Jaipuri Block Print Curtains: A Buyer's Guide to Fabric, Sizing, and Care
Curtains do a lot of work in a room. They frame the view, soften the light, and quietly set the mood for the whole space. And if you've been thinking about switching to hand block print curtains from Jaipur, you're probably already sold on how they look. The harder part is figuring out which fabric to choose, what size to order, and how to take care of them once they're up. This guide covers all of that.
What makes Jaipuri curtains different from regular printed curtains
Most printed curtains you'll find in a home goods store are made using digital or rotary screen printing. The pattern is perfectly uniform, every panel is identical, and the ink sits on top of the fabric like a sticker.
Hand block printed curtains are different. A carved wooden block is pressed into natural dye or pigment ink, then stamped onto the fabric by hand, repeat by repeat. Because a human hand is doing this, there's a slight variation in each impression. A motif might be fractionally off-centre. The ink pressure might be a little heavier on one side. These aren't defects. They're the proof that someone made this.
Jaipur has been a centre of block printing for centuries. The craft is still alive in workshops in and around the city, where families have been printing the same traditional motifs — paisley bootas, floral vines, cypress trees, geometric borders — across generations. When you buy a pair of Jaipuri curtains, that history comes with them.
Choosing the right fabric: mulmul vs kota cotton
Most block print sheer curtains are made in one of two fabrics. Here's how to think about each one.
Mulmul cotton
Mulmul (also called muslin or cotton voile) is lightweight and slightly gauzy. It lets diffused light through beautifully, so your room stays bright without getting harsh afternoon glare. It drapes softly, which gives curtains that gentle, flowing look when there's a breeze. It's a good choice for bedrooms, drawing rooms, and any space where you want the curtains to feel airy rather than structured.
Mulmul does wrinkle. That's just the nature of the fabric. But because it's a sheer, the wrinkles tend to fall out once the curtain is hanging. If you want a crisper look, a light steam works well.
Kota cotton
Kota cotton comes from Kota in Rajasthan and has a distinctive open-weave check structure that gives it a slightly more textured, dimensional look. It's marginally crisper than mulmul, drapes a bit more firmly, and has a quiet shimmer to it that catches light differently through the day. It's still a sheer fabric, but with a little more body. Good for living rooms or spaces where you want the curtains to feel a bit more substantial.
Getting the sizing right before you order
This is where most people go wrong, and it's worth spending five minutes with a measuring tape before you order.
First, decide where your curtain rod will sit. Mounting the rod higher than the window frame (closer to the ceiling) and wider than the frame makes windows look taller and larger. It's a simple trick that makes a real difference.
Then measure from the rod down to where you want the curtain to end. The common options are:
- Floor length (just grazing the floor): the most classic look, works in most rooms
- 1-2 inches above the floor: practical if you have pets or young kids, easier to keep clean
- Puddle length (3-6 inches of extra fabric pooling on the floor): dramatic, looks beautiful in bedrooms
For width, sheer curtains look best with some fullness. A general rule is that your total curtain width should be 1.5 to 2 times the width of your window. So if your window is 4 feet wide, two panels totalling 6-8 feet of width will look full and gathered when closed.
Standard lengths available at most Indian home decor stores are 7 feet, 8 feet, and 9 feet. If you have high ceilings, always go longer rather than shorter. A curtain that doesn't reach the floor looks like a mistake.
Colours and motifs: picking a print that works with your space
Block print curtains tend to have a lot of visual information in them. That's not a bad thing, but it does mean you want to think about how they'll sit with the rest of your room.
If your walls, furniture, and soft furnishings are relatively neutral, you have a lot of freedom. A multi-colour paisley print or a bold indigo floral will become the focal point of the room, and that's a lovely way to style a space.
If your room already has pattern (a printed rug, patterned cushions, a busy wallpaper), look for curtains with a simpler, more spaced-out motif, or stick to a two-colour print. The cypress tree and banyan tree prints work well here because the motif is graphic and clear, without being busy.
Light colours (white base, pastel grounds) work well in smaller rooms because they don't close in the space. Deeper grounds (indigo, sage, terracotta) add warmth and work beautifully in larger rooms or spaces with high ceilings.
How to wash and care for hand block print curtains
Block printed fabrics need a little gentleness, especially in the first few washes. Here's what to keep in mind.
- First wash: wash separately in cold water. Some colour release is normal the first time, particularly with darker or more saturated prints.
- Machine wash: use the delicate cycle with cold water. A gentle, ph-neutral detergent works best. Avoid washing on hot.
- Hand wash: always a safe option. Soak briefly, swish gently, and don't wring or twist the fabric.
- Drying: hang to dry in shade. Direct sun can fade the print over time, especially on natural dye prints.
- Ironing: iron on the reverse side while slightly damp. This protects the print and is easier than ironing dry fabric.
- Avoid: bleach, fabric softener, and hot water. All of these will shorten the life of the print.
With basic care, a good pair of block print curtains will last years and age well. The colours soften slightly over time, which, honestly, looks even better than new.
If you're not sure where to start, the Green Banyan Tree curtains are a good entry point. The print is clean and works with a lot of different interiors, and the mulmul fabric is very forgiving to care for.
