Hi - I am buying new curtains and have to decide whether to get replacement nets as well OR go for voiles but I am not sure what the difference really is. Can anyone help?

Hi Mossie

I'm sure someone will be able to give a better explanation, but as far as I'm aware the difference is that voiles are smooth and perhaps more "modern" looking whilst nets are as they are. I think they're the same in terms of preventing people from looking in, my impression is that voiles are just a smoother, sleeker way to do this.

Hope this helps (and that someone can be a bit more technical than me)!

Laura

AFAIK, "net" curtain is one that is loosely woven with gaps between the threads, as in fishing-net.
Terribly old-fashioned lower-middle-class, my dear.

"voiles" are what designers use - they are see-thru because the material altho sheer, is very fine, eg muslins.

My understanding is the same as Laura's. Voiles also come in colours other than white, and tend to be plain,sheer and unfussy.

There are different types of voile though - I have a cotton voile which is quite 'matt' looking, but there are also polyester(?) - anyway, manmade - voiles, which look IMO more 'net curtainy'.

Voiles are drapes made out of net that are there primarily for the look of the thing. They are much more expensive than nets and are not see through, so can make your room as dark as having a light blind if you use them on your windows.

net curtains are drapes made out of net that has been woven in a way to make them see through from one side and opaque from the other. They come in various designs and colours.

Voiles are for windows that you want to dress. Net curtains are for windows that you want to see out of without letting people stare back at you.

There is a chain of thought that tells us that net curtains are old fashioned, and that bare windows is the thing... but I think this is fashion rather than reality. Houses that I see are about 50/50 nets / bare windows... actually probably closer to 60% have nets in their windows.

Ary.

I'm a bit surprised by that reply Ary

I have voile panels at my front windows, and they ARE see-through in exactly the same way as 'nets' - I can see out, but others can't see in. (But as with nets that is just a function of the light - during daylight it is darker in the room than outside.)

They aren't particularly decorative, they are plain and functional.

They do come in various colours, mine are cream, and obviously if you use a maroon voile it WILL make it darker in the room than a white net. I have seen them 'draped' in the way you describe but I guess that just means they are multifuctional .

Not an expert by any means but I'm sure there's different 'thicknesses' (if that's the right word) of voile. I made some myself out of quite cheap voile, and they can be seen through from outside. Just paid quite a lot for some new ones, and these are difinitely not see-throughable from outside. I guess you gets what you pays for.

I was trying to explain what voile was to my fiance the other day - the replies in this thread make a better job of it than I did! (In the end I dragged him into a shop and showed him)

He wants to get horizontal blinds for the living room, but I'm thinking voiles might be nicer.

Thanks for the replies. I think I shall go for voiles. Now for my next question, where can I get them at a reasonable price? (I want to buy them ready made)

John Lewis, Paul Simon... erm Rosebeys I think. John Lewis is where I got mine as they have a great selection.

Nets are nasty and nylon.

Are voile curtains washable?,

There are different types of voile but I would think they are all washable, mine are cotton voile and I put them in the washing machine, delicates cycle, and just rehang them at the window while damp to 'hang out' the creases.