Sliding coconut curtains with loops

Open hem coconut outdoor curtain: a taut panel, not a sliding curtain

The right choice when the curtain stays in place

Not all outdoor curtains are meant to be opened and closed ten times a day. The open hem model is designed to remain taut: it is installed on one side of the pergola exposed to the low, late afternoon sun, at the bottom of an arbor, between two posts to close a corner of the terrace, or as a light partition between a dining area and a passage. It is not designed to slide on its rod – this is what gives it this regular drape, without folds or excess thickness. The opening is done laterally, by raising the panel on the side and embracing it with a rope or tie. If, on the contrary, you are looking for a curtain that can be handled daily, turn to the sliding coconut curtains with loops or to the sliding curtains with eyelets, the manufacture of which is intended for repeated sliding.

Two 60 mm hems: what changes it makes when installing

The confection has a hem on each of the two widths, top and bottom, with an internal diameter of 60 mm. Concretely, the curtain is slipped like a sock on its support: rod, metal rod, wooden cleat, tube or steel cable – anything that passes within 60 mm is suitable, keeping a little play so that the fiber does not strain. The order of operations matters: first thread the bar into the hem, then attach the ends to the supports, never the other way around. On a width of 2 m, it is better to avoid rods that are too thin which would have a visible sag in the center. Often overlooked point: the bottom hem is not decorative. Slipping a second bar into it transforms the panel into a taut screen which no longer flaps at the slightest breath – it’s the gesture which makes the difference between a curtain which is enjoying its season and one which slams against the post.

900 g/m²: filtering light rather than cutting it

With 900 grams per square meter dry for one centimeter thick, this weave is deliberately set back from blackout screens. It intercepts direct rays, breaks the glare and lowers the temperature felt behind it, while allowing subdued light to filter through: you don’t find yourself in the dark under the pergola at the end of the day. The mesh remains ventilated, the air passes through it, and the wind resistance remains very low for a panel of this height – a decisive point on a pergola where the curtain works on the full facade. If your priority is to eliminate a view rather than to soften the sun, it is towards the blackout screens of the category that you should look; the hemmed curtain plays on the atmosphere and thermal comfort.

Formats, durability and wintering

Three dimensions cover the most common configurations: 1.5 x 2.2 m, 1.5 x 2.8 m and 2 x 2.5 m, knowing that the useful height is slightly reduced once the bars are engaged in the hems – to be included when measuring your height under the beam. Also anticipate the behavior of the fiber in humidity: the weave relaxes in the rain, the mass doubles, then the tension returns when drying. A rod and supports sized for dry conditions will therefore be used more with each downpour. The rest of the maintenance requires just a few things: an occasional wash with mild soap is enough, the fiber is rot-proof and slowly turns towards a silvery gray without losing any of its effectiveness. At the end of the season, the panel is removed from its bars, folded or rolled up, and stored in a dry, well-ventilated place, protected from rodents – a few more seasons at stake. The other models in the range are grouped together in the coconut curtains category.