Last month I shared some progress I’ve made on our living room this winter. One of the new additions was linen curtains.
I have come to love the timeless, classic look of simple linen or cotton panels.
Linen in particular has such gorgeous texture and I love the way the fabric drapes and breaks.
If you are also a fan of the look and feel of linen, Ikea’s Aina curtain panels are the best deal going!
In fact Joan at For The Love Of A House used the Ikea Ainas in the rooms of the last two photos above. These are a fine examples of high-low decorating – beautiful antiques living in perfect harmony with ready-made curtains from Ikea.
I have used 10 sets of of Ainas over the past year, for both client projects and my own home.
(This isn’t a sponsored post, I just think the Ainas are one of Ikea’s hidden gems!)
What I appreciate about the Ikea Aina panels:
1// they are 100% linen
2// the white is not bright white (despite the website’s unflattering photo); it is more on the creamy side but doesn’t have yellow undertones. This soft color works in so many environments!
3// the panels are 98″ long and therefore can accommodate tall windows and be hung high, and the length can easily be customized*
4// there is a track installed at the top of the panels allowing them to be hung via a rod pocket, on hidden back tabs, or with rings
5// the cost, did I mention the cost????: 1 pair is $49.99
(expensive for Ikea but not for linen curtains!)
Let’s comparison shop:
Restoration Hardware’s Belgian Sheer Linen Drapery in the 96″ length (50″ width vs. Ikea’s 57″),
$95 EACH on sale.
{RH}
Ikea’s Aina curtains, 2 for $49.99
UNLINED: $190 for 2 RH panels
VS.
$50 at Ikea.
While I love the light filtering unlined linen, I also think lined linen curtains hang so beautifully.
Restoration Hardware’s Belgian Heavyweight Textured Linen Drapery (50″Wx96″L),
$199 each.
{RH}
Ikea Ainas ($50) + drapery liner (+/- $42).
Joann’s drapery liner is $6.99; roughly $42 in lining for 2 panels, or use inexpensive white sheets as lining.
LINED: $400 for 2 RH panels
VS.
under $100 for 2 Ikea panels with lining (excluding labor).
I checked out the panels at Restoration Hardware and the quality of them is really nice. That being said, are they THAT much better than the Ikea panels? NO. Would I notice the difference if you had Ikea panels or Restoration Hardware panels hanging on your windows? NO.
If you’re in the market for linen panels, buy the Ainas and put the rest of your budget toward some fabulous fabric for pillows (that’s my plan!!!)
Next week – some ideas on how to customize ready-made curtain panels, a topic I have become very familiar with these past few years!
Don’t forget – tomorrow is Best Of The Nest fun fun fun!!
See you there!
