How do you choose curtains for a home in Spain? At Port of Altea, we answer that question from the perspective of the home, not from a single sales pitch. Curtains must be practical, technical and visually suited to living on the Costa Blanca. In this article, you will read which choices really make a difference.
Start with how the space is used
Start with the function, not with a single colour swatch. Establish which space is being addressed, how intensively it is used and which problem the new solution should improve.
A bedroom, living room, rental apartment or villa each has different requirements. Therefore, note who uses the space, what inconvenience you currently experience and what level of maintenance you consider acceptable. This prevents an attractive solution from becoming a daily disappointment.
What makes curtains worthwhile?
Curtains can help regulate light, privacy, atmosphere and warmth in a space. Quality is not determined by one characteristic. Also consider dimensions, mounting location, operation, fabric or material, and how it connects with the window frame and interior. Ask for an explanation of the complete construction, not just the visible colour or collection.
A sample is intended for assessing the material, but it does not automatically show how repetition, direction, drape or texture will look across a large surface. Therefore, view several samples in daylight and place them next to walls, the kitchen, furniture and existing materials.
Technology before decoration
First check the base onto or against which the product will be installed. For floors, this concerns levelness, stability, moisture, existing tiles, doors and skirting boards. For window coverings, it concerns the window frame, wall or ceiling, the free movement of windows, shutters, handles and available installation space.
Temperature and exposure to sunlight also play a role. Large glazed areas can generate considerable local heat. Materials must be suitable for their position and processed according to the technical specifications.
Measuring prevents costly remedial work
Photos and approximate measurements help with an initial price indication. For custom work, we measure accurately and check deviations, corners, recesses and connections. With continuous flooring, sightlines and transition points are determined in advance; with curtains and systems, stack-back space and operation determine whether doors and windows remain usable.
Record the final execution in writing. Consider direction, pattern, colour, operating side, installation height, skirting boards, tracks and profiles. An oral detail is particularly difficult to trace after production.
What determines a complete price?
The price consists of both materials and execution. For a floor, levelling, adhesive or underlay, cutting waste, skirting boards, profiles and installation are included. For window coverings, this includes, among other things, the amount of fabric, making-up, tracks, brackets, operation and installation.
Therefore, compare quotations line by line. A lower material price may disappear once necessary preparation or finishing is added later. Ask what is explicitly not included; this question often provides more clarity than negotiating over a separate price per square metre.
Colour and appearance in Spanish light
Bright daylight can make cool colours appear harsher and warm shades yellower. Dark materials show dust or sand more quickly, while extremely light colours may appear more vulnerable to daily use. A mottled or natural mid-tone is often forgiving.
View the material at different times of day. Consider not only colour, but also sheen, transparency, pile direction, pattern repetition and how the surface is seen from adjoining spaces.
Maintenance and everyday use
Regularly remove sand and loose dirt before it starts to cause abrasion. Use cleaning products specifically suitable for the material and apply them sparingly. Treat a stain calmly according to the advice first; vigorous rubbing often makes the damage worse.
Protect floors beneath furniture and check window products for free movement. Do not force anything that is stiff. Early attention to a loose connection, unusual noise or misalignment prevents greater repair costs.
Common mistakes
- Ordering based on a single small sample or a computer screen.
- Using approximate measurements for final custom work.
- Not including preparation and installation in the quotation.
- Failing to account for doors, skirting boards, handles or existing systems.
- Automatically using the same solution in every room.
- Discussing maintenance only after the product has been installed.
A plan for an apartment, villa or holiday home
An apartment often requires a low build-up, limited installation time and attention to sound. In a villa, large surfaces, high windows and continuous sightlines play a greater role. In a holiday home, materials must be easy to manage and able to withstand changing users.
Combine solutions when it makes sense. A hard floor in the living area can be combined with carpet in bedrooms; sheer window coverings for daytime can be combined with blackout curtains for the evening. Function may differ from room to room while colour and style remain unified.
Planning alongside other work
A floor or window covering is rarely completely separate from painting, kitchen installation, electrical work or new doors. Establish in advance which tradesperson comes first and which measurements depend on a finished wall, floor or ceiling. Measuring too early may mean that the final situation changes by a few millimetres or centimetres.
Protect new materials during subsequent work and agree who will move furniture, remove existing products and dispose of waste. A clear work sequence prevents haste, damage and disputes on the installation day.
What can you check upon completion?
Do not check only the overall appearance. Also inspect edges, seams, skirting boards, profiles, tracks, brackets, operation and connections around doors or window frames. Walk on or operate the product carefully and immediately ask about any detail that is unclear.
Ask what maintenance is permitted from the first day and keep the product information and colour details. This helps if a component, additional room or extra window later needs to be completed in the same style.
Checklist before ordering
- Take photos and note approximate measurements.
- Describe usage, sun exposure and the desired level of privacy or comfort.
- Have the subfloor or installation location assessed.
- View actual samples in the light of the home.
- Record the execution, direction, operation and finishing.
- Request a complete price including preparation and installation.
Advice from Port of Altea
Port of Altea provides advice, measuring, delivery and professional installation. Read more about curtains, view all curtains and window coverings or make an appointment at our showroom in La Nucía.