Martha Stewart’s Chic Curtains Feature the Hidden Detail Designers Say Keeps Your Home from Turning into an Oven
A Florida-based designer reveals why this smart backing is the secret to surviving the heat – with Martha's help (and they're currently on sale)
Finding window treatments that look sophisticated while serving as a legitimate thermal shield is notoriously difficult. It's often believed that we need to choose between beautiful, lightweight panels or more industrial-looking blackout drapes that harm our room's aesthetic. However, Martha Stewart’s curtain collection (available at Amazon) finally bridges that gap.
Designed with Martha's signature eye for texture, pattern, and color, these curtains complement your room while secretly harboring the exact defensive tech needed to lower your indoor temperature. They're the best curtains for summer, now at a lower price on Amazon.
'Living in Florida, this is something I deal with constantly,' comments Florida-based interior designer and principal of Laure Nell Interiors, Laetitia Laurent.
'A pretty linen panel on its own may filter light beautifully, but does almost nothing for heat. I always say it's what's behind it that counts. So, when you're shopping, turn the panel over and look at the back. You want a thermal or insulated lining with real weight and a tight, dense weave,' she says.
'If the backing is light or white, that's even better because the side facing the glass should be pale so it bounces the sun back out instead of soaking it all up. You can absolutely have a deep, moody color on the room side and still keep things cool, as long as the window side itself is doing its reflective job.'
Below, I've listed Martha's unmissable summer window treatments, some of which are currently on sale at Amazon.
Shop Martha Stewart’s Blackout Curtains
These beautiful curtains truly tick every box. They feature a fully lined, tightly woven polyester backing that acts as a true thermal barrier. Better yet, the side facing the window is pale, meaning it works double-duty to reflect UV rays away from your home.
For a luxe look (without overheating), these velvet panels are the ultimate solution. While velvet might seem counterintuitive for summer, it is actually one of the smartest fabric choices you can make (provided it is engineered correctly).
If you love a Hamptons coastal look, but refuse to compromise on a cool temperature, these are for you. On the room-facing side, they feature a classic ticking stripe made from a soft poly-cotton blend. However, inside, they're designed to block heat in its tracks.
These curtains create the exact weighted, tight-weave that designers love. The backing is specifically engineered to look pale from the outside, allowing it to act as a reflective shield that bounces aggressive afternoon sunlight.
These curtains feature a dedicated, 100% dense blackout lining with the exact heavy weight needed to stop sunlight. So, while they look stylish from your bed or sofa, the real magic happens entirely out of sight.
True to Laetitia's warning against buying unlined panels that let thermal energy pass right through, these curtains come equipped with a dedicated, heavy-duty blackout lining designed to block sunlight, reduce noise, and stop drafts.
Built with a heavy blackout lining, these panels provide a genuine thermal barrier rather than just a decorative filter. The solid pale backing works quietly against the glass to bounce relentless afternoon sunlight right back outside before it can penetrate your living space.
Inspired by classic coastal living, these panels feature a charming white floral jacquard pattern woven into a crisp, light-blue ground. It proves you don't have to sacrifice a bright, airy aesthetic just to keep your home cool.
Martha's velvet curtains are a masterclass in combining high design with hard-working functionality. Velvet is inherently excellent for temperature control because of its dense, but Martha takes it a step further by adding a dedicated, full-coverage blackout lining.
When it comes to surviving the summer heat, your window treatments need to be more than just looking good. The secret to stopping a room from overheating is focusing entirely on what is happening on the glass side of the fabric – a job that Martha's covered.
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