Our West Elm Curtains Review Guide

Choosing curtains for your home can be overwhelming because there are so many options, and they can make or break the entire vibe of your room. Curtains control the amount of light that comes in through your windows, and can also convey a certain look or feel.

In order to come up with the very specific design ideas, we create most designs with the assistance of state-of-the-art AI interior design software.

West Elm has so many options when it comes to high-end curtains, that it can be hard to choose, and it’s not always convenient to get to a showroom location. So how do you choose a West Elm curtain for your space without seeing it first? That’s where I come in!

I went to the Jacksonville, Florida West Elm location and reviewed each one of the curtains they had on display. As you’re probably aware, there are a ton of different options for curtains at West Elm.

However, because they base their business around the custom-designed home decor and furniture, they usually only have a sample of what they carry in store for consumers to browse. Some lengths and colors aren’t available in-store and are online-only purchases, so do be aware of that when you’re looking for curtains!

Related: All West Elm Furniture Reviews Here | West Elm Bedding Review | West Elm Rug Review | West Elm Sofa Review

Methodology

Before I get into my reviews of West Elm curtains, let me review how I went about this process. I’m not looking for curtains for my current home, but I really wanted to give you the ability to make your own decisions. Because of that, I try not to be biased.

I checked out all the elements that I think are important to a consumer when choosing a curtain: amount and quality of the filtered light during the day time, the drape, the color, and the feel and construction. I also tried to give you an idea of what styles a certain type of curtain would go well with, and what rooms I think are best.

With that out of the way, here is my ultimate review of all the mattress options at IKEA!

West Elm Curtain Reviews

1. Worn Velvet

Details:

• Number of Color Options: 4
• Lengths Available: 84”, 96”, 108”
• Construction: 100% polyester
• Additional Details: Available unlined or with blackout liner; each panel sold separately

Pros:

• Variety of colors available
• Blocks out most light, even when unlined

Cons:

• Heavy

Overall Impression: These curtains scream drama! I would love to have these in my bedroom. The colors are vibrant, and I love how the velvet drapes in a way that hits the sun and creates a slight luster. These would work really well in a bedroom to create a dramatic effect, and of course, are heavy enough to keep the light out if you like to sleep in!

2. Cotton Canvas

Details:

• Number of Color Options: 36 different colors and patterns
• Lengths Available: 84”, 96”, 108”
• Construction: 100% cotton & Fair Trade Certified
• Additional Details: Available unlined or with blackout liner; sold in sets of 2

Pros:

• Tons of options for color and pattern
• Simple and lightweight
• High quality

Cons:

• Without a liner, would let a lot of light into a room
• May be better suited for a living room or dining room than a bedroom

Overall Impression: These are simple curtains but made with superior quality. The stitching is really tight and durable. I also really like that they come in a set because I’m never really sure why they sell most curtain panels in single packages!

But that’s not a problem that we’ll solve today! The sample in the showroom was solid white so that you could really take a look at how well made these curtains are. The canvas is very lightweight, though, and unless you got blackout lining, would not work at keeping the sunlight out of your bedroom.

But in other rooms in your home, like the living room or dining room, these would make a really nice filter if you get a lot of sun in a particular part of your home.

3. Linen Cotton

Details:

• Number of Color Options: 1
• Lengths Available: 84”, 96”, 108”
• Construction: 55% linen, 45% cotton
• Additional Details: Available unlined or with blackout liner.

Pros:

• Blackout liner gives it a bit of weight
• Simple design
• Thick and quality construction

Cons:

• Only comes in white

Overall Impression: I liked that these were simple and really well made. I’m not sure what the difference is between this one and the canvas cotton, other than the obvious difference in materials. But looking at them side by side, especially in the same color, there wasn’t much of a difference.

The linen-cotton on display did have the blackout liner, which added a bit of extra weight to the curtain so that it wasn’t as flowy as the cotton canvas, but I can see that also happen if you added a blackout liner to that, too. I guess the only thing that really makes this curtain stand out is the minor textural difference because of the linen addition to the material. But you’d have to get really up close to notice.

4. Sheer Abstract Glass

Details:

• Number of Color Options: 1 (Belgian Flax)
• Lengths Available: 84”, 96”, 108”
• Construction: 64% cotton, 36% linen
• Additional Details: Sold by individual panel

Pros:

• Sheer curtain filters in a good amount of light, but softens it
• The design pattern is woven into the curtain with the same color thread

Cons:

• Only 1 color available
• Sold by individual panel

Overall Impression: I love these curtains because they’re simple when you first look at them, but when the sun hits them through the window, the pattern really appears. Because the pattern is woven onto the curtain, it doesn’t filter as much light through as the rest of the curtain. This really makes the pattern pop.

I also like that there’s a slight fraying around the design that gives it some depth. These a really good quality curtains, and my only criticism is that there aren’t more options to choose from!

5. Belgian Flax Linen

Details:

• Number of Color Options: 13 colors and patterns
• Lengths Available: 84”, 96”, 108”
• Construction: 100% Belgian flax & Fair Trade certified
• Additional Details: Available unlined or blackout liner; Sold individually or in a set of 2

Pros:

• Options for buying an individual panel or a set
• Variety of colors and patterns available
• Light and airy feel, even with a blackout liner

Cons: 

• May not be a suitable option for a bedroom that gets a lot of early morning sunlight

Overall Impression: I loved the ethereal feel of these curtains, and they reminded me of the type that you’d put on a canopy bed to give it a princess look! There is an option to add a liner, but I think that actually defeats the purpose of these curtains. They’re meant to be sheer and would work really well if you have a room that gets a moderate amount of sunlight in the middle of the day.

But if your room gets tons of direct sunlight, these aren’t going to do much in keeping your room cool in the summer heat! They’re really thin.

I’d put these in my dining room, which gets a nice afternoon light that falls behind the trees before sundown. It’s not direct, but these curtains would definitely work to reduce the glare that comes through the windows during that part of the day.

6. Crossweave

Details:

• Number of Color Options: 4
• Lengths Available: 84”, 96”, 108”
• Construction: 100% polyester
• Additional Details: Available unlined or blackout liner; each panel sold individually

Pros:

• Heavy
• Solid construction

Cons:

• Panels sold individually

Overall Impression: These curtains are interesting. They’re heavy but unlined they do let through a moderate amount of sunlight, which makes me think that they would balance out a room that gets a lot of direct sunlight during the day. The pattern is interesting, and the curtains themselves are quality made.

If you get a blackout liner, I think this would work really well in a bedroom too. However, there’s a bit of formalness that these curtains have, and I don’t know if I’d like them in my personal bedroom. I think maybe because they remind me a bit like the curtains you’d find in an office building.

7. Textured Weave with Blackout liner

Details:

• Number of Color Options: 2
• Lengths Available: 84”, 96”, 108”
• Construction: 100% cotton
• Additional Details: Each panel sold individually

Pros:

• Heavy and blocks all light with liner

Cons:

• Super formal-looking
• Kind of boring

Overall Impression: I’m pretty sure these are the exact curtains that they have up in a generic hotel room. They’re very heavy, but nothing really stands out about them. They’re kind of boring, and I’m not a big fan of them.

However, they do block out all the sunlight, and so would be good for a bedroom that has windows facing east! Other places would be in offices or home theaters, where it’s important to control the amount of light for any screen watching. Personally, these are way too formal and institutional-looking for my home.

8. Textured Bark Jacquard

Details:

• Number of Color Options: 2
• Lengths Available: 84”, 96”, 108”
• Construction: 42% polyester, 37% rayon, 21% linen & Fair Trade certified
• Additional Details: Available unlined or blackout liner; each panel sold individually

Pros:

• Heavier than they look
• The metallic weave gives it a nice texture

Cons:

• Each panel is sold individually

Overall Impression: I was surprised by how heavy these curtains wore. On first look, they look like lighter curtains that would filter through a decent amount of light. But as soon as I touched them, I realized that they were actually quite heavy and would work better in a room with a lot of direct light.

If you placed them in a room with moderate sunlight throughout the day, I think they’d be too heavy and keep the room dark throughout the day. Depending on your situation, that might be something that you’re looking for.

I’d also put these in my bedroom. I think my favorite part, though, is that the metallic thread woven into the motif. It catches the light and creates a bit of sheen!

9. Concentric Squares

Details:

• Number of Color Options: 1 color only (platinum)
• Lengths Available: 84”, 96”, 108”
• Construction: 100% organic cotton & Fair Trade certified
• Additional Details: Sold in sets of 2

Pros:

• Simple geometric details
• Comes in a set of 2
• Significant light filtering

Cons:

• No options

Overall Impression: These curtains remind me of something you’d put in a nursery or playroom. They’re neutral enough to go with a variety of different aesthetics.

They’re pretty heavy, considering they’re not lined, and you don’t get a lot of light filtering through (which is great for a sleeping baby!). However, I did find the pattern to be a bit juvenile for my bedroom, and they really wouldn’t work in any areas of my home.

10. Striped Ikat

Details:

• Number of Color Options: 1 color only (platinum)
• Lengths Available: 84”, 96”, 108”
• Construction: 55% linen, 45% cotton
• Additional Details: Each panel sold individually

Pros:

• Very sheer and lightweight
• Quality construction
• The subtle pattern is unexpected

Cons:

• Each panel is sold separately
• No options

Overall Impression: These curtains are very similar to the concentric squares, except this is a linen blend. The colors, however, are much the same in platinum and white. This is the West Elm interpretation of the traditional Ikat pattern, and the way it moves vertically down the curtains works really well with the drape.

It sort of adds an additional shadow to create the illusion of depth. Unlike the concentric squares, however, I didn’t get the nursery feel from these. First off, because they’re super sheer and wouldn’t work in a nursery where you’d have a sleeping baby during the day!

They’re also more sophisticated looking, and would work really well in a dining room or open layout, where you would have a moderate amount of sunlight during the day that just needs slight filtering!

11. Clipped Jacquard

Details:

• Number of Color Options: 1 color only
• Lengths Available: 84”, 96”, 108”
• Construction: 100% polyester
• Additional Details: Each panel sold individually

Pros:

• Sheerest available curtains in the showroom

Cons:

• Each panel is sold individually

Overall Impression: These curtains are actually called “semi-sheer,” but they’re the sheerest ones that West Elm had in the showroom. They only filter a minimal amount of light, so they’d probably not be the best choice for a room that gets a lot of direct sunlight unless it’s a sunroom. I actually think that these would look amazing in a bedroom with windows facing west, rather than east.

They would look awesome, filtering the warm golden hour light through the window! I also like that these have an interesting pattern that’s woven into the sheer base in a darker beige. This allows you to notice the pattern in the evening without any sunlight.

But the real magic happens when the light hits these curtains, and because the pattern is thicker than the rest of t eh curtain, it enhances the look of the pattern. So basically, these curtains change throughout the day, giving your space a dynamic element!

West Elm Curtain Round-Up Winner

There are a ton of options when it comes to curtains at West Elm, and you’ll be able to find a set for your space without a problem. No matter which one you choose, I loved how high-quality everything looked. The stitching was tight, and I didn’t notice any pulls or quality red flags in the material.

If I have to choose a favorite, it’d have to be the classic Cotton Canvas. There are just so many options that I can choose from for every room, and while I could probably find similar curtains at a department store location, nothing is going to compare in quality to these from West Elm.

The stitching and attention to detail are there, and it instills a vote of confidence that making an investment in these curtains as opposed to the budget version is well worth it!

Which West Elm curtains are your favorite?