Should I get sheer or blackout curtains?

Sheer and blackout curtains change a room in opposite directions, so the clearest way to choose is to see each on your actual window wall.

Sheer curtains filter light rather than block it. They soften the window, add texture and warmth, and keep a room feeling open and connected to the outdoors. Rooms that already feel dark or enclosed tend to benefit from sheers because they let in daylight while still providing a layer between the window and the room.

Blackout curtains block light entirely. They are most common in bedrooms where sleep quality depends on darkness, but they also work in living rooms where screens are used or where the view outside is not worth keeping. The trade-off is visual weight: a blackout panel is typically heavier and more present in the room than a sheer.

Many rooms combine both: a sheer layer that stays closed during the day and a blackout panel that pulls across at night. Seeing each option in your actual window first helps you understand what each layer does to the room before you buy. Related answers: seeing sheer curtains in your room and seeing blackout curtains in your bedroom.