Sheer Drapery Fabrics
Translucent linen and performance sheers that preserve view, soften daylight, and screen privacy after dusk.
What is this fabric?
Sheer drapery fabrics are open-weave cloths — linen sheers, voile, and performance sheer weaves — engineered to filter daylight without obstructing the view through the glass.
In a luxury Los Angeles program, sheers almost always live in a layered system: a sheer on the inboard track for daytime view and privacy, paired with a heavier blackout or linen panel on the outboard track for night and total darkness.
Light control
Filters 30–60% of incoming daylight depending on weave openness. Functions primarily as a view-preservation layer, not as a light-control device.
Privacy
Translucent — full daytime privacy, no nighttime privacy without a second layer.
Acoustics
Minimal acoustic contribution.
UV protection
Performance sheers block 70–85% of UV while reading as translucent. Pure linen sheers offer modest UV protection.
Durability
10–15 years for performance sheers; 7–10 years for pure linen sheers on direct exposure.
Appearance
The most sculptural cloth in a drapery program. Catches motion and daylight in equal measure.
Motorization
Ideal for motorization on a dedicated inboard track. Pairs with a blackout panel on the outboard track for full layered control.
Maintenance
Annual professional dusting. Dry-clean every 4–6 years. Replace performance sheers proactively at the 12–15 year mark on direct sun.
Thermal performance
Modest on their own — open-weave sheers contribute little to thermal load reduction. Their thermal value is indirect: they let the primary drapery stay open longer without admitting unfiltered solar gain.
Typical cost range
Mid. Sheer face cloth runs $45–$160 per yard at the trade; a sheer-and-blackout layered program on dual tracks runs $260–$520 per square foot of opening, installed.
- Oceanfront and view-driven primary suites
- Walls of glass in great rooms
- Layered sheer-and-blackout programs
- Hospitality entry sequences
- Preserves view while filtering UV and direct sun
- Reads as soft, sculptural movement against the architecture
- Layers naturally with blackout drapery, roller shades, and roman shades
- Available in linen, linen-blend, and high-performance variants
- No privacy after dusk when interior lights are on without a second layer
- Pure linen sheers fade faster than performance sheers on direct exposure
- Always specify in a layered system — never as the sole window covering on a primary opening
- Pair with ripple fold or wave fold for the cleanest reading against modern glass
- Confirm UV-rated performance sheers for west and south elevations
- Ripple fold
- Wave fold
- Rod pocket (informal rooms only)
Where Sheers earns its specification
- Oceanfront primary suite
- UV-blocking performance sheer for daytime view preservation.
- Great room glass wall
- Wave fold linen sheer floor-to-ceiling.
- Dining room
- Layered behind a heavier face cloth for evening filtration.
“Sheers are the layer that makes the room livable during the day. I almost never specify them alone — they belong on the inboard track of a two-track system, behind a blackout or linen panel that handles night and total darkness. Specified that way they earn their cost five times over.”
Founder, Duroque & The Drapery Atelier · 13 years in West Hollywood
Questions homeowners ask about Sheers
- Do sheers provide privacy?
- During the day, yes. After dusk with interior lights on, no — sheers are translucent, not opaque. We always specify them in a layered system.
- Are linen sheers or performance sheers better?
- Linen sheers read more naturally; performance sheers last longer and protect view-driven furniture. We specify performance sheers on west and south elevations without exception.
Talk with Olga about whether Sheers is the right cloth for your room.
Cloth is a 20-year decision. Every consultation begins with the architecture and the orientation — we will tell you which cloth the room is asking for, even if it is not the one you came in expecting.
Duroque does not mail fabric samples. Selection and sourcing happen in a private design consultation — at our West Hollywood studio or on-site at your residence, hotel, restaurant, or yacht — where cloth is reviewed against the actual light, architecture, and program of the room.
Schedule a ConsultationImages shown are representative examples only. Fabric selections vary by project and are determined during private consultation. Duroque does not stock or imply availability of specific fabrics, colors, or SKUs. Recommendations are made based on your project requirements, performance needs, and design goals.