Curtains and radiators....

[HeadFairy]

All my radiators are under windows and all my curtains are full length thermal lined, to maximise the heat retention what should I do... keep the curtains open or closed when the heating's on?

Closed (so the heat can't escape) and tuck your curtains behind the radiators.

I can't really get the curtains behind the radiators, the gap behind them is about two fingers width.

I pile the curtains on the window sile so they don't go in front of the radiator - added bnus of stopping draughts as well

do they fit cupsoftea? my sills are only an inch or so wide and the curtains are pretty thick with the thermal lining.

Combine short curtains with a foil backed radiator shelf

cut them off - don't have full length curtains over the radiator they will block all the heat

aha Katymac was there before me

Or for a bit more money buy/make neutral shutters which can be either hinged or hung each night on hooks

Then you can leave you curtains open

It's fine but the sills are probably wider than a modern house? I do pile them up & the fabric can bludge out iyswim. They are unlined cotton but I have lace curtains as well.

I can't cut them off, the curtains in my living room cost nearly £1000. I think I'm going to have to fork out more for some blinds as well. Then shut the curtains when we got to bed and the heating's off. I was hoping I wouldn't have to spend more money but I guess it's hard to avoid.

(and short curtains look horrid)

We have a similar problem in our bedroom, and I close the blinds and then shut the curtains at bedtime, as you suggest. Fortunately there's also another radiator in that room though, so I can turn that one up and close down the one under the window too.

Is it possible to get blinds with some sort of thermal lining I wonder? I guess you could make roman blinds and line them couldn't you?

Ikea for value for money blinds. I have wooden ones at some of my windows. Had them for about 9 years now. Great value ime.

do the wooden ones stop the heat loss? I have wooden ones in my bedroom (been doing night shifts for years )

My bathroom has no heating in it and it's never really cold...there's a wooden one in there...lounge has one at the patio doors(is never opened due to problem neighbouring estate types)...warm. Kitchen one keeps a lot of the breezes out when the window is on locked open...air in, but no draughts, so I'd say yes. Keeps warmth in/cold out...but that's my experience.

Have seasonal curtains.

Either different ones for winter/summer
or tack up or velcro up long curtains over winter.

I always tucked when heating on.

Have interlined roman blinds made and leave the curtains open.

Short curtains are naff. Foil radiator backs are even more naff. Have long, elegant, interlined curtains, put on an extra layer and leave orf the heating.

Alternative, if you must heat have interlined roman blinds and leave the long, curtains open.