Supported by Spotlight
There’s no denying S-fold curtains are the most popular window treatments in Australia to achieve a contemporary, designer-look home. For a long time, you needed to have a matching ‘designer budget’ to afford this type of window covering as it generally meant hiring an interior designer or going to a specialist supplier. Thankfully, alternatives have come onto the market. One destination brimming with ready-to-hang curtains you might not have thought of is Spotlight.
If you’re looking to refresh the window coverings in your home, let’s take a look at why it’s worth popping into your nearest store or checking out their online range.
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Designer look without the designer price tag
As we mentioned, S-fold curtains (also called wave fold or ripple fold) are a firm favourite with interior designers. This type of curtain header instantly achieve a high-end, luxury look. When installed high and wide, they create the illusion of larger spaces. One of the main reasons we love them is because they look polished whether they are open or closed. The continuous S-shaped folds also soften interiors to create inviting, homely spaces. Until recently, achieving this look came with a significant price tag to match.
Spotlight changes that equation. Their range brings S-fold curtains within reach of anyone renovating a living room, styling a new build, or simply wanting to refresh a space without a full-scale budget. With a wide range of ready-made S-fold curtains in stores (as well as their custom-made option which we’ll talk about next), you can now buy S-fold curtains you can install yourself and save big.
For an even more affordable option, it’s worth mentioning Spotlight’s eyelet curtains. These curtains offer a more relaxed, evenly spaced pleat which achieves a similar look at a much friendlier price point. The main difference is that these curtains hang on a rod which feeds through circular eyelets across the top of the curtain. Whereas S-fold curtains use discreet fastenings that sit behind the curtain and attach to a slim track.
Neither style requires professional installation to look good. That alone makes a meaningful difference to the overall cost.
The ready-made and custom-made options mean there is something for every home
One of the things that sets Spotlight apart is the flexibility it offers. If you need curtains quickly, say, for a new home you have just moved into or a room that is being styled for a sale, their ready-made range means you can walk out with something that looks considered and put-together the same day.
If your windows are a non-standard size, or you want a specific drop, fabric weight, or lining, they have custom-made curtains, too. You get the precision of a made-to-measure curtain without the wait time or cost that typically comes with going through a specialist.
Most retailers tend to offer one or the other, or limit their custom options to a narrow fabric range. Spotlight’s approach means you are not forced to compromise on fit just because you are working within a budget.
More than your basic curtain range
For years Spotlight has been expanding their curtain range to include the full offering. This includes pinch pleat, pocket rod, eyelet and S-fold curtains. They have a wide range of fabrics from sheer to blockout, and in an array of colours too. Phew, it can become a little overwhelming.
To help you decide the best curtain option, ask yourself these questions:
What level of privacy and light control do you need? For daytime privacy, such as in your living room, opt for sheer curtain fabrics that will also diffuse light beautifully. In your bedroom where night time privacy is essential, use a blockout fabric or a double curtain track that gives you the option of both sheer and block out fabrics.
What look do you want to achieve? For a contemporary, designer-look it’s hard to go past an S-fold curtain. In more traditional homes or for a more formal look, pinch pleat curtains are a good option.
What is your budget? The most affordable style of curtains are pocket rod as they require no hardware. Then generally there’s a price increase to eyelet, followed by pinch pleat and S-fold. If you need to stretch your budget, you could consider a combination of window solutions. For example, modern S-fold curtains in the main living area and eyelet curtains in the kids’ bedrooms. Installing your own curtains (no matter the style) will also help you save significantly.
What other materials and finishes do you have in your space? Curtains are one of the many material and finishes in a space. So it’s important to consider how they work alongside everything else. When choosing the right fabric and colour, take into account the other materials, such as flooring, paint colours and furniture. We always suggest taking photos of your home or swatches of the other materials you’ve selected when shopping. That way you can choose colours and tones that work harmoniously together. You don’t need for everything to match (actually it’s better they don’t!) but you want the undertones of the different materials to complement one another.
What is your climate and orientation of the room? In Australia where UV rays are so strong, you cannot ignore climate and the room’s orientation when choosing window coverings. A west-facing window will be exposed to direct sunlight for most of the day. To improve insulation and create a more comfortable living space, use a heavier weight fabric that’s also lined. Spotlight’s range gives you enough options so there’ll be one that suits both your space and your climate.
Both S-fold and eyelet styles are available across a variety of colours and finishes, which means they work across a wide range of interior aesthetics. Whether you are after something neutral and understated to complement a Scandinavian-influenced interior, or something with more texture and depth for a warmer, layered look, their range has options that fit.
In-store expertise
Curtains are one of those purchases where getting the details right really matters. A curtain that is too short, too narrow, or hung at the wrong height can draw attention for all the wrong reasons. But when done right, curtains have the ability to make a room feel larger and more luxurious.
Spotlight’s in-store team can help you work through the practical questions, like how much fabric fullness you need for a proper S-fold wave, what drop works best for your window height, and whether a blockout or light-filtering lining suits the room you are working with. That kind of guidance is not always easy to find, particularly at this price point, and it takes a lot of the guesswork out of what can otherwise be an overwhelming purchase.
For anyone measuring up for the first time, it is worth noting that to get the right fullness curtain width is typically calculated at 1.5 to 2 times the window width. Not enough curtain width is one of the most common (and most visible) curtain mistakes people make.
When you factor in the combination of price, range, and quality, it’s easy to see why Spotlight is a destination worth checking out for your curtain needs.
