Do's and don'ts of sheer curtains

By Curtain & Blind Co Updated 13 July 2026 1 min read

Sheer curtains are forgiving fabric on unforgiving hardware. The same panel can make a room look wider and finished, or smaller and half-done — and the difference is almost always where you fix the track and how far the fabric runs. Get these six calls right and your sheers will read designer, not default.

The short version

Mount the track wide and high — 150–300mm past each side of the frame, close to the ceiling.
Run sheers to the floor with a small, even gap of about 10mm. Short sheers look unfinished.
Sheers aren't private after dark, so layer them with blackout curtains in bedrooms.

Before you order: see the fabric in your own light

Fabric weight and weave change how a sheer drapes and how much light it filters, and a screen never shows that honestly. Order a sample pack and hang the fabric at your own window before you commit — sample packs ship with free express post, and you get $10 off your order when you buy. When you're ready, browse the full range on our sheer curtains collection.

Go wide, not just to the frame

Do: Extend the track 150–300mm past each side of the window.

Don't: Stop it at the architrave.

When the curtains stack on the wall instead of the glass, the whole window looks wider and you let in more light during the day. The extra width also gives the fabric somewhere to sit when it's open, so the view isn't half-covered. Our stacking calculator works out exactly how much space the sheers take when pulled back, which is handy if there's a light switch or a piece of furniture in the way.

Frequently Asked Questions

How high should I hang sheer curtains?

We recommend hanging the curtains at least 150mm from the top of your window. A high track makes the window — and the whole room — feel taller. So, the higher the track, the better!

How wide should the curtain track be?

Extend it 150–300mm past each side of the window frame. That way the curtains stack on the wall instead of the glass, and the window looks wider. Go wall-to-wall for a full designer look.

How far off the floor should sheer curtains sit?

We recommend about 10mm. A small, even gap reads tailored and keeps the hem clean and easy to vacuum under. This can be reached by selecting "off the floor" on our customiser.