How to use drapes to block drafts in older homes

Australians usually call moving air a draught, and older homes often supply plenty of it. Federation terraces in inner-city Sydney and Melbourne, Victorian workers’ cottages, Adelaide brick homes and post-war brick-veneer houses may have single glazing, high ceilings, verandahs and shifted window frames. These features create real draughts, even when the house is otherwise well cared for.

The practical answer to how to use drapes to block drafts in older homes is to fit substantial curtains closely around the opening. Good drapes can reduce winter heat loss, soften air movement and provide summer shade, but they cannot repair failed seals or stop every source of cold-air infiltration. Measure the window and its surroundings before choosing a fabric or heading.

Find where the air enters

Begin by locating the leak rather than buying immediately. Close the window and hold a tissue near its top, sides and bottom; moving air usually makes it flutter. Pay particular attention to single-glazed sashes, perimeter gaps and the space above a window. Melbourne, Canberra and Tasmania can deliver particularly cold mornings, while a sunny winter afternoon may make the same room feel quite different.

Light, shadow and noise can also reveal gaps. If a curtain moves strongly even on a still day, check whether air is entering around the frame, down a cavity or beneath a door. Avoid relying on smoke or flame for testing, and keep fabrics clear of heaters, fireplaces and flues; a draught blocker must never create a fire or ventilation hazard.

Choose drapes that can do the job

Air resistance comes mostly from a stable, layered curtain rather than a particular marketing label. Dense polyester velvet, canvas or a robust wool blend can work well, especially with a blackout or insulated lining. Blackout fabric blocks light, but it does not automatically form an airtight barrier; overlap, weight and the fit around the window matter more.

Many Australian curtain sellers offer fabric by the linear metre or in set-width rolls, so compare usable width as well as price. For a Federation or cottage interior, Design Kat decorating ideas can help with period-sensitive colour, texture and scale. A made-to-measure panel is useful when the window is irregular, the ceiling is high or the track needs a non-standard drop.

Fit the drapes without leaving gaps

Close the top first. Mount the track or rod as near the ceiling as practical, then use a pelmet or valance to bridge the gap between the curtain head and wall. In a room with a three-metre ceiling, that upper route can carry a surprising share of the airflow, although stretching curtains to an unreachable height creates cleaning problems.

At the sides, let panels overlap the window frame by roughly 10 to 15 centimetres per side, or add narrow side returns. Floor-length curtains work best, but leave a small cleaning gap and never obstruct a heater outlet or ventilation path. For a door that opens inward, hang straight panels beside the opening rather than across the moving leaf.

Measure the window and the room

Measure the window, not just the glass: record the width, drop, sill depth, wall position and how far the rod projects into the room. Check the floor for slope because old houses may have settled sills. Australian homes with wide glazing, sliding doors or high fanlights need each opening treated separately; one oversized curtain will rarely seal several different shapes.

Give the curtains enough fullness to meet at the centre without gaping. As a practical guide, the total finished curtain width should be about one-and-a-half to twice the track’s projection into the room. Existing vertical blinds or roller shades may be reused if the new track can sit in front. Always check suitable fixings for brick, timber or metal before ordering.

Check the details before hanging

A short survey catches the details that undo an otherwise good installation. Work from the top of the window downward and mark every gap.

Useful airflow checks

• Test the top, both sides and lower edge with a tissue.
• Inspect sash joints, window reveals and sliding-door tracks.
• Look for ceiling fans or vents pulling air towards the opening.
• Note any condensation around single glazing.

Common fitting errors

• Choosing narrow panels that cannot overlap at the centre.
• Leaving a large gap above, beside or below the curtain.
• Covering a heater outlet, doorway or required ventilation.
• Assuming a blackout lining makes the window airtight.

If a gap is large, use a fitted side return, a boxed pelmet or a draught-strip seal at the sill instead of relying on heavier fabric. These details can be more effective than adding centimetres to a panel.

Make the room warmer and put your plan in order

Start with the worst room rather than the whole house. Bedrooms, west-facing lounges and older rental properties often reveal the problem fastest, while external doors, roof leaks and broken glazing still need proper repair. Removable tracks and tension rods are useful for rental homes, whereas permanent tracks suit owners who may change the fabric.

Ready to turn the measurements into a warmer room? Visit Factory Direct Drapes to compare drapes, valances and curtain rods, request fabric samples and explore the measuring and installation resources. The collection is handmade in America and sold directly, with a lifetime workmanship warranty. Review delivery terms and Australian tax or duty requirements, then choose your fabric and start your custom order.