We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.
Designers know that custom window treatments are one of those line items that can spark sticker shock when a client doesn’t see it coming. Installation, bespoke valances, drapes, and curtains can cost on average between $1,800 to $3,000. So when a pro like Rebekah Zaveloff, the co-founder and creative director of Imparfait Design Studio, can make ready-made curtains work in a home, odds are she’s going to do it—and she’s probably going to head directly to Pottery Barn first.
The Go-To: Pottery Barn Belgian Flax Linen Curtain
Whenever Zaveloff is in need of simple, airy curtains, she reaches for the brand’s Belgian Flax Linen. Depending on the dimensions you opt for (there are eight to pick from) and the lining (light-filtering, blackout, or unlined), a panel can range from just $119 to $149. “Opting for these perfect linen curtains allows us to spend more money on art and accessories at the end of a project when the client has check-writing fatigue,” says the designer.
Out of the 23 hues available, Zaveloff tends to stick to the warmest neutrals of White, Classic Ivory, and Flax because they’re a safe investment for the future. And when it’s time to hang them, she turns to Paso Robles Ironworks for the hardware (the company’s standard curtain rod is just $205). “The iron finishes pair perfectly with the natural texture of linen curtains, creating that high-end look without feeling too precious or formal,” the designer adds.
Another Designer Favorite: Emery Linen Pinch Pleat Curtain
Zaveloff isn’t the only designer we’ve talked to who is a fan of Pottery Barn’s curtains. Denver-based creative Peggy Haddad is a fan of the Emery Pinch-Pleat style because it gives a tailored workroom look without the invoice to back it up. “If I had to pick favorites, I’d use Oatmeal for warmth and Steel Blue for understated color,” she says of her go-to hues. Haddad often adds Pottery Barn’s French Return rod in Cast Iron black and Slim Quiet-Glide Rings in her cart while she’s at it.
You can add a custom touch to these off-the-shelf curtains. One of Zaveloff’s favorite tricks is to add trim to the edges (Etsy, Tori Murphy, and Martha & Ash are full of great options). “It’s a relatively inexpensive way to have ready-made curtains look like they were made specifically for your home,” she says. Given how affordable they are to begin with, the DIY won’t feel like such a gamble.