From khus to cottons, here's how curtains can help you cool down your home naturally

Smart curtain choices can help keep rooms cooler, softer, and more comfortable during warm days, without relying only on air conditioning.

When the heat creeps in and refuses to leave, your windows become the main culprit. Sunlight streaming through may look lovely, but it brings along a fair bit of warmth. This is where curtains step in, not just as décor, but as problem solvers. The right fabric can soften harsh light, block out heat, and even help your room feel a few degrees cooler. It is less about heavy layers and more about choosing materials that breathe, reflect, and filter cleverly. From traditional options that carry a hint of nostalgia to lighter fabrics that feel almost weightless, curtains can do more than just frame a window. They can change how your home feels throughout the day.

Light filters through airy curtains, casting soft shadows while keeping heat out, turning a sunny room into a calm, cooler retreat. (Pexels.com)

By Neha Ravi Khandelwal

Neha Khandelwal
Content Lead, HT Travel | Travel & Lifestyle Journalist
With over 10 years of content writing experience, Neha Khandelwal is a lifestyle journalist and the Content Lead at HT Travel. She specialises in destinations, hotels, aviation, luggage, travel gear, and practical guides that help readers plan smarter and travel better. Her work combines first-hand experience, expert insights, and extensive research to create stories that are informative, useful, and easy to follow.

Career Journey & Experience
Neha began her writing career as a freelance journalist in 2010 before entering mainstream media with The Times of India in 2022. She later joined Hindustan Times, where she has written extensively across travel, lifestyle, home, and consumer trends. Her professional background extends beyond journalism. Before moving into digital media full-time, she spent nearly a decade in interior design, managing residential projects from concept to execution. She also trained in visual merchandising with Shoppers Stop and Pantaloons and worked with women-led startups across design and operations. These experiences continue to shape her storytelling, especially in how she evaluates hotels, design-led stays, hospitality spaces, and travel experiences.

A naturally curious learner, Neha has completed beginner certifications in pottery, scuba diving, baking, creative writing, and other creative pursuits. She has read more than 2,000 books, trained in Bharatanatyam for 8 years, and ghostwritten a book on Ladakh tourism.

Subject Expertise
Travel is at the heart of Neha's work. She covers destinations, hotels, airlines, luggage, packing strategies, travel accessories, and emerging travel trends through a mix of reporting, product testing, and conversations with industry experts. A frequent traveller herself, she approaches every trip with a journalist's curiosity and a planner's mindset, focusing on experiences that readers can realistically recreate. From choosing the right cabin bag to decoding hotel openings and destination trends, her writing prioritises practical advice over promotional claims. Her background in interior design also gives her a distinct perspective on architecture, hospitality design, boutique hotels, luxury stays, and thoughtfully designed spaces.

Education & Professional Background
Neha holds a Master's degree in Interior Design. Her early experience in interior design, visual merchandising, and design operations gives her a unique understanding of aesthetics, functionality, and user experience, adding depth to her coverage of hotels, resorts, and travel spaces.

Editorial Philosophy
"As an avid, research-driven traveller, my goal is simple. To answer the questions you actually have before booking a trip. I cut through the promotional noise with honest reporting and expert insights. Making travel planning seamless, smart, and reliable so you always know where to go next."

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Khus curtains

Khus curtains feel like a throwback that still makes complete sense. Made from vetiver roots, they release a subtle earthy scent when sprinkled with water. As air passes through, it cools naturally, almost like a gentle outdoor breeze. Ideal for balconies or windows that get strong afternoon sun.

Bamboo curtains

Bamboo curtains bring texture and function together. They block direct sunlight without trapping heat, allowing air to move freely through the gaps. The natural finish adds a relaxed, summery look to any room. They work especially well in spaces that need shade but still benefit from steady airflow.

Linen curtains

Linen curtains are light, breathable, and quietly stylish. They filter sunlight instead of blocking it completely, keeping rooms bright yet cooler. The fabric allows air to circulate, which helps reduce that stuffy indoor feeling. Perfect for living areas where you want comfort without making the space feel closed or heavy.

Cotton curtains

Cotton curtains are the easy, everyday choice. Soft, breathable, and fuss-free, they help keep heat at bay while still letting in a gentle glow. Lighter weaves work best during hotter months, offering just enough coverage without blocking airflow. They suit almost every room and never feel out of place.

Blackout curtains

Blackout curtains are all about control. Designed to block sunlight completely, they prevent heat from entering during peak hours. While they are thicker, pairing them with lighter sheers can balance things out. Best used in bedrooms or west-facing rooms where the sun tends to linger a little too long.

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The author of this article holds a Master's Degree in Interior Design and has spent over a decade in research, teaching, and designing homes from scratch.

Disclaimer: At Hindustan Times, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, concerning the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority.

 

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