Design decision

Shade the sun, keep the view.

Curtains, blinds, louvres, meshes and panels — ten decisions in the order a designer makes them, starting with the real problem (glare, heat, privacy), not the fabric swatch. Each option shows its impact on use, look and cost.

It's a shading brief, not a quote — screens are ELS-specified. For interior shading, ELS Source can quote the material, subject to suitability and quotation, with installation as named in your quotation; external screens are supplied by your façade specialist. Costs read as direction only.

Step 01 / 10 · Primary purpose of the screen

What problem must this screen actually solve?

Naming the real problem first is what keeps every later choice honest — a privacy screen won't stop afternoon heat, and a solar screen can still let people see straight through it.

Designer's rule — In Sarawak most rooms are fighting glare and heat at the same time, so plan a dual-layer system — a light-filtering layer for the day plus a blackout or privacy layer for night — and on a west-facing wall add an external aluminium screen or correctly angled louvres, because shading works best when it stops the sun before it reaches the glass.

Pick at least one to continue, or take the ELS default.

Curtain and blind guide

Compare the choices before you pick

The rows below compare each choice in words: what it does, how it looks and feels, light and privacy, humidity and sun, care, a relative cost level and who it suits. It is guidance, not a quotation or a promise, and it gives no price, brand or performance figure. Cost level is a relative word scale, not a price.

Layers: sheer, dim-out and blackout

Most curtains are one or two layers on separate tracks. The sheer handles daytime glare; a heavier layer handles privacy and darkness.

Sheer layer

What it does: Thin fabric that softens daylight while the curtain is drawn.
Look and feel: Light and airy; the window reads as a soft veil.
Light and privacy: Reduces glare, but usually gives little privacy once the room is lit at night.
Humidity and sun: Can dry quickly in damp air; fine weaves can fade or weaken in strong sun over time.
Care: Light and easy to wash; check the care label.
Relative cost level: Lower

Who it suits: Choose a sheer layer for daytime glare control where night privacy comes from another layer.

Dim-out layer

What it does: Denser fabric that cuts a good part of the daylight, but not all of it.
Look and feel: A fuller, calmer surface; colour reads richer with light behind it.
Light and privacy: Gives usable daytime privacy and a dimmer room; some light still comes through.
Humidity and sun: Suits humid rooms when the fabric is chosen for them; colour can fade on a sunny window.
Care: Moderate effort; some fabrics need dry cleaning, so check the label.
Relative cost level: Moderate

Who it suits: Choose dim-out for privacy and a calmer room by day without full darkness, as in a living room or a child's room.

Blackout layer

What it does: A heavy or backed fabric made to cut as much daylight as the fabric allows.
Look and feel: A solid, opaque surface that closes the window completely.
Light and privacy: Gives the most privacy and darkness of the three; light can still leak at the edges and gaps.
Humidity and sun: A backed fabric can hold damp in a closed, unventilated room, so air the room; strong sun can age the face fabric.
Care: Heavier to take down and wash; often spot-clean or dry-clean, so check the label.
Relative cost level: Higher

Who it suits: Choose blackout for a bedroom, shift-work sleep or a media room where darkness matters more than daylight.

Lining: none, standard, thermal or blackout

A lining is a second fabric sewn behind the curtain. It changes how the curtain hangs, how much light it stops and how fast the face fabric ages.

No lining

What it does: The curtain is a single fabric.
Look and feel: Light and flowing; the fabric's own colour and weave show.
Light and privacy: Passes the most light and gives the least privacy.
Humidity and sun: Dries fastest; the face fabric takes the sun directly.
Care: Easiest to wash.
Relative cost level: Nothing added

Who it suits: Choose no lining for sheers and for rooms where a light, casual hang is the aim.

Standard lining

What it does: A plain second fabric that backs the curtain.
Look and feel: A fuller, more even hang, with a neater look from outside.
Light and privacy: Cuts some light and adds some privacy.
Humidity and sun: Shields the face fabric from sun, so colour can last longer; a lined curtain dries more slowly.
Care: Moderate; some lined curtains need dry cleaning.
Relative cost level: Lower

Who it suits: Choose a standard lining when you want a fuller hang and a longer life for the face fabric.

Thermal lining

What it does: A thicker or layered lining that adds a barrier behind the curtain. ELS gives no figure for how much heat it stops.
Look and feel: A heavy, full hang; the curtain reads more substantial.
Light and privacy: Cuts more light than a standard lining, though not always to darkness.
Humidity and sun: May slow heat from a sunny window a little; it can also hold damp, so air the room.
Care: Heavier; usually dry-clean or spot-clean.
Relative cost level: Moderate

Who it suits: Choose a thermal lining for a west-facing or sunny window, if you accept the extra weight and cost.

Blackout lining

What it does: A dense, often coated lining made to stop as much light as it can.
Look and feel: A very full, heavy hang; the face fabric keeps its colour from outside.
Light and privacy: Gives the most darkness a lined curtain can; light can still leak at the edges.
Humidity and sun: A coated lining can hold damp in a closed room; air the room.
Care: Heavy; usually dry-clean or spot-clean, so check the label.
Relative cost level: Higher

Who it suits: Choose a blackout lining to give a decorative face fabric blackout, as in a bedroom.

Fabric families

The family decides drape, weight and how the curtain copes with damp air and sun. ELS gives families, not brands or grades.

Natural fibre (linen, cotton)

What it does: Curtains woven from linen, cotton or a blend that is mostly natural.
Look and feel: Soft, slightly textured and relaxed; creases are part of the look.
Light and privacy: Light and privacy depend on the weave and the layer.
Humidity and sun: Can hold damp and may mildew in a room that is not air-conditioned; can shrink on washing and fade in strong sun.
Care: Higher effort: ironing or steaming, and care when washing.
Relative cost level: Higher

Who it suits: Choose natural fibre for an air-conditioned room where a soft, natural look matters more than easy care.

Synthetic (polyester and blends)

What it does: Curtains woven from polyester or a polyester blend.
Look and feel: Smooth and even; can imitate linen or velvet closely.
Light and privacy: Light and privacy depend on the weave and the layer.
Humidity and sun: May cope with damp air better than natural fibre and may keep its shape better; grades differ in how they hold up in strong sun.
Care: Low effort; many wash easily and need little ironing.
Relative cost level: Lower

Who it suits: Choose synthetic for a humid or busy home where easy care matters most.

Velvet

What it does: A pile fabric with a soft, dense surface, in cotton, polyester or a blend.
Look and feel: Rich and formal; colour deepens and the pile catches light.
Light and privacy: Heavy, so it usually gives good privacy and dims the room.
Humidity and sun: Pile can hold dust and damp; pressing or sun can mark it, so keep it out of direct sun.
Care: Higher effort: vacuum or brush; usually dry-clean.
Relative cost level: Higher

Who it suits: Choose velvet for a formal living room or bedroom with air-conditioning and shade from direct sun.

Headings: pinch pleat, wave and eyelet

The heading is the top of the curtain and decides how the folds fall and how the curtain runs on its track or rod.

Pinch pleat

What it does: Fabric gathered into sewn pleats at set spacing.
Look and feel: Formal and tailored; even, structured folds.
Light and privacy: Closes fully when drawn; light and privacy follow the layer chosen.
Humidity and sun: Structured folds can collect dust at the top; a heavier fabric hangs better.
Care: Higher effort: pleats are usually kept in shape by dry cleaning.
Relative cost level: Higher

Who it suits: Choose pinch pleat for a formal room and a curtain that stays closed or opens only at the sides.

Wave (S-fold)

What it does: Evenly spaced soft waves, made by a track with carriers set at fixed spacing.
Look and feel: Clean and modern; continuous soft folds.
Light and privacy: Closes fully; light and privacy follow the layer chosen.
Humidity and sun: Runs smoothly on a track; folds hold well in lighter fabrics, and need the right track.
Care: Moderate; take down and re-hang with care so the waves keep their spacing.
Relative cost level: Moderate

Who it suits: Choose wave for a modern living room, with a track and a curtain that is opened and closed daily.

Eyelet

What it does: Metal or plastic rings set in the fabric, threaded onto a rod.
Look and feel: Casual and simple; wide, regular folds.
Light and privacy: Closes fully; light and privacy follow the layer chosen.
Humidity and sun: Rings are best in a metal or coated finish in a humid room, and can slide stiffly on a long rod.
Care: Low effort; usually easy to take down and wash.
Relative cost level: Lower

Who it suits: Choose eyelet for a casual room or a bedroom, with a rod, if you want a simple, lower-cost heading.

Track or rod, ceiling or wall

Where the curtain hangs decides what ELS specifies in the ceiling and wall: the track fixing and the ceiling pocket, and the clearance from AC and wardrobe doors.

Track in a ceiling pocket

What it does: A track fixed in a recess in the ceiling, planned before the ceiling closes.
Look and feel: The track is hidden; the curtain seems to fall from the ceiling.
Light and privacy: Cuts the gap above the curtain, so less light leaks over the top.
Humidity and sun: Keep the pocket ventilated and clear of damp; check for leaks above before closing it.
Care: Low once built; the pocket is hard to change later.
Relative cost level: Higher

Who it suits: Choose a ceiling pocket in a new build or a ceiling being redone, with the track planned early.

Surface-mounted track

What it does: A track fixed to the ceiling or the wall face, in view.
Look and feel: The track shows; it reads as part of the curtain.
Light and privacy: A gap above the curtain remains, so some light leaks over the top.
Humidity and sun: Choose a coated or aluminium finish in a humid room; check what the ceiling or wall can hold.
Care: Low effort; dust the track from time to time.
Relative cost level: Moderate

Who it suits: Choose a surface track when the ceiling is already built and a pocket is no longer possible.

Wall-mounted rod

What it does: A rod on brackets fixed to the wall above the window.
Look and feel: The rod and finials show, so they can be part of the decoration.
Light and privacy: A gap above and beside the curtain remains, so light can leak.
Humidity and sun: Choose a coated or metal finish in a humid room; the wall must hold the weight of a heavy curtain.
Care: Low effort; a long rod may need a centre support.
Relative cost level: Moderate

Who it suits: Choose a rod for a smaller window or a decorative look, where the wall can carry it.

Length: sill, floor, break and puddle

Length changes how clean the room looks, what the curtain touches, and how much it collects dust.

Sill length

What it does: The curtain ends at or just below the windowsill.
Look and feel: Neat and practical; the window stays in view.
Light and privacy: Leaves the wall below the sill open; less drama than floor length.
Humidity and sun: Stays clear of the floor, so it avoids splashes and floor damp.
Care: Low effort; less fabric to wash.
Relative cost level: Lower

Who it suits: Choose sill length behind a sofa, desk or radiator-style unit, or where a bed or furniture sits below the window.

Floor length, just clear

What it does: The curtain hangs to just above the floor.
Look and feel: Classic and tall; makes the window and ceiling read taller.
Light and privacy: Covers the full height, so less light leaks at the bottom.
Humidity and sun: Clear of the floor, so it dries and stays clean more easily than a longer hem.
Care: Moderate; check the hem height after washing.
Relative cost level: Moderate

Who it suits: Choose floor length, just clear, for most living rooms and bedrooms, with room for the AC and wardrobe doors to open.

Break (touches the floor)

What it does: The hem just touches the floor, with a slight bend.
Look and feel: Soft and generous; fewer gaps at the floor.
Light and privacy: Closes the gap at the floor, so light leaks less at the bottom.
Humidity and sun: The hem can pick up dust and floor damp, so it is better on dry, hard floors.
Care: Higher effort; the hem needs more cleaning.
Relative cost level: Moderate

Who it suits: Choose a break where you want a fuller look and the floor is easy to keep clean.

Puddle (extra length on the floor)

What it does: Extra fabric pools on the floor on purpose.
Look and feel: Dramatic and luxurious; needs space and a calm room.
Light and privacy: Closes the gap at the floor completely.
Humidity and sun: Collects dust and floor damp, and is hard to keep dry in a humid room.
Care: Highest effort of the four; the pooled fabric needs regular cleaning.
Relative cost level: Higher

Who it suits: Choose a puddle only for a low-traffic room, with no pets or small children, and a dry floor.

Blinds: roller, zebra, Venetian and Roman

A blind sits inside or just above the window reveal, and takes less room than a curtain.

Roller blind

What it does: One flat piece of fabric that rolls up onto a tube.
Look and feel: Flat, plain and unobtrusive.
Light and privacy: Light and privacy follow the fabric: sheer, dim-out or blackout.
Humidity and sun: Wipes clean and suits humid rooms when the fabric is made for them; light can show at the sides.
Care: Low effort; wipe or vacuum lightly. Keep cords out of children's reach.
Relative cost level: Lower

Who it suits: Choose a roller blind for a kitchen, a study or any window where simple control matters most.

Zebra blind

What it does: A roller with alternating sheer and solid bands; sliding them against each other changes the opening.
Look and feel: Striped and modern; the bands line up when open.
Light and privacy: Lets you set glare and privacy without raising the blind; privacy is partial when lit at night.
Humidity and sun: The bands can hold dust and need gentle cleaning in a humid room.
Care: Moderate; gentle wiping, not soaking. Keep cords out of children's reach.
Relative cost level: Moderate

Who it suits: Choose zebra for a living room that needs daytime glare control and some privacy in the same blind.

Venetian blind

What it does: Horizontal slats that tilt to open or close the view.
Look and feel: Crisp, linear and tailored.
Light and privacy: Tilting directs light up or away; closed slats leave small gaps, so privacy is good but not total.
Humidity and sun: Slat material is chosen for the room; aluminium or PVC may cope with humid rooms better than untreated timber.
Care: Higher effort: many slats collect dust. Keep cords out of children's reach.
Relative cost level: Moderate

Who it suits: Choose Venetian for a window facing low sun, where you want to angle the light and keep the view.

Roman blind

What it does: A fabric blind that folds up in flat pleats.
Look and feel: Soft, tailored and warm; closer to a curtain than other blinds.
Light and privacy: Light and privacy follow the fabric and any lining; folds stack at the top when raised.
Humidity and sun: Takes damp like the fabric: choose synthetic in a humid room; strong sun can fade it.
Care: Higher effort; usually spot-clean or dry-clean. Keep cords out of children's reach.
Relative cost level: Higher

Who it suits: Choose Roman for a bedroom or study where you want a fabric look in a narrow window.

Motorised or manual

Motorised shading needs power at the window, planned before the walls and ceiling close. ELS specifies the power; ELS Source quotes the system.

Manual

What it does: Operated by hand, cord, chain or wand.
Look and feel: Cords, chains or wands show; the window is plain.
Light and privacy: You set it each time; it changes only when someone is there.
Humidity and sun: No power or wiring in the damp zone near the window.
Care: Low effort; check cords and chains from time to time.
Relative cost level: Lower

Who it suits: Choose manual for a reachable window and a simple, lower-cost set-up.

Motorised

What it does: Driven by a motor, with a remote, wall switch or app.
Look and feel: No cords or wands; the cleanest window.
Light and privacy: Can open or close on a schedule or scene, so rooms are shaded without anyone there.
Humidity and sun: Needs power at the window, in a place kept clear of splashes; ask whether the product has a manual override.
Care: Low day-to-day effort; the motor and batteries may need service.
Relative cost level: Higher

Who it suits: Choose motorised for tall or hard-to-reach windows, or if you want scenes, and the power is planned early.

Two things to settle with the maker

Fullness: A fuller curtain uses more fabric and falls in deeper folds; a flatter one uses less and looks cleaner. ELS gives no ratio, so ask the maker which fullness suits the heading and fabric you chose.
Stack-back: Stack-back is the width the curtain takes when it is open. If the track stops at the window edge, the open curtain covers part of the glass; a track that runs past the opening leaves the glass clear. ELS gives no width, so plan it with the clearance from AC and wardrobe doors.

Choose and save to your ELS Design Brief

Curtain layersCurtain liningCurtain fabricCurtain headingTrack or rodCurtain lengthBlind typeMotorised or manual

Where each choice goes

Each choice you save goes to your ELS Design Brief. All window shading is quoted through ELS Source, and your ELS Design Brief shows the room-and-window summary to copy first. Installation: as named in your quotation. ELS specifies the interfaces: track fixing and ceiling pocket, power for motorised systems, and clearance from AC and wardrobe doors.

Why shading is a design decision here

🌇 The west façade is the fight

Low afternoon sun on a west wall is Sarawak's hardest heat-and-glare load, and an internal blind only catches heat that is already inside. An external louvre or screen — or angled vertical fins — stops the sun before it reaches the glass, which is the only shading that meaningfully cuts the aircon load.

ELS field guidanceExternal-before-glass is standard shading physics; the west-façade emphasis is ELS's Sarawak field experience.

🌙 A sheer is not night privacy

A light-filtering fabric reads as private by day — but after dark, when the lit room is brighter than the street, people can see straight in. The honest fix is the dual-layer default: a sheer for daytime glare and softening, plus a blackout or privacy layer drawn at night.

ELS field guidanceThe brighter-inside-than-outside effect is general daylighting behaviour, not a product claim.

💧 Humidity eats the wrong material

Real linen and untreated timber mildew and warp in a room that is not air-conditioned, and exterior metal corrodes without a marine-grade or powder-coated finish. Here the material is a durability decision, not only a look — a linen-look synthetic and UV-stable aluminium outlast the natural versions.

ELS field guidanceWhat ELS repeatedly sees on Sarawak sites; grade and detailing change the degree.

Figures are planning guidance, not warranties. Real performance depends on the product, its installation and the site's exposure; the product datasheet and site measurement confirm it.

Pair it with the light

Daylight and artificial light are one design. Run the Lighting Designer next, or start the free Renovation Pre-Check for the whole picture — risk, trades, budget and your decision list.

Open the Lighting Designer Start Pre-Check