Are you pondering a refresh for your space and wondering why your curtains seem to drag the entire room down? Well, you’re not alone. Over the years, curtain trends have evolved, and certain styles that once graced the pages of every home magazine are now falling out of favor with designers.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through 20 curtain styles that designers say are outdated and what you can use instead to elevate your space. Let’s dive into this stylish journey together, ensuring your windows are dressed to impress.
1. Heavy Velvet Curtains
Heavy velvet curtains once symbolized luxury but have now become cumbersome. They tend to absorb too much light, making a room feel smaller. Instead, opt for lightweight linen curtains. Linen offers a fresh, airy feel, perfect for modern homes.
With their natural texture, linen curtains allow light to gently filter through, brightening up your space. You’ll find that linen curtains are versatile, complementing various decor styles with ease. They provide a sophisticated look without the unnecessary heaviness of velvet.
Choose neutral tones for a timeless appeal.
2. Frilly Valances
Frilly valances may have once added charm, but today, they seem overly busy. Swap them for sleek and simple cornices. Cornices offer a clean silhouette, adding architectural interest without overwhelming the window.
With a variety of materials and finishes available, you can customize cornices to suit any decor style. They provide a polished look, creating an elegant frame for your windows. Furthermore, cornices pair well with roller shades or sheer panels, adding a functional yet stylish layer to your window treatments.
3. Sheer Lace Curtains
Sheer lace curtains, although delicate, often evoke a sense of nostalgia that doesn’t fit in contemporary settings. A modern alternative is sheer panels with geometric patterns. These panels offer a sophisticated twist, retaining privacy while allowing light to flow.
Geometric patterns add visual interest, balancing delicacy with modernity. By choosing sheer panels, you can maintain the airy feel lace provides, but with a fresh edge. Consider metallic or subtle color accents to enhance the geometric designs, making them a statement piece in your decor.
4. Ruffled Curtains
Ruffled curtains once added a whimsical touch, often in children’s rooms, but now they seem quaint. Embrace tailored curtains for a contemporary twist. Tailored curtains offer crisp lines, exuding a sense of order and refinement.
Perfect for both children’s and adult spaces, they provide a versatile backdrop that adapts to changing decor styles.
You can find them in various colors and patterns, ensuring they fit seamlessly into your design vision. Tailored curtains transform a space with minimalistic elegance, moving away from the cluttered feel of ruffles.
5. Beaded Curtains
Beaded curtains were once popular for adding a bohemian flair, yet today they feel outdated. For a modern alternative, try panel track blinds. These blinds offer a sleek and functional solution, perfect for large windows or sliding doors.
Panel track blinds provide clean lines and are available in various fabrics and colors, allowing customization to your style.
They not only enhance privacy but also offer an easy way to control light. With their elegant appearance, they complement contemporary interiors, replacing the chaotic look of beads.
6. Scalloped Edges
Scalloped edge curtains were once trendy, providing a decorative finish. Now, a straight edge design is preferred for its simplicity and elegance. Straight edge curtains offer a clean and timeless appearance, suitable for any decor.
Their unadorned hemline creates a sophisticated look, allowing other design elements to shine.
These curtains are often found in solid colors or subtle patterns, making them versatile and easy to integrate into any room. By choosing straight edges, you eliminate the fussiness of scallops while achieving a polished aesthetic.
7. Swag Curtains
Swag curtains once adorned formal spaces with their dramatic draping, but now they feel overly ornamental. Opt for Roman shades instead. Roman shades offer a sleek and tailored look, rising neatly and providing excellent light control.
They fit snugly within window frames, offering a minimalist appearance ideal for modern spaces. Available in a variety of fabrics and colors, Roman shades are versatile, fitting both casual and formal settings.
They provide the elegance of swag without the excess fabric, making them a stylish and practical choice.
8. Balloon Curtains
Balloon curtains, with their puffed appearance, once added grandeur, now seem cumbersome. Instead, choose flat Roman shades for a streamlined look. Flat Roman shades offer simplicity and sophistication, sitting neatly within the window frame. They provide excellent light control without the bulk of balloon curtains.
Available in various fabrics and patterns, flat Roman shades are versatile, complementing different design styles. Their neat folds create a polished look, enhancing your space with understated elegance. With flat Roman shades, you move away from the excessive volume of balloons.
9. Fussy Florals
Fussy floral curtains, once popular for their vibrant designs, now feel too busy. Consider botanical prints for a modern twist. Botanical prints offer a refined take on floral designs, featuring simplified patterns and muted colors. They bring the beauty of nature indoors without overwhelming the space.
Perfect for various rooms, botanical prints add a fresh and contemporary feel to your decor. By choosing botanical prints, you maintain the connection to nature while updating the traditional floral look. Pair with neutral furniture to enhance their elegant simplicity.
10. Tie-Back Curtains
Tie-back curtains were once a staple, offering a formal touch. Now, they seem outdated and impractical. Instead, consider grommet-top curtains for a modern solution. Grommet-top curtains slide easily along the rod, providing a clean and streamlined look.
They are highly functional, making it simple to open and close your curtains. Available in various materials and colors, grommet-top curtains adapt to any decor style. Their straightforward design eliminates the need for tie-backs, offering a contemporary update. Enjoy the ease and elegance they bring to your space.
11. Macramé Curtains
Macramé curtains, reminiscent of bohemian times, now appear cluttered. For a modern approach, try sheer curtains with subtle textures. Sheer curtains offer a light and airy feel, perfect for contemporary settings. The subtle textures add depth and interest without overwhelming the space.
Available in various shades, they provide privacy while allowing natural light to flow. Sheer curtains with textures blend seamlessly with modern decor, replacing the intricate and busy look of macramé. Enjoy the simplicity and elegance they bring to your interiors.
12. Traditional Plaids
Traditional plaid curtains, once a staple in rustic decor, now feel outdated. Swap them for solid color curtains with rich textures. Solid colors provide a modern and clean look, enhancing your space with their simplicity. Textures like silk or velvet add depth and luxury, elevating the overall aesthetic.
These curtains are versatile, easily blending with different styles and allowing other decor elements to stand out. By opting for solid colors with textures, you update the traditional plaid look while maintaining a touch of elegance.
13. Heavy Brocade
Heavy brocade curtains, once the epitome of luxury, now feel overly ornate and heavy. For a more modern aesthetic, choose lightweight fabrics with delicate embroidery. Such fabrics offer sophistication without the weight of brocade, adding elegance to any room.
Delicate embroidery provides texture and interest, enhancing the overall design. These curtains allow light to filter softly, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. By selecting lightweight embroidered curtains, you retain the elegance of brocade without its bulk, achieving a balanced and refined look.
14. Tab-Top Curtains
Tab-top curtains, while easy to hang, now seem informal and outdated. Opt for pinch pleat curtains for a touch of sophistication. Pinch pleat curtains offer structured elegance, creating neat folds that hang beautifully. They are suitable for both formal and casual settings, providing a timeless appeal.
Available in various fabrics and colors, pinch pleats adapt to any decor style, adding a polished look to your windows. By choosing pinch pleat curtains, you upgrade from the laid-back vibe of tab-tops to a more refined and stylish option.
15. Layered Lace
Layered lace curtains, once favored for their elaborate detail, now seem overly ornate. Choose simple voile curtains for a fresh update. Voile curtains offer a clean and airy feel, perfect for modern interiors. They provide privacy while allowing light to filter softly, creating a serene atmosphere.
Available in various shades, voile curtains blend effortlessly with different decor styles. By opting for voile, you retain the lightness of lace but with a contemporary edge. Enjoy the simplicity and elegance they bring, moving away from the heavy layering of lace.
16. Patchwork Curtains
Patchwork curtains, often seen in eclectic or bohemian styles, now feel busy and chaotic. For a contemporary alternative, try single-pattern curtains. These curtains offer a cohesive look, bringing order and simplicity to your space. With a single pattern, you eliminate the visual clutter of patchwork, achieving a cleaner aesthetic.
Available in various designs and colors, single-pattern curtains adapt to any decor style. They provide a polished and modern appearance, allowing other design elements to shine. Embrace the calm and harmony they bring to your interiors.
17. Cafe Curtains
Cafe curtains, once a staple in kitchens, now seem quaint. Consider full-length curtains for a modern update. Full-length curtains offer elegance and functionality, providing privacy and light control. They create a cohesive look, enhancing the overall aesthetic of your space.
Available in various fabrics and styles, full-length curtains adapt to both traditional and modern interiors. By choosing full-length over cafe curtains, you achieve a sophisticated and unified appearance. Enjoy the versatility and elegance they bring, moving away from the dated look of cafe curtains.
18. Beige Monotony
Beige curtains, once a safe choice, now feel bland and uninspired. Opt for colorful curtains with patterns to enliven your space. Patterns such as stripes or abstract designs add visual interest, breaking the monotony of beige.
They provide a focal point, enhancing the overall decor with their vibrant and dynamic appearance. Available in various color combinations, patterned curtains offer flexibility, adapting to your style preferences.
By choosing patterns, you inject energy and personality into your space, moving away from the dullness of beige.
19. Plastic Blinds
Plastic blinds, once popular for their affordability, now appear cheap and outdated. Replace them with wooden blinds for a more refined look. Wooden blinds offer warmth and elegance, complementing various decor styles. They provide excellent light control and privacy, enhancing the functionality of your space.
Wooden blinds can be customized to fit your aesthetic preferences. By choosing wooden blinds, you upgrade from the basic look of plastic to a more sophisticated and enduring option. Enjoy the timeless appeal they bring to your interiors.
20. Vertical Blinds
Vertical blinds were once favored for their practicality, but now they seem cold and industrial. Choose woven wood shades for a warmer, more inviting look. Woven wood shades add texture and natural beauty, creating a cozy atmosphere in any room.
They offer effective light control and privacy, while their organic materials bring an earthy touch to your decor. Woven wood shades harmonize with different styles, offering a stylish and functional alternative to vertical blinds. Embrace the warmth and charm they add to your space.