If, like me, you feel a deep, carnal rage when pesky mosquitoes and house flies infiltrate your home on long, hot summer days and nights, then fret no more.
IKEA has just launched a chic sheer net curtain that costs just $4, and can be easily altered, even if you’ve never touched a sewing machine before. Simply cut and hang – you don’t need to hem or seal the bottom.
It’s a good way to keep flies out of your house so you can enjoy balmy breezes, not buzzing pests, whilst also allowing light in and maintaining your privacy. It's a triple winner in my book, and I've used this tip myself before with great results.
Why sheer net curtains are perfect for subtle pest control
IKEA’s Lill net curtain comes with a rod pocket so you can hang it up easily with an existing rail. As it’s so light, it will hold with a no-drill tension rod from Amazon and enjoy lightning-fast delivery if you’re an Amazon Prime member.
The Lill net can be machine washed on low heat to help maintain its crisp white color, but it does need to be air dried to avoid the polyester from warping from the heat in the dryer.
In my last house, I had sheer toile net curtains just like this, and they really were effective in keeping the majority of pesky flying insects out, and were placed behind my thicker privacy curtains so they were out of view when I didn’t want to use them.
They were really budget-friendly and looked chic too, nothing like the ugly mosquito nets of the past. These can serve as a subtle, but very effective natural pest control method all summer, both during the day and at night.
Evenings can be especially tricky for keeping bugs out when you have lots of lights on indoors, as mosquitoes and other flying bugs are naturally attracted to it.
Net curtains like the Vida semi-sheer polyester net curtains from Walmart, available in five colors and sizes, have a very small mesh design, which blocks even the smallest of flying insects from gaining access to your home.
With net curtains, you are placing a physical barrier between the bugs outside and you, as well as adding privacy to your home without making it gloomy and dark.
Given that net curtains are typically sheer or semi-sheer, they will also allow light in during the daytime and let you see out, meaning they won’t be a claustrophobic addition to any room, no matter how small.
What to shop
If you prefer some color or patterns in your window treatment ideas, here are three other budget-friendly options for handy net curtains to help keep mosquitoes away this summer, without compromising your style.
Machine washable and made from polyester with a semi-sheer small mesh, this net curtain comes with a rod pocket at the top for easy hanging, and in five different colors and dimensions to suit every home.
This crinkle-effect pure cotton semi-sheer net is a cute addition to any room. It’s not only machine washable on a cold cycle, but you can also pop it in the dryer on a low heat for easy freshening up. Butter yellow is a top-trending color in 2025.
Machine washable, but you’ll need to line dry this polyester net curtain. It also comes in denim blue, ivory and white.
If you’re looking for more clever and non-toxic pest control ideas to keep flying bugs away, did you know mosquitoes are weak flyers, and a bug repellent fan will work so well to blow them away from you? Try it next time you’re at a picnic or enjoying a cookout.
