# Outdoor curtains **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 16, 2008, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-curtains/433758 "2008-01-16T17:54:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-curtains/433758/1 "2008-01-16T17:54:54Z")
My new apartment will have a screened-in lanais, and I would like to put up some all-weather curtains. I’m having a hard time finding them online for a relatively cheap price - most sites I get are for custom-made curtains which are way too much. I checked Lowes and Home Depot online, but nothing popped up. It’s not a very big lanais, and I would only need to cover two sides…I was thinking of just buying two shower curtains. Any other ideas? Suggestions for curtain sites? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-curtains/433758/2 "2008-01-16T18:14:17Z")
What would be the point? To keep rain out? Privacy? Make look nice? And how big do they need to be? ---
**Author:** ![Mint\_Julep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc79bd/32.png) [@Mint\_Julep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mint_Julep)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-curtains/433758/3 "2008-01-16T18:14:25Z")
I think the shower curtains would be a good idea…I have a similar apt set up and I am wishing I had some cheap papasan chairs to put in the screened area…But I like your idea of chower curtains and I may copy you! ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-curtains/433758/4 "2008-01-16T18:16:18Z")
Can you make your own? Sunbrella fabric is a great outdoor fabric, but buying and making them yourself will cost a lot less than buying them. And curtains are pretty easy to make as long as you have a sewing machine. ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-curtains/433758/5 "2008-01-16T18:32:38Z")
\*\*tdn \*\* - mostly for privacy, but also sturdy enough to keep out rain, since I plan to put my birds out there during the nice days. If it suddenly starts raining, I can’t have them get drenched. I intend to have a Mayan hammock and a couple of chairs too, but those will be OK. \*\*romansperson \*\* - I checked online and Sunbrella fabric is expensive! Plus shipping…it makes me think there has to be a cheaper way! And I am horrible at sewing. Buttons are about all I can do. I wonder if shower curtains with magnets along the bottom for weight will be enough. If it is really windy, I can slide the chairs against them for support… ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-curtains/433758/6 "2008-01-16T18:56:52Z")
I’d go with shower curtains too, but consider the thickness and opacity of them. Wind is certainly something to think about, and lighter shower curtains will be no match for it. And do shower curtains even have magnets? I thought that just the liners do, and those are pretty light. They also don’t come in fun colors or patterns. But if what you get has magnets, maybe you could affix something metalic to the lower part of the wall. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-curtains/433758/7 "2008-01-16T19:12:31Z")
[QUOTE=Lionne] \*\*tdn \*\* - mostly for privacy, but also sturdy enough to keep out rain, since I plan to put my birds out there during the nice days. If it suddenly starts raining, I can’t have them get drenched. I intend to have a Mayan hammock and a couple of chairs too, but those will be OK. \*\*romansperson \*\* - I checked online and Sunbrella fabric is expensive! Plus shipping…it makes me think there has to be a cheaper way! And I am horrible at sewing. Buttons are about all I can do. I wonder if shower curtains with magnets along the bottom for weight will be enough. If it is really windy, I can slide the chairs against them for support… [/QUOTE] Sunbrella fabric is expensive because it’s worth it, though it’s more worth it if you can just buy the fabric and make what you need from it, rather than paying for an already-made item, which adds quite a bit to the price. There are less expensive outdoor fabrics, like Sun N Shade. You may be able to find already-made items using that fabric, which should cost less. Of course there are even cheaper ways, but this is one of the times you’ll get what you pay for. If you are only going to live in this apartment for a year or two, then it doesn’t matter, but if you want something that will last and not rot or fade, you’ll want to use a genuine outdoor fabric. A fabric shower curtain wouldn’t last long at all outside. Plastic or vinyl ones would certainly be more resilient, but they’d look, well, like shower curtains. You can find [some](http://www.bedbathstore.com/grwhshvishcu.html) [fun](http://www.bedbathstore.com/lalablvishcu.html) [prints](http://www.bedbathstore.com/tusvinshowcu.html), though. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-curtains/433758/8 "2008-01-16T19:32:02Z")
[QUOTE=romansperson] A fabric shower curtain wouldn’t last long at all outside. [/QUOTE] It would fade, but what else? It might tear, but I wouldn’t think it would rot, not any more than clothes hung on a line. Then again, I’ve seen some neglected American flags that were in really sad condition. Avoid nylon. Sunlight is bad for it. (Oddly enough, I learned this when I found out what sails are made of. Only sail on cloudy days or at night.) ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-curtains/433758/9 "2008-01-16T19:36:02Z")
[QUOTE=tdn] It would fade, but what else? It might tear, but I wouldn’t think it would rot, not any more than clothes hung on a line. Then again, I’ve seen some neglected American flags that were in really sad condition. Avoid nylon. Sunlight is bad for it. (Oddly enough, I learned this when I found out what sails are made of. Only sail on cloudy days or at night.) [/QUOTE] Sun exposure can cause some fabrics to become brittle and fall apart. ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-curtains/433758/10 "2008-01-16T19:43:41Z")
There’s a lot of sun in Florida! I will check out the local seller of Sunbrella fabrics…see if what I want will fit in my price range. If not, I’ll go with the shower curtain idea. Something else occurred to me…the apartment complex might know where to get them. If they don’t, maybe a neighbor who has curtains up on their lanais. Thanks for the help! ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-curtains/433758/11 "2008-01-16T19:54:38Z")
[QUOTE=Lionne] Something else occurred to me…the apartment complex might know where to get them. If they don’t, maybe a neighbor who has curtains up on their lanais. [/QUOTE] Excellent idea. The windows in my apartment building have a really odd shape. Standard air conditioners are out of the question. But almost everyone in the building, including the supers, know where to get the right ones. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-curtains/433758/12 "2008-01-16T20:15:27Z")
Why would you go with shower curtains? The main downfall would be that they look like…shower curtains. Why not try what we did at our home in Arizona, we used [bamboo roll-up shades](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51qdkzIdKmL._AA280_.jpg) they keep the rain out [when it did rain] and they look nice, and are heavy enough to not blow around too much…and are cheap at target or walmart. You can get all sizes up to 90 inches afaik. ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-curtains/433758/13 "2008-01-16T23:45:35Z")
Oh yeah, I’ve seen those at Target. Never thought they’d be usable outdoors, though I’ll have to check. I like them. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-curtains/433758/14 "2008-01-16T23:55:20Z")
[QUOTE=Lionne] Oh yeah, I’ve seen those at Target. Never thought they’d be usable outdoors, though I’ll have to check. I like them. [/QUOTE] Oh absolutely, they do great outside. And they have that natural look that is kinda cool. My sister has a lanai and the whole outdoor kitchen thing going and she’s got a couple of these for privacy and weather. She lives outside Orlando. ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-curtains/433758/15 "2008-01-24T02:06:31Z")
Well, I checked out the ones at Target and they weren’t safe for outdoors. The garden center was closed, but I will try them this weekend. I bought a couple of shower curtains that looked gorgeous, but I just opened them and they sound too papery…so they’re going back. Bummer.