No, drapes aren't just for indoors – here's why adding curtains to your patio will make your outdoor space look instantly more luxurious

Curtains: an age-old method of providing privacy and regulating light inside your home – and yet, that description barely scratches the surface. They're also a wonderful way to frame your windows, convey your chosen design style, and layer texture – and the same applies whether they're used indoors or out.

That's right. Curtain ideas aren't limited to use inside our homes. Increasingly, we're all embracing patio curtain ideas too. After all, our pergolas, patios, and porches should be extensions of our interior style, offering a seamless transition between indoors and the space that lies beyond our four walls. To really harness this kind of hybrid living arrangement, incorporating some outdoor curtain ideas can work wonders.

It's not just about cozying up your patio, either; there's also a host of functional benefits to outdoor curtains. Just like their uses indoors, patio curtains filter light, offer privacy, and help regulate the temperature, whether shielding you from wind or supplying shade on a hot sunny day. From pergolas and porches to terraces and loggias, we've rustled up a list of outdoor curtain ideas that will convince you to extend beautiful drapery designs beyond the threshold of your home.

1. Use sheer curtains for a privacy veil

A primary function of curtains is, of course, privacy. Even if you have a sheltered outdoor living room, you still want to be able to enjoy a moment's respite or alfresco dining with the family free from prying eyes, and a set of sheer patio curtains makes that possible.

'With clients who love to entertain, it was important to design a versatile space that could be used year-round,' says designer Joseph Monsour of the space above. 'By adding drapery, the loggia can be closed off to create a warm and intimate setting, or kept open to connect with the beautiful outdoors.'

The key, he says, was finding an outdoor sheer drape that offered privacy, while still allowing for light to filter through. Look for materials like linen and chiffon to achieve this translucent effect. Choosing to hang outdoor curtains from a simple rod also imbues this dining area with an elegant feel, bridging the gap between outdoors and in. 'It allows the area to feel like an interior room, making the footprint of the home feel even more expansive,' says Joseph.

2. Repeat curtains to cozy up a terrace

What's better than one outdoor curtain idea? Multiple outdoor curtain ideas, of course. Repeating drapery along a terrace or porch can make an outdoor space feel extra luxurious, especially if you have neoclassical features like columns or arches to play with.

This sort of setup works well for pergola privacy ideas, where the drapes can be repeated along all four sides. In the space above, a covered outdoor breezeway repeats the same simple drape hung perpendicular to the opening, giving separate parts of the terrace the option of privacy.

'We often use these types of connections between spaces in our tropical homes,' says the the designer Christine Pokorney, owner of Clem Schaub Architects. 'The sheers visually expand the usable interior, creating a private, cabana-like space. The experience becomes more resort-like – a simple walk to your bedroom is a tropical experience to be relished.'

Located in Naples' Cutlass Cove in Florida, the curtains also play an important part in supplying shade for a patio. 'The sheers don't just soften the architecture but can also be drawn to reduce the sun’s intensity,' says Christine. 'The fabric itself is net-like, a subtle nod to the location of this home and the owner’s love for fishing.'

3. Choose drapery to frame openings

A window without curtains can look cold, boring, and uninviting, be it indoors or out. Adorning the openings of pergolas or loggias with drapery adds a decorative touch to your structure, adding depth, dimension, and texture. It's the sort of detail that turns your space into a cozy outdoor space that feels like a true extension of your home.

'We designed these custom draperies with outdoor use fabric to frame the openings or "windows" of the exterior to bring softness and finish up the space,' explains Chelsea Robinson, responsible for designing the space above.

'The draperies enhance the beautiful custom lantern we had made in Egypt, which is overscaled for drama. Aside from the aesthetic reasons, they also provide privacy from pedestrians and the sun. Any draperies, whether for interior or exterior use, totally finish a space and are well worth the investment.'

4. Choose simple tones that match your walls

When choosing outdoor curtains to enhance patio privacy, it pays to pick a subtle design that ties in seamlessly with your space. With an outdoor set-up, you probably don't want anything to look too incongruous, so consider choosing drapery in neutral shades.

That's exactly what the designers at Bloomint chose to do in this Spanish portico to achieve a chic, Mediterranean style space. 'The lateral enclosure of the terrace was resolved with light fabric curtains, providing privacy without blocking natural light,' says Partner and Interior Designer, Caroline Savin. 'A flexible and non-invasive solution was sought to avoid the rigidity of a fixed enclosure. In this way, it was possible to preserve the visual openness and the connection with the surroundings, maintaining a welcoming and luminous atmosphere.'

5. Or go bold and colorful with a pretty print

You could always make your outdoor curtains the star of the show. Not all of us lean towards an understated style. If you have a penchant for brighter, bolder designs, choose drapes in a showy print like gingham, as seen above.

Designer Lisa Mende decided to add these striking checkered curtains to a Hamptons porch where outdoor entertaining is always the first port of call. 'We loved the idea of treating the porch like an indoor space and thought the curtains added a punch of color and an air of privacy,' she says. 'More importantly, gusty winds can make things less than pleasant in coastal areas, so the curtains can be pulled to offer a barrier from the wind.' If you have a similar alfresco setting, layering curtains can be a great way to stay warm when dining outdoors, as well as offering shade on hot days.

That said, Lisa notes the importance of weighting any curtains installed outdoors to keep them in place. 'You also need to use the proper outdoor fabrics so they can withstand the outdoor elements,' she says.

6. Layer curtains for a seamless extension of your indoor living space

Whether you're dealing with indoor or outdoor curtains, your aesthetic standard shouldn't slip. To successfully turn an outside living space into an extension of your personality, choose drapes that tie in with the ones that feature inside your home.

'Today, outdoor rooms are truly a priority – and seamless extensions of the interior living spaces,' says Suzanne Kasler of Suzanne Kasler Interiors. In the space above, she layered curtains in a loggia for a more inviting, comfortable feel.

'We used unlined performance outdoor fabric so it can withstand the elements year-round, and it really creates an extra detail, feeling like another room in their exterior space,' she says. The decorative trim pulls the whole look together with simple, clean lines that mirror those seen in the surrounding furniture and light fixture.

7. Use curtains for a warm and welcoming porch

A front or back porch idea with curtains is guaranteed to add curb appeal. It's a double-edged effect, too – yes, your home instantly looks more welcoming and inviting, but you also have the option of screening your porch from public view when you tire of your neighbors' chit-chat.

'Porches are transitional spaces between the outdoors and the interiors,' says Heather Chadduck, who chose to add swooping striped curtains to this Florida beachouse. 'Extending drapery to the front porch cements the area as a functional extension of the home, allowing the client to comfortably make use of the space any time of day and throughout the seasons.'

Like Suzanne, Heather wasn't ready to sacrifice on style, either. 'Outdoor living spaces should feel cohesive like indoor living rooms, so we pulled the blue stripes of the curtain fabric from the home's shutters, a shade that's also carried through the home's interior color palette,' she says.

8. Tie-back your curtains for an elegant touch

Chic, elegant terrace ideas have such a transporative effect, whether situated in a serene tropical setting or not. The loggia of this Florida home does just that. The Cabana-like set-up – complete with an outdoor fireplace, mantel, and cozy furniture arrangement – makes a nod to those seen in luxury resorts, offering the homeowners a peaceful retreat from the comfort of their own property.

It's largely owing to the fluent white curtains decoratively framing the tableau with the help of tiebacks. 'We duplicated linen draperies through the rest of the home to create simple backdrops, a decision we wanted to carry outside, too,' says Courtney O’Bryan Harris, co-founder of the sister studio partnership Olivia O’Bryan, of the space. 'It was important that the loggia was imbued with a sense of chic comfort.'

You could also quite easily make your own patio curtains too, using performance fabrics like Sunbrella. Or if your patio or outdoor living room is protected and you don't need to be too concerned with wet weather, you could hang indoor curtains (Anthropologie has some drapes that would look so gorgeous outdoors).

Outdoor patio curtains have the power to turn a boring patio into a luxurious oasis. For an outdoor living space with added style, comfort, and versatility, take this as your sign to introduce some decorative drapery.