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This year’s bold curtain trends may come and go, but there’s one option with natural, rustic charm that’s a timeless classic for a reason: linen curtains. Linen is a lightweight fabric made from flax fibers. And flax isn’t just any natural fiber— it’s one of the strongest out there, which makes linen both eco-friendly and sturdy despite its lightness. The weave of the fibers filters light gently and uniquely, leaving your space spotted in cozy, inviting sunlight.

Linen’s natural fibers hold dye well, so there’s no shortage of color options. It can be a slightly pricier curtain fabric, with ready-made pure linen curtains costing as much as $300 per window, compared to cotton curtains that will cost you around half the price. But there are still plenty of affordable linen curtain options, and unlike cotton, linen is built for the long haul. It can last for around 30 years, and its fibers only get stronger when wet, so it can hold up to the wear and tear of washing as long as you wash gently, air dry to prevent shrinkage, and keep some other important linen care information in mind. That said, linen wrinkles easily, so if you don’t think the crinkly texture adds to its organic allure, you may be breaking out the iron more often.

Linen is more than just an elegant fabric for curtains — it’s also highly functional. Linen is naturally antibacterial and hypoallergenic, so it’s great for allergy-sensitive decorators. It’s also UV resistant, especially in tighter weaves and darker colors, so it holds up well and won’t degrade in strong sunlight. Perhaps most impressively of all, linen also naturally regulates temperature; since it’s less tightly woven than other fabrics, it won’t trap heat and turn your home into a sauna in the summer, but it’s still thick enough to prevent heat from escaping in the winter.

Linen’s airy, textured look pairs with any decor, whether you’re going for a light modern look or trendy farmhouse chic (for a bonus touch of texture, you can even leave the edges of your curtain un-hemmed.) Sheer linen curtains are perfect for adding lightness and interest to any room, but if you’re worried that something would be too sheer to provide privacy, like the Solino Home 100% Linen Curtains, you can pick a heavier linen that will block the view without blocking all the light. Or if full blackout is what you’re looking for, you can pair them with a liner to get the organic look of linen without the sun waking you up in the morning, or go for curtains made of a linen blend instead, like the Vision Home Natural Full Blackout Curtains.