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An Ideal Home writer says closing curtains around sunset can help slow heat loss through windows, with thermal curtains performing better in the writer’s home than standard curtains. The report offers temperature readings, not a measured reduction in energy use or bills; results depend on the windows, curtains and insulation.
An Ideal Home report says closing curtains before sunset can help keep rooms warmer by adding a layer over windows, but it does not establish how much energy or money the habit saves. The writer recorded a 2°C temperature difference in front of and behind thermal curtains and blinds after dark, an observation from one home rather than a controlled measurement of heating use.
The report’s writer says they resumed closing curtains early over the week before publication and noticed that the home stayed comfortable longer in the evening. They said this reduced the perceived need to run central heating for an extra hour, but provided no meter readings or bill comparison to quantify a change in energy consumption. The temperature readings likewise show differences around window coverings, not a measured whole-room temperature change.
In the writer’s home, the reported difference was about 2°C around thermal curtains and blinds, just under 1°C around wooden blinds, and about 0.5°C around standard curtains and fabric blinds. These were the writer’s observations, and the report does not describe the measurement equipment, exact test conditions or repeated trials. They should not be treated as guaranteed results for other homes.
So Energy consumer energy expert Stuart Middleton told Ideal Home that windows can be a source of heat loss and curtains add a layer that can slow its escape. He said thick, well-fitting or thermally lined curtains may be particularly effective. The report says the potential energy savings vary with glazing, curtains and home insulation, and gives no specific savings estimate.
How Curtain Layers Affect Heat Loss
The practical appeal is that closing existing curtains costs nothing and may help a room feel warmer without immediately turning up the heating. That could matter to households trying to manage heating use through colder evenings, but the report does not show that the habit produces a particular reduction in bills. A warmer-feeling area near a window is not, by itself, proof of lower whole-home energy consumption.
The reported differences also suggest the choice and fit of window coverings matter. Thermal lining and a close fit may make a more noticeable difference than thin or poorly fitting coverings, according to the expert’s explanation and the writer’s home observations. Readers should regard this as a potentially useful, low-cost measure—not a replacement for heating or a guaranteed bill-saving method.
thermal lined curtains for windows
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The Sunset Timing Advice
The report recommends closing curtains just before sunset, rather than leaving them open until after the room has cooled. Its reasoning is to allow daylight to contribute warmth during the day, then add the curtain layer as outdoor temperatures fall. The writer gives a local sunset time of 4:52 p.m. as an example and says they set a reminder for about 4:30 p.m.; that timing is specific to their location and date, not a universal schedule.
For people away from home at dusk, the article describes automated curtain devices that can be scheduled to move curtains or blinds. Ideal Home digital editor Becky said she used a SwitchBot Curtain 3 schedule, changing it between summer and winter. These are examples of products and one editor’s account, not evidence that automation is necessary or that a particular device will pay for itself.
“Windows can be a source of heat loss, so drawing your curtains creates an additional layer of insulation that helps slow the rate at which heat escapes.”
— Stuart Middleton, So Energy consumer energy expert, quoted by Ideal Home
Savings and Test Limits
The report does not establish how much energy, if any, a typical household saves by closing curtains early, or whether any saving would lower a particular bill. It provides no controlled comparison between curtains open and closed, no heating-system data and no information about the measuring device or conditions behind the temperature readings. The reported 2°C difference is specific to the writer’s home and thermal window coverings.
Results may vary with glazing, drafts, curtain fit, room layout, insulation and how a household operates its heating. The report also cites rising energy prices, but those figures do not demonstrate that curtain use changes consumption or costs. No independent testing or product comparison is presented.
A Low-Cost Habit to Test
Households interested in the method can close curtains shortly before local sunset and observe whether rooms feel more comfortable, while keeping heating at a consistent setting if they want a simple comparison. The source does not report a planned follow-up test or a forthcoming official assessment. A reliable estimate of savings would require measured heating use across comparable periods, accounting for weather and other changes.
The immediate takeaway from the report is limited: closing curtains may slow heat loss, and thermal, well-fitting coverings appeared to perform best in one home. How much that affects energy use remains unquantified.
Key Questions
Does closing curtains early save energy?
It may help slow heat loss through windows, according to So Energy expert Stuart Middleton. The Ideal Home report does not measure a specific reduction in energy use or bills, so the amount saved is unknown.
When should curtains be closed?
The report suggests closing them just before sunset, after daylight has entered the home. Sunset varies by date and location, so the example time in the report is not applicable everywhere.
Which window coverings performed best in the report?
The writer reported the largest temperature difference—about 2°C in front of and behind thermal curtains and blinds—in their home. The measurement is a personal observation, not a controlled or independently verified result.
Can curtains replace heating?
No such conclusion is supported by the report. Curtains may help a room retain warmth, but the article does not say they can replace heating or establish how much they change a household’s heating needs.
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