Martin Lewis, the renowned Money Saving Expert, has delivered a ‘serious’ warning to UK homeowners with curtains or those considering purchasing this crucial home item.
The financial guru highlighted how Brits could save a fortune when shopping for curtains, as reported by Birmingham Live.
During the latest instalment of The Martin Lewis Podcast, he invited retail industry veterans to share their insider cost-cutting tips.
A former industry employee called in and shared a valuable piece of advice with Martin: “I used to work in fabrics and furnishings. My tips for buying curtains is that shops will often say you need to buy curtains two or three times the width of your window. Yes, they do look better with more gather but it’s not actually needed, that’s about aesthetics, that’s great if you’ve got pots of money but actually one-and-a-half times is enough.”
They also recommended opting for thermal or blackout linings, stating, “Plus, if you buy with a thermal or blackout lining, they will last longer, it also insulates your home better.”
Martin concurred with the ex-retail worker, stressing: “That could save some serious amounts of money. Curtains are incredibly expensive.”
He further advised: “Going for one-and-a-half times the width could have a material impact on your finances.”
Highlighting the potential costs involved, Homehow’s website states: “Made to measure curtains that are of a high quality can cost up to a whopping £3,000,” and adds, “Depending on the complexity of the job, the average cost of fitting curtains is around £40-£400 per window.”
“This includes the cost of the curtains, the hardware, and the installation.”
The website details how more affordable curtains can be found for around £40 – but top-quality versions could set you back a significant sum. The site further stated: “Simple nylon curtains will usually cost around £10-£40, whereas the price for professionally fitted custom-designed silk curtains on a large bay window is around £2000-£3000.”
“The average cost for fitting a curtain pole or handrail is around £80-£150.”
