Yeah, those blackout curtains are basically the sumo wrestlers of the curtain world—great for blocking light and drafts, but they’re not exactly nimble. I tried layered curtains too, but unless you’ve got a perfect seal, cold air just sneaks right in. Honestly, I’ve given up on pretty and just go for “less freezing.” My windows are ancient though, so maybe I’m fighting a losing battle...
Yeah, I hear you on the ancient windows—mine are original to the house and honestly, no curtain’s gonna fix that draft completely. Tried both blackout and layered setups over the years. Blackouts are heavy and do a decent job with light, but if there’s even a tiny gap, cold air finds its way in. Layered curtains looked nice for about a week, then I realized they were just trapping condensation and making the sills worse.
Ended up sticking bubble wrap on the glass one winter out of desperation. Not pretty, but it actually helped more than any curtain. At this point, I’m convinced unless you seal those windows up tight (plastic film or some kind of caulking), you’re just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. Curtains help a bit, but old windows are just stubborn.
I’ve seen a lot of folks try just about everything to squeeze a little more comfort out of old windows. You’re right—curtains can only do so much, especially if the frames are leaky or warped (which is most old wood windows by now). I’ve watched people put up those heavy blackout curtains thinking they’ll fix the draft, but unless you’ve got them sealed tight and covering every edge, it’s mostly wishful thinking. Even with layered curtains, the cold air just slips around, and like you mentioned, condensation becomes a whole new headache.
Funny enough, bubble wrap is actually not a bad hack. Doesn’t look great from the curb, but it creates a tiny air pocket that does help hold back some of that chill. I’ve even seen people use foam weatherstripping or rope caulk along the sash in winter—messy but effective if you don’t mind losing access to the window for a few months.
Plastic film kits are probably the most bang for your buck short-term. They’re not glamorous, but when you shrink them tight with a hair dryer, they make a noticeable difference. I did that on my first house before biting the bullet and replacing the worst windows. Not cheap... but after years of fighting drafts with every curtain combo out there, it was worth it for my sanity (and lower heating bills).
Curtains are nice for blocking light and adding some insulation, but if your windows are original and drafty, they’re really just a band-aid. Until you deal with the window itself—whether that’s sealing up gaps or eventually swapping them out—you’re always going to be chasing comfort. Still, I get why people try everything; sometimes you just need to survive another winter before tackling the big fix.