Cotton Curtains Buying Guide: Mulmul, Kota and How to Measure
Cotton curtains cover the majority of window situations in Indian homes well. They breathe, they wash without drama, they hold block-print colours for years, and they do not trap heat the way synthetic fabrics do. But cotton is not one fabric, it is a family of them. Mulmul, Kota, and block-print flex cotton each behave differently at the window. This guide explains what each one does and how to measure your windows before you buy.
The Main Fabric Types
Mulmul (Mul Cotton / Voile)
Mulmul is a very loosely woven, lightweight cotton. It has a slightly translucent quality, which makes it ideal as a day curtain where you want light to come in but still have some softness at the window. It moves in a breeze, drapes in long fluid folds, and feels light in the hand. If you want an airy, relaxed look in a living room or bedroom that faces a garden or a quieter street, mulmul is a natural fit.
Because it is thin, mulmul does not block light at night. If privacy matters after dark, you either layer it with a lined curtain behind, or you add a blackout lining. On its own it works best in rooms where morning light is welcome.
Kota Cotton (Kota Doria)
Kota is woven in Kota, Rajasthan, and has a characteristic check texture formed by grouping fine threads into small squares. It is slightly heavier than mulmul but still light enough to drape well. Kota has a subtle sheen and a crisp hand. It filters light rather than blocking it, giving rooms a soft glow during the day. It is more durable than mulmul and holds its body better after washing.
Kota works across living rooms, dining areas, and bedrooms where you want a bit more structure without moving into thick curtain territory.
Block-Print Flex Cotton
This is a medium-weight cotton with a tighter weave than mulmul or Kota. It has enough body to hang with clean vertical folds without needing a lining, and the tighter weave holds block-print colours sharply. This is the fabric used in most hand-block-printed curtains at Kari by Kriti. It handles repeated washing well, fades slowly when line-dried in shade, and gives rooms a grounded, considered look rather than the floaty quality of mulmul.
Light Filtering: What to Expect
Mulmul: filters light, does not block. Expect a bright glow during the day. No night privacy without layering.
Kota: filters light, softens glare, some daytime privacy from a distance but not close up.
Block-print flex cotton: reduces light noticeably, provides good daytime privacy, still lets in some ambient light. Not blackout.
Lined curtains add a second layer of fabric behind the main panel. This improves light blocking, adds insulation, and helps the curtain hang with more weight and fewer wrinkles. For bedrooms and west-facing windows that get afternoon glare, lined options are worth considering.
How to Measure Your Windows
Measuring Width
Measure the width of your window frame or rod, not the glass. Then multiply by 1.5 to 2 for good fullness. A window that is 4 feet wide needs 6 to 8 feet of curtain fabric in total. If you are buying two panels, each panel should be 3 to 4 feet wide for that window.
Most standard curtain panels at Kari by Kriti come in widths of 44 to 54 inches (roughly 110 to 137 cm). One panel per window gives a relaxed look. Two panels for the same window give a fuller, richer look when drawn open.
Measuring Drop (Length)
Measure from where the rod or track sits to where you want the curtain to end. Three common finishing points:
- Sill length: ends at the window sill. Clean, practical, good for kitchens and bathrooms.
- Below-sill (apron length): ends 10 to 15 cm below the sill. Works in dining rooms and children's rooms.
- Floor length: ends 1 to 2 cm above the floor. Standard for living rooms and bedrooms. Adds height to the room visually.
Standard ready-made curtain drops are 84 inches (213 cm), 96 inches (244 cm), and 108 inches (274 cm). Measure your drop before ordering so you are not cutting or hemming post-delivery. Measure from the hook hole or rod pocket at the top, not from the bottom of the rod.
Hanging Options
Ring and hook: most flexible for adjusting height. Easy to remove for washing.
Rod pocket: fabric channel sewn at the top. The rod slides through. Good for lightweight fabrics like mulmul but harder to slide open and shut on heavier cotton.
Eyelet (grommet): metal rings sewn through the fabric. Slides easily, gives a contemporary look, works well on block-print flex cotton.
Tab top: fabric loops at the top. Casual, works on light cotton. Does not slide as easily as eyelets.
Custom Lengths
Standard drop lengths cover most windows but not all. Old buildings with high ceilings, bay windows, and sloped roof rooms often need custom lengths. Check with the store whether custom drop stitching is available before ordering. It is easier to confirm this once than to re-order.
Browse all cotton curtains and lined curtains at Kari by Kriti. All panels are hand-block-printed in Sanganer, Rajasthan, 100% cotton, and available for shipping across India with free COD.
