What to Know Before Ordering Blockout Curtains Online for a Perfect Fit
Ordering curtains online is convenient until the package arrives and nothing fits. Sizing errors, wrong fabric choices, and heading style mismatches are the most common complaints in online curtain purchases. Buying blockout curtains online done right is entirely manageable. It requires measuring correctly, understanding how specifications translate to finished curtains, and knowing what to look for in a product description. Get these right and the online experience is faster, more affordable, and just as good as buying in a showroom.
How Do You Measure Windows Correctly for Online Orders?
Measure twice, order once. For width, measure the full area you want covered, including the return beyond the window frame on both sides. Add at least 30cm to each side for proper light seal and visual fullness. For drop, decide whether you want floor-to-ceiling, just-touching-floor, or a precise sill length. Note the measurement point: from the top of the rod, from the bracket, or from the ceiling. Online retailers will specify which measurement they use.
What Is the Difference Between Curtain Width and Finished Width?
This confuses a lot of first-time buyers. The finished width is the width of the curtain panel when hanging. The fabric width before pleating or gathering will be larger because fullness is built in. If you order a curtain with a finished width of 150cm, the fabric content will be 220 to 300cm depending on heading style. Always clarify whether the width listed in the product specs is finished or fabric width.
How Do You Choose the Right Fabric Weight Online Without Touching It?
Request fabric samples before ordering. Any reputable online curtain retailer offers them. A fabric swatch tells you texture, sheen, and opacity in your actual room lighting. Look for GSM (grams per square metre) in the product description. Blockout curtains typically range from 280 to 450+ GSM. Higher GSM means heavier and generally better drape. A 350 GSM fabric hangs more elegantly than a 200 GSM one.
How Many Panels Do You Need Per Window?
Most windows use two panels that draw from each side to the centre. Wide windows may need three or four panels. A single panel that covers the full width is less functional and harder to open. For blockout performance, each panel should overlap the centre by at least 5cm when closed. That overlap prevents a light gap at the join. Specify this in your order or check that the product description accounts for it.
What Heading Style Should You Order for Your Track or Rod?
Eyelet headings only work on decorative rods with a diameter that fits through the eyelet ring, typically 19mm to 35mm rods. Wave headings require a wave-specific track with gliders. Pinch pleat headings hang from hooks on traverse rods or tracks. Order the wrong heading for your existing hardware and the curtains cannot be hung at all. Confirm your track or rod type before choosing a heading style.
What Return Policy Should You Look for Before Buying?
Custom-made curtains are non-returnable in most cases because they are cut to your specifications. This makes pre-purchase research more important, not less. Look for retailers that offer sample swatches, have detailed specification guides, and provide clear measurement instructions. If a retailer offers a remake guarantee for incorrect custom orders, that is significant. It means they stand behind their measuring guide and production accuracy.
What Common Mistakes Should You Avoid When Ordering Online?
Ordering without samples leads to colour surprises. Measuring from the wrong point gives the wrong drop. Choosing heading style without checking hardware compatibility wastes money. Ordering exact window width without adding fullness gives a flat, inadequate curtain. And confusing blackout with dimout means light still gets through. None of these mistakes are complicated. They are all avoidable with ten minutes of pre-purchase research.
