Curtains need no explanation, we all know what they are. This guide is going to look at the kind of options you have for campervan curtains, and even how to make your own.
As always, we’re going to take a look at some types, there’s a how to guide on what to make yourself and then a “what we did” specific section at the end, which goes over what we have learned about curtains so far.
First, just in case it’s not super obvious, let’s look at..
Why you need curtains
Privacy, please: Van curtains are the essential barrier between you and the curious gaze of passersby. They ensure your privacy, letting you enjoy your space without feeling like a goldfish in a bowl. Let’s be clear about this, privacy on the road is incredibly important. You quickly learn that you have to always be somewhere, and that somewhere is almost always in view of someone else.
Sleep like a baby: A good night’s sleep is invaluable on the road, and van curtains help you achieve that by blocking out light. A good security guide is to seek light to sleep under, to stave off thieves, and in some countries the sun doesn’t set for a long time (ahem, Norway) and you’re going to need a curtain set up that blocks out the light.
Customisation: Every campervan is unique. Some minibuses boast numerous windows, while others are completely stealthy with little portholes and such. No matter your campervan’s window situation, you can pretty much find a curtain to fit. Plus, they make for a fantastic way to soften up your van and create a homely, not vanly environment.
Security and stealth: Proper window coverings not only provide privacy but also deter potential break-ins by hiding all the cool shit you have inside. Additionally, they enable stealth camping, making it difficult for the LAPD of the land to know you’re in there.
Insulation: Curtains play a dual role in insulation – keeping the sweltering sun at bay during the day and retaining warmth at night. A huge amount of heat is lost through the glass, and curtains help trap that heat in. For more information on ‘insulation’ click here.
Types of Curtains
Sliding Curtains
Sliding curtains, a classic choice for campervan windows, are mounted on rails above the window. They can be easily opened or closed by sliding them along the rail, making them a versatile and user-friendly option. You can find basically any pattern you want for this kind of curtain, they are sold everywhere.
Pros of sliding curtains:
- Easy to install and operate
- Multiple styles and designs
- Lots of different lengths and widths available.
Cons of sliding curtains:
- May not provide complete blackout or insulation
- Rails can take up additional space
- Rails look a bit naff
Magnetic Curtains/Blinds
Magnetic curtains and blinds feature magnets sewn into their edges, allowing them to attach directly to your campervan’s metal frame. This design eliminates the need for additional rails and makes initial installation, well, zero. Magnetic curtains and blinds can be easily adjusted to cover windows of different shapes and sizes.
Pros of magnetic curtains:
- Simple installation and removal
- Adjustable positioning
- No additional hardware required
Cons of magnetic curtains:
- May not fit all window shapes
- If they are bespoke to your van, they can be a bit expensive.
Roman Shades
Roman shades are a stylish and functional window covering option for campervans. They consist of fabric panels that can be raised or lowered to control light and privacy. Roman shades look lovely but they don’t block out light, so you would need to combine with insulated window panels to offer total blackout and extra insulation. Custom-built Roman shades can be designed to match your campervan’s interior.
Pros of roman shades:
- Stylish and functional
- Customisable designs and materials
- Can be used with insulated window panels for optimal performance
Cons of roman shades:
- May require professional custom-building
- A more expensive option
Fitted Window Panels
Fitted window panels are custom-made to perfectly fit your campervan’s windows. They offer excellent insulation against heat and cold, as well as total blackout capabilities. Fitted window panels can be used in conjunction with tie-back curtains for a softer look. Pre-made options are available for well-known van brands, or you can opt for a DIY approach using materials such as rigid plastic, cardboard, or Reflectix.
Pros of fitted window panels:
- Custom-fit for perfect insulation and blackout
- Can be used with tie-back curtains for added style
- Pre-made options available for popular van models
Cons of fitted window panels:
- Need to be removed and stored for natural light
- May not suit all window shapes and sizes
- Each of these window covering options has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, allowing you to choose the best solution for your specific needs, style preferences, and budget.
Insulated Window Covers
Insulated window covers incorporate insulation material, providing both light-blocking and temperature-regulating properties. Often custom-fit to your campervan’s windows, they ensure a perfect fit and complete blackout when combined with tie-back curtains. Insulated window covers are a top choice for those looking to maintain a comfortable temperature inside their campervan.
Pros of insulated window covers:
- Excellent insulation properties
- Total blackout when used with tie-back curtains
- Custom-fit for a perfect seal
Cons of insulated window covers:
- Must be removed and stored to allow natural light
- May not be suitable for all window shapes
- Expensive, unless you make them yourselves (see below)
Special campervan curtain materials
Blackout Curtains
Blackout curtains are made from heavy, light-blocking materials designed to keep your campervan completely dark, ensuring optimal sleep and privacy. These curtains can go on rails or have magnets stitched into them. If you have the choice, you should choose a curtain that has black out material.
Pros of blackout curtains:
- Ensures darkness for better sleep
- Increased privacy
- Some range of colours available
Cons of blackout curtains:
- May not provide insulation
- Can be bulkier than other options
Reflective Foil Sun Sheets
Reflective foil bubble sheets are a versatile and affordable window covering option. These sheets are fitted to your windows using suction cups, making them easy to install and remove as needed. Sun shields help maintain a comfortable temperature inside your campervan and protect the interior from sun damage. They offer insulation, sunlight reflection, and effective blackout properties but are the wildcards here, because you wouldn’t necessarily use them as curtains.
Pros of reflective soil sun sheets:
- Affordable
- Effective blackout solution
- Insulating and reflective properties
- Regulates interior temperature
- Fairly easy to install and remove
- Protects the interior from sun damage
Cons of reflective soil sun sheets:
- Shiny appearance may attract attention
- May not provide complete privacy
- Suction cups can fail over time
DIY Curtains
DIY curtains offer the opportunity to create window coverings tailored to your specific needs and preferences. With a wide range of materials, colours, and designs to choose from, you can craft your own unique solution. DIY curtains allow for personalisation and can be a cost-effective option if you have the necessary skills and time.
Pros of DIY curtains:
- Personalised design and style
- Potentially cost-effective
- Customisable to fit various window sizes
Cons of DIY curtains:
- Requires crafting skills and time investment
- May lack professional finish
A note on Van-X curtains
We have Van-X windows on our side windows of the VW Crafter and thought it’s worth a note here because they don’t really fit into any of the other categories, and they are bloody brilliant. We highly recommend them.
Van-X is a brand of growing popularity in the campervan community, specialising in premium curtains and window coverings specifically designed for campervans. Their curtains are highly reviewed for their quality and functionality.
Features of Van-X curtains
Tailored Fit: Van-X curtains are custom-made to fit specific van models and window sizes, ensuring a perfect fit and professional appearance (although you do the ‘custom’ bit)
Light Blocking: The fabric is soft, high-quality and thick, meaning they block out the light really well.
Thermal Insulation: The curtains also offer thermal insulation, helping to keep your campervan cool during hot days and warm during colder nights.
Easy Installation: The curtains come with a complete installation kit, including rails, end caps, and screws, so you don’t need to get halfway through before realising you’re missing something.
Small form factor: The tiny curtain rails go inside the window and everything fits neatly inside. Nothing protrudes into the middle of the van. You don’t even realise they are there most of the time.
Pros of Van-X curtains:
- Custom fit for specific van models
- High-quality, durable fabric
- Excellent light-blocking and insulation properties
Cons of Van-X curtains:
- They are more expensive than DIY or generic curtain options. Ours was £100 for a pair.
- Limited availability for less common van models
- Only come in Black and Grey options
- Not super easy to fit, they take a bit of time.
Because we love them so much, and they were harder than I expected to fit, here’s our guide on how to do it yourself
How to fit Van-X curtains
Materials:
- Van-X curtains (with included mounting rails and hardware)
- Measuring tape
- Pencil or marker
- Drill with appropriate drill bits (you’ll need a few small drill bits)
- Screws
- Screwdriver
- End caps (optional, for a finished look)
Step 1: Buy the Curtain
Make sure you get your van/ window combo correct. Get them delivered and you’re ready to go.
Step 2: Bend the rails
They give you a kit that you can use to bend the rails to fit the contours of your window. You need to screw this down onto a bigger piece of wood, or a workbench if you have one. We just used a big bit of thick wood that we could hold in place.
In order to bend the rails, I offered them up to the window and made little pencil marks on where I thought the middle of the corner was, and where I thought the bend started and finished. Then, you tease the rail through the bending tool and bit by bit you bend it. Keep offering it up to the window and go back to bend a little more.
Important things to note. If you bend it too much, or attempt too tight a bend, the rail will pinch and it will be useless. Don’t do that. Bend it slowly and keep testing against the window. Do not expect tight corners.
If you have a little lock nipple thing (I don’t know what they are called, but they are the things on car doors that you can push down to lock the door and pull up to unlock the door) on your door side window, then you might need to cut the rail around it. I did this using a little hacksaw, and slipped the rail underneath the circle of plastic at the base of the lock nipple.
Step 3: Mark Mounting Points
Measure the width of the window and calculate the length of the mounting rails required for each side. Using a pencil or marker, mark the mounting points along the top edge of the window where the rails will be installed.
Step 4: Install the Rails
Drill pilot holes at each marked mounting point. You need a small drill bit for this, and you are drilling through metal. You will probably snap your drill bit. We did. In the end I used some really small self tapping screws which I found in the bottom of my tool box to attach the rails, because I went through 2 drill bits and didn’t have any more. Attach the mounting rails to the window frame using a screwdriver. Make sure the rails are level and securely fastened.
Step 5: Attach one end of End Caps
The opposite end to where you are going to start putting the curtains on. We glued ours with Stick Like Shit.
Step 6: Run the Curtains into the rails
Slide the curtain runners onto the mounting rails, ensuring they are evenly spaced. The number of runners needed will depend on the width of your curtains. Do the top and bottom of the first curtain, and then do the top and bottom for the second one.
Step 7: Install the final end cap
For a finished look, install end caps on the ends of the mounting rails. These caps will cover any exposed rail ends and provide a polished appearance.
That is it.
How to make campervan curtains
If you want to hang curtains or blinds it’s a fairly easy affair. You find a strong anchor point in your framework, above the window, screw the rail in and attach the curtains. So, we won’t focus on that. We’ll focus on making something, proper, DIY.
How to make and install Reflectix windows
Reflectix window coverings are a win-win curtain, they have insulating properties, they light-block and they are super cheap and easy to make. And, they mean you can have some lovely lightweight curtains (that are usually much better designed and less heavy than their black out counterparts) on the inside of the window, making your van look lovely when you are closed in at nighttime. You can make these for your windscreens and windows in the back.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to making your own Reflectix window coverings for your campervan.
Materials:
- Reflectix insulation roll (which you might have left over from your insulating)
- Measuring tape
- Scissors or utility knife
- Permanent marker
- Cardboard or large paper (optional, for creating templates)
- Hook and loop fasteners (Velcro) or magnets (for securing the coverings)
Step 1: Measure Your Windows
Measure the dimensions of each window you want to cover. Be sure to add about 1 inch (2.5 cm) to the width and height measurements to ensure a snug fit and better insulation.
Step 2: Create Templates
Using the measurements, or just by free-building something by holding it up to the window, create cardboard or large paper templates for each window you want a Reflectix curtain for. Be sure to offer up the template and make sure it fits the window. Someone should really make templates for this and sell them online.
Step 3: Trace the Templates onto Reflectix
Unroll the Reflectix insulation and place the templates on top. Use a permanent marker to trace the shapes onto the Reflectix. If you’re not using templates, simply draw the shapes directly onto the Reflectix using the measurements you took earlier.
Step 4: Cut the Reflectix
Use sharp scissors or a utility knife to carefully cut out the window coverings along the traced lines. Consider the orientation of the bubbles for foldability.
Step 5: Test the Fit
Hold the cut Reflectix pieces up to the corresponding windows to ensure they fit properly. If necessary, trim any excess material for a snug fit.
Step 6: Optional: Fit Fabric
Take the template and cut your fabric of choice to a size that will fit around the curtain.
Spray adhesive onto the Reflectix, leaving one side exposed, and attach the fabric to the adhesive side. Smooth down the fabric upon contact to ensure a smooth finish. Remember to put the fabric on the opposite side for each piece so that it serves as a pattern on one side and a reflective shade on the other.
Step 6: Attach Fasteners
Attach hook and loop fasteners (Velcro) or magnets to the corners and edges of the Reflectix window coverings. Make sure to place the fasteners on the same side as the window frame for a secure attachment. Alternatively, you can use suction cups or spring-loaded curtain rods to hold the coverings in place. Fasteners could include little magnets (if you have exposed metal around your frame) or small suction pads that stick to the glass. Up to you.
Step 7: Use them
Attach the Reflectix coverings to the windows using the fasteners, suction cups, or whatever else you have come up with to attach. Press firmly to ensure a secure fit and to minimise any gaps where light or air could pass through. Go outside when it’s dark and see if you can see any interior light coming from inside your van, when the curtains are up.
What we have
Van-X
You already know it, because we mentioned it earlier. We use Van-X for our two side windows. Couldn’t be happier with them. We also have one more custom curtain that we made, which divides out living space from our cab.
DIY black out curtain between cab and van
In our van we have an over-cab cupboard and 3 seats in the cab, which means whilst we can climb into the cab if we need to, we don’t use the cab as living space.
It also means we needed to find a way to block out the cab when we are in the back, so nobody can see us when in there at night. This has the added benefit of getting anything vehicle related out of view and helping us feel like we are inside a tiny home when we are chilling in there.
That means our dividing curtain needed to be black out, homely, and removable.
We used the same material that we purchased for the sofa upholstery, for consistency, and, well, because we had some left over. To make it black out, we purchased a piece of black out material in ivory colour from Amazon.
The one we ordered had a special adhesive on one side so when you iron it onto another material, it sticks! We picked ivory over black because this also doubles as our cinema screen 🙂
Next we had to figure out how to put it up. We didn’t want a bulky rail or something cheap and plastic looking from Dunelms, so we decided to use hooks.
Here’s our process:
Measured the space where the curtain will hang, taking into consideration the van gets wider from top to bottom. Bloody vans and their non-square shape.
Once we had the measurements written down, we added 2 inches onto all four sides of the shape. The added inches were to fold over so that it had a nicer finish to it.
Use the same template/measurements to cut out the ivory black out material (minus the additional 2 inches on each side).
Cut using sharp scissors.
Lay the black out material on top of your decorative material and IRON.
Once it was all ironed flat and sealed to one another, we folded the 2 inch edges over, and used Bondiweb strips to stick them down.
In order to be able to hook up the curtain we utilised magnetic hooks. These hook onto the protruding metal brackets we used to put up our cab shelf/ cupboard. There is one on each side.
The metal hooks are just some cheap ones from Amazon.
To hook the material onto the hook, we needed to make eyelets in the curtain.
We purchased an eyelet maker online and followed the instructions. Once we understood the instructions the actual process was fairly easy and didn’t take long.
We added one on each side, and one in the middle. (we had a stick on hook for the middle, that stuck to the wood, but it fell off and now we never use the one in the middle).
Voila, we not had a curtain ready to put up
Even better…. We can turn it round to show the white side and use it as a projector screen for our movie nights!!
The black out on the Van-X and the dividing curtain works really well. We are completely stealth at night time if we want to be, and we can sleep when it’s daylight (handy in Scandinavia at Summertime) if needed. And Cinema nights in the van are awesome!