Curtain SOS

[teddy50]

We're redecorating a bedroom for our toddler, and I've been looking for grey gingham curtains for the windows. I've only managed to find these John Lewis ones, but annoyingly they're not 100% cotton (50/50 cotton and polyester).

Will they be a fire risk, seeing they will be hanging slightly over radiators? Should we avoid hanging over radiators altogether, even with cotton curtains? We have a max gap of 125cm from top to radiator, and most curtains seem to be longer than that.

Any recommendations for shops that sell grey gingham curtains or ready made curtains in similar plain fabrics very welcome!

Bump!

I think the problem with having curtains that fall over the radiator is that the heat rises behind the curtains and heats the space not the room. I am not sure they are a fire risk as there isn't an ignition source. For fire you need, oxygen, fuel and source of ignition.
If the windows are small, it might be easier to make some or see how much it would cost to get them made, if you can find the fabric.. I have had a look at my favourite fabric sites and plain and simple gingham does not seem to be popular at the moment, seen a few but not grey unfortunately. There were a few fine grey stripe if thats of interest. As it is a toddler bedroom, are you looking at blackout lined or having a blackout blind. (Bitter voice of experience)
Dunelm are quite good for curtains and have some plain grey at the moment.

Thank you for the reply. We already have blackout blinds, I just wanted to make the room cosier with curtains. Curtains would ideally be blackout too but think non-blackout would still work given the blinds. We also have blackout sticky curtains! (Well equipped )

I've looked at Dunelm, Laura Ashley, Argos, Homebase and Ikea. Maybe I'm too fussy?

Thank you for reassuring me it's not a fire risk though. I was worried the curtains could overheat and somehow ignite. The internet says if your curtains fall over the radiator, make sure to tuck them behind in order to keep the heat. Not sure if that would work?

Don't worry, the heat from the radiator will not ignite your curtains. I've had all sorts of curtains and had them full length over the radiator, touching the top, hanging over etc etc etc. No issues whatsoever.

Gingham is lovely for a child's room. I also wouldn't worry about making them black out. If the room is too dark you won't find the baby when you go into the room in the night :)

Haha true, don't want to lose her! Though DD is an atrocious sleeper who requires total darkness, so I've adapted and developed troglodyte eyes over the past two years.

Do you think the point about fire also applies to these bed canopy things (see pic)? We have one and I was planning to have it rather near the radiator. I'm coming across a bit paranoid about fires, but my husband has really scared me by suggesting all these things will alight and kill us all

Canopy will also be fine. :)

We went away for a weekend when DS2 was about 5 weeks old. We were in a cottage in the arse end of nowhere, no street lights or anything. He woke for a feed in the middle of the night and I was feeling around on the floor trying to find the carrycot then trying to find him in the pitch black. Couldn't put a light on as I didn't want to wake Ds1 who was only 14 months and occupying the cot on the other side of the bed. Still have nightmares about it and he'll be 19 this year.

Are your radiators turned up to inferno setting??

It does seem quite OTT to worry about a normal radiator setting stuff on fire.

Are there any known incidents where radiators have set fire to something?

There's a radiator in practically every room in every house in the land! I think they're pretty safe

Many curtains over radiators too!

Haha thank you everyone for your reassurances. waxon you hero, a newborn and a 14-month old!