Choosing Outdoor Curtains: The Complete Guide for Balconies, Patios, and Pergolas

Outdoor curtains can make a balcony, patio, or pergola significantly cozier and more versatile. Depending on the fabric, they can provide privacy, reduce intense sun exposure, or create a light, airy demarcation.

However, the most suitable curtain for your outdoor area depends not only on color and design. Desired light transmittance, weather conditions, dimensions, and upper and lower fastenings also play an important role.

In this guide, you will learn how to choose outdoor curtains that match your outdoor area, how to measure them correctly, and how to fasten them securely.

Key Takeaways

An outdoor curtain should always be chosen to match its actual intended use:

• For complete privacy and strong darkening, a multi-layered blackout fabric is suitable.
• For a bright and airy atmosphere, a semi-transparent outdoor curtain is often the better choice.
• For windy balconies and patios, additional fastening at the bottom is particularly important.
• Water-repellent does not automatically mean that a curtain can be permanently exposed to heavy rain.
• Custom-made curtains are particularly suitable for wide, high, slanted, or irregular outdoor areas.

Why Custom Outdoor Curtains Make Sense

Ready-made standard curtains often do not fit pergolas, balcony openings, or patio covers precisely. They can be too short, too narrow, or unsuitable for the existing structure.

With a custom-made outdoor curtain, width, height, color, and fastening type can be adapted to the actual area of use. This allows the curtain to be better combined with posts, railings, curtain rods, or frame constructions.

Custom manufacturing is particularly useful for:

• particularly wide patio openings
• high pergolas
• asymmetrical areas
• slanted top or bottom edges
• different heights on the left and right sides
• special positions for fastening straps
• existing curtain tracks
• constructions without a classic curtain rod

For many BTTO outdoor curtains, widths from 100 to 400 cm and heights from 60 to 270 cm can be selected online. Further sizes and special shapes can be requested individually.

Discover BTTO's custom outdoor curtains.

1. First, Check the Area of Use

Before choosing a fabric, you should carefully consider where the curtain will be used.

Covered Balcony

A covered balcony is usually better protected from direct rain. Depending on its orientation, both blackout curtains and light outdoor curtains can be used here.

The following questions are particularly important:

• How strong is the sun on the balcony?
• Is complete or only light privacy needed?
• Is there lateral wind exposure?
• Can the curtain be fastened at the bottom?

Open or Windy Balcony

On an open balcony, a heavy fabric alone is not always enough. Even a thick curtain can billow strongly in the wind.

For such areas, it should be checked whether the curtain can be additionally secured with bottom eyelets, hook-and-loop tape, fastening straps, or a bottom rod pocket.

In case of storms or extreme weather conditions, outdoor curtains should be opened, slid aside, or removed in good time, regardless of fabric and fastening.

Covered Patio

On a covered patio, outdoor curtains can serve various purposes:

• lateral privacy screen
• reduction of low-lying sun
• visual demarcation of the seating area
• stronger darkening
• decorative design

For large patio openings, several individual curtain panels may be more practical than a very wide curtain. Individual panels are easier to open and can be specifically closed on the sunny side.

Pergola or Gazebo

For pergolas and gazebos, the fastening must be adapted to the existing structure.

Possible solutions include:

• metal eyelets on a curtain rod
• fabric loops
• hook-and-loop tape on the top frame
• loops with hook-and-loop fasteners
• custom-made fastening straps
• hooks for an existing curtain track

For a stable solution, not only the top suspension but also the fastening at the bottom edge is important, especially for open pergolas.

2. How Much Light and Privacy Do You Need?

Outdoor curtains differ significantly in their light transmittance. The right choice depends on whether you want complete shielding or a continuously bright atmosphere.

Complete Blackout and Strong Privacy

A multi-layered outdoor blackout curtain is suitable for areas where direct views and intense sunlight should be reduced as much as possible.

Typical areas of use include:

• balconies with direct afternoon sun
• patios with adjacent neighboring properties
• pergolas that need to be strongly darkened temporarily
• seating areas with a high need for privacy

The Lunvoro outdoor blackout curtain features a three-layer fabric structure with a linen look and weighs approximately 260 g/m². It is suitable for customers who want a stronger, opaque, and heavily darkening fabric.

The lighter Corluno outdoor blackout curtain weighs approximately 150 g/m². It also offers strong darkening but is easier to move due to its lower weight.

Strong Light Reduction and Wider Color Selection

Those who prefer a wider color selection and a functional, smoother outdoor fabric can opt for a curtain like Torvexa.

Torvexa strongly reduces direct sunlight and is available in several neutral and darker shades. Its various bottom fastening options make this model particularly interesting for balconies, patios, and pergolas where wind protection needs to be considered.

Thermal and Sun Protection

An outdoor thermal curtain like Norvanto is suitable for areas where direct sunlight, heat, and glare are primarily to be reduced.

It should be noted that a thermal curtain does not automatically offer the same complete darkening as a fabric specifically designated as 100% blackout.

Semi-Transparent Outdoor Curtains

Not every outdoor area should appear completely closed. A semi-transparent outdoor curtain allows daylight to pass through and creates a lighter demarcation.

The Selvara outdoor voile curtain has a light linen structure and is suitable for bright patios, balconies, and pergolas.

A transparent or semi-transparent curtain primarily offers light privacy during the day. At night, with lights on, visibility from outside can be significantly higher. For complete privacy in the evening, an opaque fabric is therefore more suitable.

Outdoor Curtain with Mosquito Net

For customers who want to combine light transmittance, air circulation, and insect protection, a two-layer solution can be beneficial.

The Solmara outdoor curtain with mosquito net combines a light voile layer with a fine mesh layer. It is particularly suitable for patios, balconies, and garden areas where a bright atmosphere is to be maintained.

3. Water-Repellent, Waterproof, or Weatherproof?

These terms are often confused in outdoor textiles.

Water-Repellent

A water-repellent surface ensures that light rain or splashes initially bead off the fabric. This makes the curtain better suited for sheltered outdoor areas than an ordinary indoor curtain.

However, water-repellent does not mean that the fabric should be permanently exposed to heavy rain, standing water, or high water pressure.

Waterproof

The term waterproof should only be used if the material, workmanship, and tested watertightness genuinely support this claim.

Even with a waterproof fabric, seams, eyelets, edges, and fastening points can be potential entry points for moisture.

Weatherproof

Weatherproof is a general term. Depending on the product, it can include various properties, such as:

• a water-repellent surface
• synthetic fibers suitable for outdoor use
• easy-care processing
• fastening options against billowing
• reduced sensitivity to moisture

Therefore, the specific product description should always be checked before purchase.

What to Consider in the Rain

Outdoor curtains should be able to dry completely unfolded after rain. A wet curtain should not be permanently pushed together, folded, or stored in contact with the ground.

In case of heavy rain, storms, frost, or longer periods of bad weather, it is advisable to protect the curtain or store it dry.

4. Wind Protection Starts with Fastening

A common misconception is that a heavy fabric is automatically windproof. The fabric weight can reduce flapping in light wind but does not replace secure fastening.

For a stable solution, three points must be considered:

1. the top suspension
2. the bottom fastening
3. a side or middle fixation for great heights

Weighted Hem

A weighted hem ensures a straighter drape and can reduce slight flapping.

It is particularly suitable for:

• sheltered patios
• partially enclosed balconies
• areas with low wind exposure

In stronger wind movements, a weighted hem alone is often not sufficient.

Bottom Eyelets

Bottom eyelets allow for additional fixation with ropes, hooks, or suitable fastening points.

This solution is suitable for areas where the curtain needs to be held securely at the bottom. The fastening should be planned so that the fabric is not permanently stretched to an extreme degree.

Bottom Hook-and-Loop Tape

Bottom hook-and-loop tape is particularly practical if suitable counterparts can be attached to the ground, a pergola, or a fixed frame.

This allows the curtain to be quickly fastened and released as needed.

Bottom Rod Pocket

Depending on the construction, a rod, rope, or suitable weighting can be inserted into a bottom rod pocket.

This finish can help guide the bottom edge more evenly for wide curtains.

Additional Fastening Straps

For particularly high or wind-exposed constructions, additional fastening straps on the sides or in the middle can be useful.

BTTO can adapt fastening straps, hook-and-loop fasteners, and loops to the customer's specific requirements.

Important: No textile outdoor curtain should be used as a permanently closed wind barrier during a storm.

5. Which Top Suspension Fits?

The suspension affects the appearance, operation, and stability of the curtain.

Metal Eyelets

Metal eyelets are suitable for curtain rods and create even, larger waves.

The eyelets used by BTTO have the following properties:

• Inner diameter: 4 cm
• Outer diameter: 5.3 cm
• Material: stainless steel

Shiny silver-colored stainless steel eyelets are used as standard. Seven other eyelet colors can be selected upon explicit customer request.

Before ordering, it should be checked whether the diameter of the existing curtain rod matches the eyelets.

Fabric Loops

Fabric loops create a softer and more decorative look. They are suitable for rods that can be removed for mounting.

Top Hook-and-Loop Tape

Hook-and-loop tape is a practical solution for frame constructions, pergolas, or gazebos. The prerequisite is that a suitable counterpart can be securely attached to the structure.

Loops with Hook-and-Loop Fasteners

Loops with hook-and-loop fasteners can be opened and closed. This means an existing rod does not have to be completely disassembled.

The length of the loops and hook-and-loop tapes can be adjusted for custom designs to suit the respective construction.

Hooks for Curtain Tracks

A finish for curtain tracks with curtain hooks can also be custom-made.

Since this option depends on the existing track, gliders, and desired height, it should be coordinated with BTTO customer service before ordering.

Contact: sales@btto.com

6. How to Measure Outdoor Curtains Correctly

Careful measurement is crucial, as a custom curtain will be made according to the specified dimensions.

Measure Width

First, measure the entire width of the area the curtain should cover.

Then decide:

• Should a single area be closed?
• Are two curtain panels needed?
• Should the curtain hang flat or folded when closed?
• How much space is needed to open it sideways?

For a very wide area, two or more panels can make operation easier.

When ordering, note whether the specified width is understood as the flat fabric width or as the already gathered width. On BTTO product pages, the price is usually given per curtain panel. The selected width corresponds to the fabric width in its flat state.

Measure Height

The height is measured from the actual top hanging point to the desired bottom finish.

Depending on the installation, this can be:

• from the curtain rod to just above the floor
• from the pergola edge to a bottom fastening point
• from the track to the balcony railing
• from a top frame to a bottom crossbar

Outdoor curtains should not permanently rest on the ground. Ground contact can lead to faster soiling and prevents wet fabric from drying well.

Consider Metal Eyelets

With metal eyelets, the curtain rod passes through the openings in the fabric. Therefore, when measuring height, it must be considered where the rod sits and where the top edge of the curtain should end.

A small fabric area of approximately 1.5 to 2 cm remains above the metal eyelets due to production.

Consider Curtain Track

For a track suspension, the following information should be provided:

• type of curtain track
• width of the track channel
• type and size of gliders
• distance between track and desired bottom finish
• desired hook position

A photo of the track and an existing glider facilitates coordination.

7. One Panel or Several Curtains?

A single wide curtain panel creates a calm, continuous surface. However, it can be harder to move.

Several panels offer the following advantages:

• easier opening and closing
• individual sides can be shaded separately
• better adaptation to posts and gaps
• lower weight per panel
• more flexible cleaning and storage

For pergolas with several posts, it is often useful to measure each section separately.

8. Which BTTO Outdoor Curtain Suits Your Needs?

Lunvoro

Lunvoro is suitable for customers looking for a more robust outdoor fabric with a linen look, strong blackout, and high privacy.

Corluno

Corluno is a lighter alternative for customers who want strong blackout but wish to move the curtain regularly or have a lighter pergola structure.

Torvexa

Torvexa is suitable for customers who desire a broader selection of neutral and dark colors, as well as various bottom hem fastening options.

Norvanto

Norvanto is a suitable choice primarily when sun protection, heat reduction, and a functional outdoor solution are sought.

Selvara

Selvara fits bright, decorative outdoor areas. The curtain maintains an open atmosphere and provides light visual demarcation during the day.

Solmara

Solmara combines a light curtain look with an integrated mosquito net and is suitable for seating areas where air circulation and insect protection are important.

9. Special Shapes and Custom Designs

Not every balcony or pergola has a rectangular opening.

BTTO can also produce the following special shapes upon request:

• asymmetrical curtains
• slanted top edges
• slanted bottom edges
• trapezoidal curtains
• different heights on the left and right
• specially positioned tie-backs
• cut-outs or divisions according to drawing

For a custom order, customers should submit a clearly legible sketch.

The sketch should include:

• all side lengths
• the width at the top and bottom edge
• the height on the left and right side
• the position of the hanging system
• the position of the bottom fastening
• the desired opening direction
• the number of panels
• photos of the existing structure

Please send drawings, measurements, and photos to sales@btto.com before placing your order.

10. Choosing Color and Fabric Samples

Colors can appear different on a screen than in natural light. The display is influenced by factors such as:

• screen brightness
• device color calibration
• time of day
• warm or cool artificial light
• direct sunlight
• surroundings and wall color

For larger custom-made items, it is recommended to view a fabric sample before ordering.

The sample helps in assessing:

• actual color
• fabric texture
• weight
• light transmission
• combination with furniture and flooring

11. Care and Seasonal Use

The exact care instructions depend on the specific fabric. Therefore, always check the care label and the information on the respective product page before cleaning.

Generally, please note:

• Check care label and product description
• Protect metal eyelets and fasteners during cleaning
• Do not use aggressive bleaches
• Allow wet curtains to dry completely open
• Do not keep fabric permanently folded when damp
• Regularly remove dirt and leaves
• Clean and dry completely before long-term storage
• Secure or remove during storms or extreme weather conditions

Dry and airy storage can extend the lifespan of the fabric.

Conclusion: The Right Outdoor Curtain Comes from Fabric and Fastening

The best outdoor curtain is not automatically the heaviest or darkest fabric. What matters is that the material, light effect, dimensions, and fastening suit the actual outdoor area.

For strong blackout and privacy, multi-layered blackout fabrics are suitable. Semi-transparent outdoor curtains, on the other hand, preserve daylight and an open atmosphere.

In windy areas, the bottom fastening should be planned from the outset. For sloped, asymmetrical, or particularly large areas, a custom-made solution offers more possibilities than a standard size.

Configure your custom outdoor curtains now or send photos, dimensions, and a sketch of your project to sales@btto.com.

Frequently Asked Questions about Outdoor Curtains

Are outdoor curtains completely waterproof?

This depends on the specific fabric and its processing. Water-repellent fabrics protect against light rain and splashes but are not automatically suitable for continuous heavy rain. Seams, eyelets, and edges must also be considered.

How do I prevent an outdoor curtain from flapping in the wind?

A stable solution combines secure top hanging with appropriate bottom fastening. Options include a weighted hem, bottom eyelets, Velcro, a rod pocket, or additional tie-backs.

Which outdoor curtains offer complete privacy?

Opaque or multi-layered blackout curtains offer the strongest privacy. Semi-transparent voile curtains only offer limited protection from view during the day and are more transparent from the outside when lights are on.

How wide should an outdoor curtain be?

The required width depends on the area to be covered and the desired drape. For a smoother surface, a width close to the actual coverage is sufficient. For visible folds, additional fabric width must be planned.

Can BTTO make sloped outdoor curtains?

Yes. Asymmetrical dimensions, sloped edges, and other special shapes can be custom-made upon request based on a customer's sketch. Before ordering, measurements and photos should be sent to sales@btto.com.

Can an outdoor curtain be attached to a curtain track?

Yes. Custom processing for curtain hooks and curtain tracks can be made. For this, customer service needs information and, if possible, a photo of the existing track and gliders.