Curtain Trends: Window treatments do more than block light. They set the tone for an entire room. Fabric, pattern, and hardware choices all shape how a space feels.
Yet some once-popular curtain styles are now working against modern interiors.
We spoke with top interior designers to find out which window treatment trends are on their way out and what to choose instead.
1. Grommet-Style Curtains
Grommet panels use metal rings that slide directly over a curtain rod. They're practical. But designers say that's about all they have going for them.
Interior designer Cortney McClure says grommet drapery can work in a playroom or a child's bedroom. Everywhere else, she recommends a more tailored header.
Think pleated tops, inverted box pleats, or ripple folds. According to McClure, these details change how soft and livable a room feels.
2. Ornate Valances
Heavily embellished valances once anchored traditional-style homes. Today, designers consider them a dated choice.
Designer Danielle Chiprut says ornate valances tend to feel heavy and out of step with the airy, light-filled interiors homeowners favor now.
Her fix: a pinch pleat or tailored pleat treatment in a natural fabric like linen or velvet. The look stays elegant without feeling stiff.
Chiprut also suggests layering. Pairing curtains with woven wood shades or sheer panels adds texture and depth, she says, without the bulk of a traditional valance.
3. Curtains That Run Too Short
Short curtains are one of the most common styling mistakes designers encounter. Panels that stop well above the floor throw off the proportions of a room.
Designer Candace Plotz says drapery floating above the floor leaves a space looking unfinished.
Her advice is to skip ready-made panels and go custom instead. Off-the-shelf sizing rarely fits a window perfectly, she notes, and custom treatments offer a level of craftsmanship mass production can't replicate.
4. Exposed Curtain Hardware
Visible rods and brackets have a place in industrial or urban-style spaces. In most other rooms, designers prefer the hardware to disappear.
McClure says the goal is to keep the rod out of sight so the drapery itself becomes the focal point.
She points to rod-pocket drapes or pleated panels with adjustable back tabs as easy ways to hide hardware while letting the fabric take center stage.
5. All-Neutral Palettes
Neutral curtains are a low-risk choice, but designers say it's time to take a few more chances with color and pattern.
McClure wants to see bolder fabric choices that tie a room's wallpaper, paint, and decor together.
Calm, neutral tones will always have a place, she says, but pops of color and texture can carry just as much visual weight in a room.
Chiprut agrees, with one caveat: curtains should support the room's aesthetic, not fight it.
She sees them as a chance to introduce softness, color, or pattern in a way that complements the space.
6. Curtains Without Trim or Layers
A plain, single panel misses an opportunity for texture and personality. Designers say custom trim and layering are simple ways to elevate a window treatment.
Plotz says a contrasting trim or a subtle fringe can turn drapery from purely functional into a design statement.
Layering sheer panels with blackout curtains, or adding woven shades underneath, is another way to build texture, according to Chiprut.
The One Rule Every Designer Agreed On
Regardless of the style, every designer we spoke with emphasized the same piece of advice: measure your windows carefully, then measure again before buying any curtains.
Visual Disclaimer: This is an AI-generated illustrative portrait. It is used for creative representation and does not depict a real-time event. Created by AD News Live.
Follow Us
