Window curtains are often seen in historical fiction, especially our beloved hist roms, be they used to prettify a drawing room or shut out the light in a bedchamber. The clincher? Window curtains weren't really a thing! Well, they were, but not how we think of them now, and rarely how they're depicted in the novels.

What was used instead were bed curtains! The windows were left naked, while the bed curtains offered both privacy and warmth.

That said, window curtains did exist in the Regency, but they were far lighter and less elaborate than the heavy Victorian drapery we often imagine. Many country houses featured simple, elegant window hangings made of linen, cotton, or chintz, often tied back to let in light. Grand urban homes and wealthier estates might use silk or wool, but the overall effect was airy and refined.

It would have been a rarity to see a window curtain, and if we did spy one, it would be in only the wealthiest of homes and only for decoration, not for privacy or light blocking.

Bed curtains, however, were essential. They provided warmth, privacy, and protection from drafts in an era before central heating. A canopy or four-poster bed with curtains was a practical necessity, even in well-appointed households. Even in houses with a roaring fire in the hearth, bedrooms were cold. Bed curtains helped trap heat and reduce drafts, especially in winter.

Let's suppose we are in one of those wealthy homes that favored the decorative window curtains. What would they look like?

The late Georgian and Regency periods favored light, classical interiors inspired by Greece and Rome. Large windows and pale curtains reflected this taste.

Common fabric choices included:

• chintz with delicate florals

• striped cotton or linen

• pale silk in fashionable drawing rooms

• wool or baize for practical spaces

Heavy velvet or dark damask was more typical later and not a feature of Georgian/Regency England.

If you're a writer of this era (or a reader who loves to spot the anachronisms), here's WHAT TO AVOID:

• floor-to-ceiling velvet (this is Victorian!)

• overly layered swags and tassels (modern!)

• blackout curtains (modern!)

• the term “drapes” (Victorian!)

As for terminology, Regency referred to curtains or hangings, never “drapes.” The heavy layered “drapery” style came later in the 19th century, during the Victorian era, so don't let a drape haunt the pages of your book!