Pair striped bedding with solid-colored curtains to prevent the room from feeling visually overwhelmed. Choose a curtain color that perfectly matches one of the accent hues in your stripes, or lean into soothing neutrals for an understated, modern look.
Balancing the striped bedding with textures
Velvet cushions, with their shiny finish and luxurious feel, bring a touch of richness that softens the sharp lines of stripes. Whether in deep, rich hues or in soft, tonal shades, they add a timeless and indulgent sense of luxury.
If it's your first-time coordinating fabrics, play it safe with a matching colour palette. If you have neutral bedding, for instance, you can't go wrong with a pair of tan curtains. Beige, cream and white tones suit muted bedding just as well. Look to your bedroom wall colours for inspiration.
Your curtains and bedding do not need to match exactly. In fact, perfectly "matchy-matchy" sets can make a room look flat or dated. Instead, they should coordinate in tone, texture, or pattern. The goal is to create visual balance without the room feeling overdone.
Stripes Alter Perspective
Using stripes in the right way can literally shift the way you and others see your bedroom. Stripes can make a room look and feel bigger, taller, grander. Horizontal stripes typically make your room look wider and vertical stripes make it feel taller.
Use Vertical or Horizontal Stripes to Elongate Walls
Vertical stripes draw the eye upward, making ceilings appear higher—ideal for low-ceilinged rooms or basements. Horizontal stripes, on the other hand, can widen narrow spaces like hallways by pulling the eye across the room.
Yes, absolutely! The carpet remains a favorite for bedrooms because it's soft, warm, and quiet. Plus, new technology makes modern carpets more durable and easier to maintain than ever.
Even though ornate valances were once a staple in traditional-style homes, they are now considered outdated.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."
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.
Today's drapery trends go beyond fabric—they're also about the details. Finishes like matte black, natural brass, oil-rubbed bronze and gold are popular choices that help tie the entire room together. The header style—the top of the drapery that attaches to the rod—also plays a major role in the final look.
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.
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.”
Stick to neutrals: Classic colors like beige, off-white, white, and soft gray reflect light and make a room feel bigger. Match your walls: Pick white curtains if your walls are white. By doing this, the curtains blend in with the walls, creating a smooth flow.
Stripes act as a visual neutral and pair perfectly with classic solids (black, white, denim) or natural textures like jute and tan leather. To mix prints successfully, pair them with abstract patterns, small-scale florals, or polka dots by keeping a consistent color palette to anchor the overall look.
Yes, stripes are absolutely in style. This season has seen a massive resurgence of the pattern, moving away from basic nautical staples and into bold, expressive, and versatile designs.
Bedding trends have moved away from stark whites and sterile cool grays in favor of grounding, nature-inspired, and warm pastel hues. Top trending colors include:
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.
Trending Window Treatment Ideas for Every Room
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.
A tacky look isn't always the result of bad taste or budget mistakes. Designers say it often comes down to overcommitment—locking into trends, finishes, or layouts to the point that a home stops feeling lived in.
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.
Here's how to pull it off:
Carpet trends feature warm, earthy neutrals and rich, nature-inspired hues, leaving behind the stark grays of the past. Instead of solid, flat tones, homeowners are prioritizing tactile textures, loop piles, and color-blended fibers to add depth and cozy comfort.
The best flooring for bedrooms maximizes comfort, warmth, and sound dampening. Carpet remains the top choice for its softness, while hardwood and luxury vinyl plank (LVP) offer premium aesthetics and durability.
The average cost to carpet a 12x12 room (144 square feet) is $450 to $1,500 fully installed. This total spans about $3 to $11 per square foot, covering the carpet itself, padding, and labor.