It's ok to go bare—for the right reasons. To hear most designers say it, window treatments are the jewelry of the home, the finishing touch without which no good room is complete. But, as with every rule—design and elsewhere—there are exceptions.
Second, curtains add a lot of warmth, texture, and comfort to a space. They also draw the eye up to make rooms appear taller. For example, I never draw the shades closed in our living room because I already have solar shades on our large windows.
In Modern Home Design, they highlight choosing curtains that are a simple color, but with a small pattern near the top. This pattern can then be matched with the furniture, or can simply add a nice touch to a solid-colored modern room.
Curtains are good for insulation
Curtains reduce the amount of air exchange between a cold window and the rest of the room. For keeping heat inside the home, high-quality curtains can reduce heat loss by around 40%. This means you will be less susceptible to illness in winter and will save money on your heating bill.
Curtains are a form of window decor and complete the overall appearance of the interior of the house. Curtains help control the ambiance and flow of natural light into the room. The effect of drapery or curtains is best seen in daylight, and with proper indoor light positioning, can look attractive even at night.
Large living and dining rooms and bedrooms can often look better with full length curtains, either lined or sheer. Smaller rooms are often better suited to blinds.
Are they still in style? Just about everyone agrees that curtains are still in style, but not just because they are useful and affordable. According to Livingetc, curtains add texture and coziness to a space, something other window coverings like blinds and shutters cannot do.
"If curtains aren't serving a purpose like filtering light or providing privacy I think it's nice to keep windows uncovered—so long as they are well made and a good scale," says Jenny Brown.
Curtains can produce a certain visual finish to a room (and of course, they cover the presence of the blinds entirely if the curtains are room-facing with the blinds inside the window recess), but this is simply down to your personal tastes, and not a need per se.
The disadvantage of choosing curtains over blinds is that they take up more space than blinds and therefore can make a room appear smaller than it really is. Long curtains can easily get messy, especially for people with young children. Curtains and drapes for windows can be more costly in comparison to blinds.
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.”
During her Nashville Antiques & Garden Show lecture, Martha Stewart revealed she doesn't use curtains. Shop alternatives, including blinds, shades, and verticals.
Valances—and there are plenty of other non-curtain options you can choose from as well, including blinds, shades, shutters, verticals, roman shades, and stained glass film.
You can use household objects in front of the window to block the view, or you can create your own covering using film or glass paint. If you're looking for a more permanent option, you can hang blinds, shades, or shutters. Whatever you choose, your home is sure to look incredible once you add your personal touch!
The best way to do so is through shutters, as these often have a subtle, wooden aesthetic that can make a room feel natural and cozy. However, you can also soften your space with textiles in other areas of your room, such as with pillows, blankets and rugs, in some cases.
Window treatments can transform the way a room looks and can give you privacy. However, in activity areas like the dining room, living room and the kitchen, you can probably live without them. A window without any coverings or obstructions can make your home so much brighter.
"Blinds offer the most light control with a variety of tilting options. Blinds or shades can be paired with drapery to enhance windows in any part of the home." While each type of window treatment has its own unique set of characteristics, all of them can be used to transform any room.
Full-length curtains are best suited for spacious rooms while blinds are a better option for compact spaces and other moisture-laden areas like the bathroom and kitchen. Note that if there are any furniture pieces like a bed, or a sofa below the window then it is advisable to go for window blinds.
Blinds offer more light control options.
While blinds offer more ways to control light, their slatted design means that some light will enter even when the blinds are fully closed. When curtains are closed they block virtually all light.
Besides being a design feature, they're also functional: they can block sunlight if you use a blackout lining. They can also absorb sound and help with noise. ' The answer, then, isn't that curtains are out of style – it's just that we need to revisit how we use them as modern window treatments.
For keeping heat inside the home, high-quality curtains can reduce heat loss by around 40%, particularly if they are floor length and close to the wall and window panes.
Curtains allow you to prevent dust from coming into your room. When windows and doors are open, dust particles enter your home with the wind. You can close your windows and doors but doing so will stop the ventilation and will make you feel suffocated.
Roman Shades
With bold patterns and colors trending for 2023, this window treatment style is a great way to give your home an updated look. Typically made from a flat piece of fabric, folded in a graceful accordion style, roman shades create an elegant design statement.
Window Coverings Market Outlook (2022-2028)
[300 Pages Report] The global window coverings market size is valued at US$ 22.2 Bn in 2022, with the market projected to register 4.1% CAGR and top a valuation of US$ 28.4 Bn by the end of 2028.