door curtains to stop drafts - how do they work and how do you hang them?

[edamsavestheday]

It is cold in my hall and I think door curtains might be the ansewr...

I have tried googling but all the results are about those sheer panels you fix to doors for privacy. I want a proper curtain in heavy fabric to stop drafts but that opens, so you don't end up in a huddle of curtain when you step through the front door.

I know you can get a special thing to hold the curtain away from the door, but not sure how they work or where the pole (?) goes, or how to measure. Or anything very much!

Does anyone have a door curtain and how does it work?

Thx!

[OnePlanOnHouzz]

Ours is fixed on a standard curtain rod over the top of the door - and have a bolster? Long sausage thing ?! On the bottom too ! That helps and also a flap on the key hole and letter box !

[wonkylegs]

You are thinking of a Portiere rod
They fit like this
We've got two curtains on a pole above the inner door of the porch that part to open the door but ours is a big door in a glazed panel so is the width of the hallway.

[Earthymama]

Our back door is very draughty so a few years ago I bought a beautiful pair of curtains from a charity shop. They have good thick but very pretty fabric and are fully lined.

Every autumn I use just one curtain to attempt to keep the back of the house a little warmer. I am feeling really rubbish because I just put two large hooks over the door and threaded one of those net curtain rails through the little hem at the top.

In my defence, the back door area of the house is tiny and very utilitarian. Bins and a notice board. . though I am sat here wondering if I can improve it in any way.

I have been planning to decorate the living room and bought beautiful flowing white curtains in the summer. Huddled in the cold I am off to search for thermal curtains to line them.

[edamsavestheday]

ooh thanks! My Mum called and said I need John Lewis but these suggestions and links are really useful.

[wonkylegs]

Earthy I've got beautiful long white curtains, I lined them myself with a roll of thermal blackout liner from Amazon marketplace and a sewing machine. It was cheap and works brilliantly, only thing is the curtains are very heavy so you need to make sure your pole is strong enough.

[Belindabelle]

I got fantastic interlined velvet curtains on EBay about 5 years ago. They are far too long and pool on the floor giving a very dramatic look. As soon as I hang them up its like I've turned the heating up by about 5 degrees.

They definitely cut down the draughts but also just look so warm and cosy.

I use a portiere rod and in the summer I sometimes hang a vintage lace panel (EBay again) so I don't bother taking the rail down.

[edamsavestheday]

Thanks everyone

[calendula]

earthy: could you not get some thick curtains from a charity shop for winter and change over to your lovely white ones again in the spring. In Scandinavia lots of people have "Christmas curtains".

[PigletJohn]

there is a special curtain rod called a "portiere rod" which hinges open when you open the door, and lifts slightly to prevent dragging.

Obtainable from curtain rod shops and on ebay.

[edamsavestheday]

Update - while I was faffing about trying to find the best value portière rods and curtains, dh found some fabric, hemmed it and put it up! Hall is much warmer - if quite a lot darker...

[cosifantutti]

I live in the country in a barn of a place. Tried various things over the door but most don't take anything with some weight and draughtproofing. The portiere rods mentioned always rise but my door is in a recess so no good. I found a thing called COSIDOR can be fitted to any door, strong, reliable and in the summer it lets the curtain draw back like a normal curtain pole. Works a treat and has made the 1st floor landing much warmer, don't know why but it has. It is not the cheapest but with a big fat heavy curtain from ebay it is worth every penny.