Yes, you can absolutely pair curtains with shutters! Layering curtains over interior window shutters is a popular design choice that adds softness, texture, and color to the clean lines of the shutters.
Pairing shutters with curtains gives a window both structure and softness. The shutters look built-in, offering privacy and daily light control. Curtains add fabric, color, and texture that frame the opening or slide across for more shade. This setup works well in bedrooms, dining rooms, and front-facing spaces.
There's a common misconception that you have to choose between shutters or curtains. The truth is, using them together gives you the best of both worlds. Shutters offer a clean, structured base, while curtains add softness, texture, and a bit of drama. You're not doubling up unnecessarily; you're layering.
Shutters are not out of style in 2026, but their application has evolved. While they remain highly sought after for their timeless aesthetic and durability, trends favor minimalist, light-filtering solutions over bulky, obstructive styles.
Combining plantation shutters with curtains is a clever way to elevate your home decor and create a stunning, multifunctional window treatment. This comprehensive guide will explore how to seamlessly blend these two popular options, offering insights into various room types and design styles.
Thankfully, Stewart was quick to ease our curtain concerns. She says, “They're beautiful, I don't have anything against them, I just don't live with them… I like to look outside. Every window [in my home] looks out to something nice, and it's just all open to the view.”
Curtain trends in 2026 are shifting from purely functional covers to architectural statement pieces. The top looks emphasize rich, natural textures, layered depth, warm neutral and earth-toned palettes, and smart home integration to bring quiet luxury and character to interior spaces.
Some of Stewart's homes utilize interior blinds for light regulation and privacy. Others feature windows framed by exterior shutters, operable versions of which can also be used for light control, ventilation and privacy.
Homes with minimal natural light where curtains aren't needed to filter light or privacy. In sleek, modern spaces, where bare windows create a clean, open feeling. On oddly shaped windows like a port-hole style window where drapery may look out of place.
Trending Window Treatment Ideas for Every Room
Even though ornate valances were once a staple in traditional-style homes, they are now considered outdated. "Avoid overly ornate valances, which can feel dated and heavy," says interior designer Danielle Chiprut. "They can feel at odds with today's preference for light, airy interiors."
Shutters are a beautiful and permanent window treatment, but they come with notable drawbacks. The biggest disadvantages include their high upfront cost (often ranging from $200 to over $1,000 per window), limited light flexibility compared to blinds, and difficult, time-consuming maintenance.
In the U.S., the uncovered window is perhaps less an expression of communal trust than one of personal protection. Wealthier homeowners, who can also afford state-of- the-art security systems, may not feel that they need shades. These curtainless windows have become one of our subtlest statements of privilege.
Combining plantation shutters with curtains has a number of benefits no matter what room you're in – increased privacy, energy efficiency, great looks and more. But make this pairing in the bedroom and you'll also enjoy a better night's sleep.
Layered Curtains
While heavy curtains are the answer to a room in need of some privacy, they can feel a little stuffy, often preventing light from gently filtering through during the daytime. This is where the ever-popular window treatment trend comes into play: the layered curtain.
No, you do not need curtains with shutters.
Yes, curtains are incredibly stylish. Moving past bare minimalism, modern window treatments have evolved into major, mood-setting statement pieces. The 2026 design landscape focuses on warmth, "quiet luxury," and architectural integration.
Key Points. Vinyl blinds and honeycomb shades now feel dated in modern interiors. Cafe curtains in lace or florals can make a space look old-fashioned.
Joanna Gaines’ window treatments prioritize organic textures, warm neutrals, and maximizing natural light. Her signature modern-farmhouse style focuses on framing views instead of hiding them by hanging curtains high to make ceilings feel taller, utilizing light-filtering materials, and incorporating custom wooden elements.
"Avoid at all costs in large blocks what we call 'heat' colors for the bedroom," warns Lindi Reynolds, founding creative director at Lindi Reynolds & Co. "That's reds, oranges, and yellows in their primary, saturated tones."
Yes, you can absolutely have blinds without curtains. Using only blinds is a highly popular, modern choice that provides a clean, tailored look while offering excellent privacy and light control.
To create a designer-worthy look, DO hang curtains high toward the ceiling and wide past the window frame. DON’T use short, narrow panels that barely cover the glass, as this stunts the room's height. Proper styling makes spaces feel larger, brighter, and significantly more luxurious.
Curtains usually look cheap because of flimsy, unlined fabrics, insufficient width (looking like a "flat sheet" when closed), or a length that stops too short above the floor. Additionally, plastic hardware and visible metal grommets often detract from an elevated design, making budget curtains stand out negatively.
Martha Stewart, 83, has nothing to hide. She's always been unabashedly candid about her life and career, including her divorce and her 2005 stint in prison for insider trading. And now, the lifestyle guru is opening up about being diagnosed with the autoimmune disease vitiligo for the very first time.
Martha Stewart's energizing morning routine
While many of her retired peers are leaning into leisurely retirements, Stewart treats her mornings as a launchpad to gain energy for a full workday, despite only getting four hours of sleep a night. “I read the entire New York Times,” she said. “I do all the puzzles.