Made-to-Measure Voiles & Sheers
Made-to-measure voile and sheer curtains for softer daylight and decorative screening, professionally measured and fitted across Milton Keynes, Bedford and Luton.
What Are Voiles & Sheers?
Voiles and sheers are lightweight translucent curtain fabrics designed to soften daylight while maintaining a lighter, more open feel than a fully lined curtain. They can be used on their own or layered with full curtains, depending on the room and the level of screening required.
Not all voile fabrics behave the same way — weave, weight and colour all affect how much light passes through and how much screening the fabric provides.
Light, Screening & Privacy
Voiles and sheers soften incoming daylight and can reduce direct visibility through a window, but the level of privacy depends on the fabric, colour, weave, lighting conditions and the relative light levels inside and outside the room.
- In bright daytime conditions, some voile fabrics may provide a useful degree of screening from outside.
- After dark, when the room is lit internally, visibility from outside can increase significantly.
- Denser, darker or more textured fabrics may behave differently from open, lighter sheer fabrics.
- Your surveyor brings fabric samples to your home so you can judge the effect in your own light before ordering.
Voiles are not a substitute for a fully opaque window covering where complete privacy is required.
Where They Work Well
Voiles and sheers suit rooms and windows where softened daylight is preferred, including:
Suitability for a particular room is confirmed during your home visit survey.
Heading Styles
Voile Heading Styles
Voiles can be made in a range of heading styles. The images below show each heading style's general appearance and fitting — exact fabric and heading combinations are confirmed for your chosen voile during survey.
Suitable for tracks and polesDouble Pinch Pleat
Individual pinch pleats sewn at regular intervals, creating a structured heading.
Suitable for tracks and polesTriple Pinch Pleat
Three folds per pleat, creating a fuller heading with a more pronounced pleat structure than double pinch pleat.
Poles only — not suitable for a trackEyelet
Metal rings fitted through the top of the curtain and threaded directly onto the pole, creating rounded folds that stack neatly when open.
Requires a compatible wave trackWave
Smooth, continuous folds across the width of the curtain when closed, stacking in a narrow column when open. Available on selected voile fabrics.
Suitable for tracks and polesPencil Pleat
An additional heading option using even, gathered folds created by a heading tape.
Wave heading is available for selected voile fabrics and uses a compatible wave track to create evenly spaced folds. Exact fabric and track compatibility is confirmed during survey and ordering.
Tracks & Poles
Eyelet voiles require a curtain pole. Wave voiles require a compatible wave track. Pinch pleat and pencil pleat headings can be fitted to a suitable track or pole, depending on the selected system.
Motorised curtain tracks are available on selected systems and heading configurations. Control options and smart-home compatibility depend on the selected motor and system and will be confirmed during survey.
| Heading Style | Fitting |
|---|---|
| Double / Triple Pinch Pleat | Track or pole |
| Eyelet | Pole only |
| Wave | Wave track only |
| Pencil Pleat | Track or pole |
Layering with Curtains
Voiles and sheers can be fitted as an inner layer, with full curtains as an outer layer, giving flexibility between softened daylight and greater privacy or light control when required.
The track or pole arrangement must suit the selected headings and the available fixing space above your window.
Not every window can accommodate two separate tracks or poles — this is confirmed during your home visit survey.
Fabrics, Weaves & Appearance
A dedicated range of voile and sheer fabrics is available, covering different weights, weaves, textures and levels of openness. Lighter, more open weaves let through more daylight; denser or more textured weaves soften light further and provide more screening.
Selected voile curtain constructions use a weighted bottom to help the fabric hang cleanly. Exact finishing details depend on the chosen fabric and heading.
Fabric width, repeat and window size can affect the number and position of joins. These details will be confirmed before ordering where relevant.
Care & Practical Guidance
Care instructions depend on the selected fabric and construction. Follow the care guidance supplied for the chosen voile or sheer fabric.
Lead Time
Lead times depend on the selected fabric, heading and hardware and will be confirmed before ordering.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between voile and sheer curtains?
Voile and sheer are both used to describe lightweight, translucent curtain fabrics. Any specific differences in weave or texture depend on the fabric range — your surveyor can show you the available options during your home visit.
Do voiles provide privacy during the day?
In bright daytime conditions, some voile fabrics can provide a useful degree of screening from outside, but this depends on the fabric, colour, weave and the relative light levels inside and outside the room. Voiles are not a substitute for a fully opaque window covering where complete privacy is required.
Can people see through voiles at night?
Visibility from outside can increase significantly after dark when a room is lit internally, even with voiles fitted. Where guaranteed privacy after dark is required, a fully opaque curtain, blind or shutter is more suitable.
Can voiles be layered with full curtains?
Yes — voiles are often fitted as an inner layer with full curtains as an outer layer, giving flexibility between softened daylight and greater privacy or light control. The track or pole arrangement depends on the available fixing space and is confirmed during survey.
Which heading styles are available?
Voiles can be made with a range of heading styles including Pencil Pleat, Double or Triple Pinch Pleat, Eyelet and Wave, depending on the selected fabric and fitting. Exact availability is confirmed during survey.
Do Wave voiles need a special track?
Yes — Wave heading requires a compatible wave track. Wave is available on selected voile fabrics, and exact fabric and track compatibility is confirmed during survey and ordering.
Can voiles be motorised?
Motorised curtain tracks are available on selected systems and heading configurations. Control options and compatibility depend on the chosen track and motor and are confirmed during survey.
How do I clean voile curtains?
Care instructions depend on the selected fabric and construction. Follow the care guidance supplied for the chosen voile or sheer fabric.
How long do made-to-measure voiles take?
Lead times depend on the selected fabric, heading and hardware. Your surveyor will confirm the expected timing before you order.
Explore Made-to-Measure Voiles & Sheers
Book a free home visit to compare suitable voile and sheer fabrics, discuss heading and track options, and have your windows professionally measured.
Call 07547 339738