You bought a new home: where to start with curtains

You have the keys, boxes everywhere, and a to-do list that never seems to end. In the middle of it all, the windows are bare, and suddenly you notice: the afternoon sun hits the living room directly, the neighbors can see inside, and in the master bedroom you wake up at six.

Curtains don't have to be a headache. With a simple plan, you can take care of them in your first month, without rushing and without buying blindly. This is the list we'd give a friend who just moved to South Florida.

Before choosing fabrics, spend a few days living in the house. You don't need to do anything technical, just look and take notes on your phone:

• Where the sun comes in in each room and at what time. Windows facing west usually get strong light in the afternoon; east-facing ones get it in the morning.
• Where you need privacy: windows facing the street, neighboring homes, or shared areas.
• How you use each room: where you sleep, where you work, where you watch TV.
• Which windows bother you most right now. That will be your priority.

With that information, fabric decisions become much easier. If you want to see how sun and heat behave in your area, you'll find a helpful guide in Climate and Curtains in Your Area.

Measuring is the step that causes the most nerves, yet it's one of the simplest if you do it methodically. Since curtains are made to measure, it's worth measuring carefully and noting everything for each window: width, height, and where you'll install them.

You have two resources to guide you step by step: the complete measuring guide and the interactive measuring guide. A practical tip: measure twice and write the name of each room next to the numbers so you don't get confused later.

If you don't feel confident, don't worry: below we explain how to get support through a video call or a technical visit.

Ripple Fold curtains come in three fabrics. The key is choosing based on what each space needs, not using the same one throughout the house.

Here you usually want natural light, but without glare or losing privacy. Light Filtering is the most balanced option: it softens the light, distributes it better across the room, and maintains privacy. If your windows face a patio or a view you don't need to block, Sheer lets in almost all the light and gives a light, open feel.

If you have trouble sleeping with light or work irregular hours, Blackout is the right fabric: it blocks the light and helps the room feel dark and calm. If you prefer waking up with some natural brightness, Light Filtering is a softer alternative that also protects your privacy.

When working in front of a screen, the ideal is to control glare without sitting in darkness. Light Filtering usually works very well. If the window gets direct sun at certain hours and you need strong control, Blackout gives you that option.

In spaces where light and a sense of openness matter most, Sheer is a good choice, as long as privacy isn't a concern for that window. If there are neighbors nearby, Light Filtering handles both.

You can compare colors and textures in the fabric catalog and request free fabric samples to see them in your home's real light, which is the only way to know how they truly look.

When you've just bought a home, the budget is spread across many things. It's fine to start with what changes your daily life the most. An order that usually works:

1. The master bedroom. Good sleep makes a difference right away.
2. Windows most exposed to the street or neighbors. Privacy is what you miss most at first.
3. The living room and windows with strong sun. It's where you spend the most time, and controlling the light is most appreciated there.
4. Secondary rooms and passageways. These can wait a little.

That said, try to keep some visual consistency. Choosing the same Ripple Fold style throughout the house, even if you change fabric by room, gives a neat and elegant result.

If you have questions about measurements, installation type, or which fabric to choose, you have two support options:

• Free video call: ideal if you want to resolve quick questions, show your windows on camera, and get guidance on fabrics and measurements without leaving home.
• Technical visit: recommended if you have tricky windows, high ceilings, very wide openings, or simply prefer that a professional review the space with you.

No option is better than the other. If your home has standard windows and you feel comfortable measuring, a video call is usually enough. If there's something out of the ordinary, the visit gives you peace of mind.

When the time comes, you can choose professional installation or do it yourself (DIY). If you're up for it, the installation guide walks you through the process. If you'd rather not climb a ladder while you're still settling in, professional installation is a good choice.

Yes. You can explore the configurator to see fabric and style options while you decide, and enter your final measurements once you have them.

Not necessarily. The most practical approach is to choose based on how each room is used: Blackout for bedrooms, Light Filtering for spaces where you want light and privacy, and Sheer where you want to prioritize clarity.

No. Curtains help with light, privacy, and comfort, but they don't replace certified hurricane protection. They're different things that complement each other.

Yes, we offer free fabric samples. It's best to look at them in your home at different times of day to see how each fabric looks in your actual light.

In short: observe the house, measure methodically, choose fabric for each space, prioritize the windows that matter most in your daily life, and ask for help when you need it. That way, when you finish unpacking, your home will already feel like yours, with just the right amount of light and privacy in every room.