I was looking for curtains for summer that will filter out light and protect from the heat: These are my top finds

I wanted summer curtains that soften harsh sunlight and reduce heat indoors. These 8 options turned my home calmer and cooler.

Soft summer curtains filter sunlight through the window, creating a cool, calm living space on warm afternoons at home. (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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Every summer, I reach a point where the sunlight pouring through my windows stops feeling cheerful and starts feeling intense. The room heats up quickly, screens start glaring back at me, and the afternoon light becomes a bit too sharp. That is when I start looking for curtains that can soften the brightness while still letting the room feel airy. I did not want something heavy or dark. The goal was simple. Filter the light, reduce the heat, and keep the room comfortable during long summer afternoons.

After quite a bit of browsing and reading reviews, I found 8 curtain options that manage this balance nicely. Some are light and breezy, some slightly thicker, yet all help make summer indoors far more pleasant.

Different types of curtains and why they work

Sheer linen curtains

When I first tried sheer linen curtains, I realised how gently they handle sunlight. They do not block light completely, yet they soften it enough to make the room comfortable. Linen also feels naturally cool, which makes it a great fabric for summer homes. The texture adds a relaxed look to the room as well.

Cotton curtains

Cotton curtains became one of my favourite finds. The fabric is lightweight, breathable, and great at diffusing bright sunlight. Instead of sharp rays, the light entering the room turns soft and pleasant. These curtains work beautifully in living rooms or bedrooms that receive strong afternoon sunlight.

Light filtering polyester curtains

Polyester curtains with a light filtering weave surprised me. They manage to reduce glare while still keeping the room bright. I noticed the temperature felt slightly more comfortable once they were up. Another advantage is easy care. They wash well and keep their shape even after regular use.

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Bamboo blend curtains

Bamboo blend curtains offer a natural feel and a subtle cooling effect. The weave allows air to pass through while gently cutting down the sunlight entering the room. I liked how calm and relaxed the space felt once these were installed. They work especially well in rooms facing direct sunlight.

Pastel thermal curtains

Thermal curtains are usually linked with winter, yet lighter pastel versions can help during summer too. The lining reflects a portion of the heat while the colour keeps the room bright. I found these helpful for bedrooms that heat up quickly during the afternoon.

Best curtains for an elegant look

Cotton jacquard curtains

Cotton jacquard curtains add a bit of pattern without making the room feel heavy. The slightly thicker weave filters sunlight well and creates a pleasant glow inside the room. I liked how they balanced style with comfort, giving the room a polished yet relaxed look.

Dual-layer sheer curtains

Dual-layer curtains combine a sheer panel with a slightly thicker fabric layer. I enjoyed the flexibility they offered. During the day, the sheer layer softened the sunlight. Later in the afternoon, pulling the thicker layer helped reduce heat entering the room.

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Light-blocking linen blend curtains

For windows that receive very strong sunlight, linen blend curtains with mild light blocking ability worked nicely. They reduced glare significantly while still allowing a gentle brightness indoors. I found them perfect for workspaces where screen glare becomes a problem in summer afternoons.

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Summer curtains: FAQs

Which fabrics work best for summer curtains?

Light and breathable fabrics like cotton, linen, and voile work very well during summer. They allow air to move through the room while softening strong sunlight. These materials help keep interiors comfortable without making the space feel dark or heavy.

Do summer curtains actually reduce heat indoors?

Yes, they can make a noticeable difference. Light filtering curtains reduce the amount of direct sunlight entering the room. This helps keep indoor temperatures more comfortable, especially during hot afternoons.

Which colours are good for summer curtains?

Light shades such as white, beige, soft grey, and pastel tones work nicely. These colours reflect sunlight rather than absorbing heat, which helps the room feel brighter and cooler.

Are sheer curtains enough for sunny rooms?

Sheer curtains work well for mild sunlight. For windows that receive strong afternoon sun, pairing sheer curtains with a light filtering or lined curtain gives better control over brightness and heat.

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.