Curtains, Blinds, and Shutters: Specification for London Period Properties

Window treatments — curtains, blinds, internal shutters — are often treated as soft furnishing decisions, separate from the renovation project. In practice, they have hard interdependencies with the building works: motorised blinds need electrical drops in specific locations before plastering; shutter housings require precise reveals; heavy curtains need structural fixings into masonry or structural lintels, not plasterboard.

Getting these decisions early prevents expensive remediation. This guide covers the main types, their technical requirements, and what is appropriate for different contexts in a London period property.

Curtains

Full-length curtains in heavyweight fabric — linen, silk, wool, or lined cotton — are the natural treatment for the tall sash windows of Georgian and Victorian London properties. A well-hung curtain pool on the floor, is generously wide (at least 2× the window width when open), and is mounted high — ideally to the cornice or picture rail, not immediately above the window architrave.

Poles and tracks: A timber or steel pole is appropriate for a period room and is the standard for uncomplicated curtain arrangements. Tracks (recessed into the ceiling or cornice) are preferable where the curtain must draw tightly and cleanly — particularly useful for a curtain covering an entire wall rather than just the window opening. Motorised tracks are now standard in new installations of any quality — Somfy and Silent Gliss are the established brands.

Fixing requirements: Heavy curtains with interlining and lead-weighted hems can weigh 8–15 kg per drop. The fixings must go into solid material — masonry, timber structural elements, or proprietary heavy-duty plasterboard fixings for lighter arrangements. This must be considered during the building works: if the wall around the window is being re-plastered or boarded, ensure adequate provision for curtain fixings before the new surface is applied.

Interlinings and blackout: For bedrooms, a blackout lining is standard — either a separate blackout lining behind the main lining, or a combined bump and blackout interlining. For reception rooms where light control is secondary, a standard cotton interlining gives good drape and body without blocking light when open.

Lead times: Bespoke curtains from a quality London maker (Chelsea Textiles, Ian Mankin, Stuart Scott) carry lead times of 6–14 weeks from fabric selection to installation. This needs to be factored into the project completion programme.

Roller and Roman blinds

The functional complement to curtains — or the sole treatment where curtains are not appropriate. Roller blinds are the most common specification in kitchens, bathrooms, and secondary rooms; Roman blinds (fabric that draws up in soft horizontal folds) suit rooms where a softer, more decorative treatment is wanted without the bulk of curtains.

Motorisation: Any blind in a location where the control cord would be awkward — above a kitchen worktop, behind furniture, or in a double-height space — should be motorised. Somfy motors are the standard; they require a 240V supply at the blind head. This must be wired in at first-fix electrical stage, before plastering.

Blackout specification: Blackout roller blinds require a cassette housing (which wraps the fabric and reduces light gaps) and ideally side guides (channels at each edge of the blind that prevent light seeping past the edges). A standard roller blind without side guides will not achieve a genuinely dark blackout in a bedroom.

Conservation areas and listed buildings: Some conservation area policies and listed building consents restrict visible window treatments — roller blinds visible from the street may be refused in favour of shutters or curtains. Check with the local authority if the front elevation is affected.

Plantation shutters

Internal timber shutters — full-height or café-style, with adjustable louvres — are an extremely popular treatment in London Victorian properties. They read as period-appropriate (internal shutters were standard in Georgian and Regency buildings), provide good light control, and require no additional fabric or maintenance. They are also appropriate where window reveals are narrow and curtain poles cannot be set back far enough from the glass.

Sizing and manufacture: Shutters are bespoke to each window — measured and manufactured after the building works and any new window or sill finishes are in place. The reveal must be square and plumb; reveals in Victorian terrace windows are rarely perfectly square and should be measured with care. Lead time: 6–10 weeks from survey to installation.

Materials: Painted MDF (most common, stable, lower cost), painted hardwood (more durable, higher cost), or natural timber (uncommon — timber moves with humidity and can cause louvres to bind). White or off-white painted shutters are standard; colour-matched shutters are available at a premium.

Full-height versus café-style: Café-style shutters cover only the lower portion of the window (typically below the mid-rail), giving privacy from the street while allowing light in from the upper portion. This is a practical solution for a ground-floor Victorian terrace where the window is directly onto the street.

Cost: Plantation shutters for a standard Victorian sash window (approx. 900mm wide × 1,400mm tall) typically cost £400–£900 per window supply and fit, depending on specification and manufacturer.

Technical integration checklist

For any window treatment with electrical components, confirm with the electrician at first-fix stage:

• —Motorised curtain track: 240V spur to each track motor position (above window, at cornice level)
• —Motorised roller/Roman blind: 240V spur to each blind cassette position (at window head)
• —Motorised external blinds or shutters: 240V spur to motor housing

Conduit for these cables should be chased before plastering. Attempting to add these supplies retrospectively means chasing finished plaster — always a cost and disruption.

ASAAN coordinates window treatment electrical provisions as part of first-fix specification on renovation projects, ensuring spur positions are confirmed with the client's soft furnishing consultant before walls are closed up.