homeowner ordering for a bay-fronted Victorian house might choose a room-darkening lining for the main bedroom, an insulating option for the draughtier front sitting room and cotton sateen for a dining room where the fabric is the feature.

How Do You Balance Light, Warmth, Privacy and Fabric Drape?

When one room needs several things, no lining will maximise every outcome equally.

Privacy depends on more than the lining. It also depends on the face fabric, how close the window is to the street, room lighting at night and how the curtains are used. A heavier or more technical lining can add structure, but it can also change how some fabrics hang and feel. Ian Mankin notes that some curtain styles and fabrics are better just lined, giving the example of a heavy jacquard that could become too bulky if interlined^[1].

A crisp cotton, a soft velvet and a patterned designer fabric may not all respond to the same lining in the same way. If the project is mainly decorative, a technical lining may be unnecessary if it adds bulk without solving a real room problem.

For made-to-measure curtains, check the lining against the curtain product, fabric and heading before you order. On our made-to-measure curtain range, the blackout choice is positioned for bedrooms and spaces where less light is useful, while thermal lining is described as a thicker lining for trapping heat and keeping a room warmer in winter and cooler in summer^[7]. That helps you compare function and fabric before you commit.

How Do You Move From Lining Choice to Made-to-Measure Curtains?

Once you know the room's main need, choose the lining alongside the fabric sample, heading style and finished made-to-measure curtain order.

Our Harlequin made-to-measure curtains show how this works in practice: the buyer selects from designs, chooses curtain styles, then chooses a premium lining such as sateen or blackout, with samples available for uncertain fabric decisions^[8]. British Made Interiors also states that made-to-measure curtains are shipped within 20 working days^[9] as standard on one made-to-measure curtain page.

British Made Interiors Clarke and Clarke made-to-measure curtains are manufactured in its Yorkshire workroom and made to the buyer's sizes and style. British Made Interiors manufactures its curtains, blinds and soft furnishings in its modern bespoke factory, direct from the manufacturer.

Use our made-to-measure curtains to connect the lining with the fabric and style you want. If you need size support, use our curtain measuring guides, but keep the buying decision focused on the room, fabric and lining.

FAQ

Can lining choice help protect decorative curtain fabrics from sunlight-related fading?

Yes, lining choice can help when fabric protection is part of the room's problem, especially in sunny windows. British Made Interiors notes on one blackout blind product page that the lining can help protect curtains from the sun^[10]. Treat it as one part of the decision alongside face fabric and window exposure.