Current trends in window treatments

 So what are the  current trends in window treatments?  The key words are simplicity and minimalism with an emphasis on crisp, clean lines. Gone are the days of heavy draped effects using jabots and swags, tab curtains or gathered valances.  

 Layering

While layering is  popular, the overall look remains clean and the palette is usually consistent for both treatments.  Blending colours rather than contrasting ones work best when you want to layer treatments. Any type of blind can be used under drapes for a layered look.

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Apartment Therapy

 This is an interesting look with drapes and two romans with the outer printed one stationary I suspect. I am not a lover of the partial rod because it creates a chopped look and I never choose dark rods with light drapes because the rod becomes the dominant feature as it is above. You can purchase rods with elbows that allow you to span the width of a bay window.


Pattern is hot
When you look through new fabrics you are bound to notice that textures and patterns abound. You can't go wrong with geometric patterns, trellis designs, large scale florals, bold colours, whimsical motifs etc.

Matters of Style

Banding
Vertical or horizontal banding is very popular.

Heidi Claire

Lisa Ferguson via Houzz

Wider drapes

 

Interior Design-Decoration Ideas

 Overall, drapes are  getting longer and wider to accommodate the trend to make windows appear larger in scale. Lush materials like velvet and silk add to this look.

Tone on tone
The window treatments in the room below are simple, harmonious with the walls, and allow the view and the room to shine.  When deciding the colour of your drapes you should first consider the look/feel you want in your space.  If you want restful choose solid colour with texture and keep to the colour tones in the room.

 Rosemarie V. DiSalvo

Longer, looser pleats (5-6 inches)
While on a recent trip to Europe I noticed that pleats are getting softer and longer to provide a more contemporary and less formal feel in a room.

Longer Pinch pleat

 You can't beat pinch pleated drapes.  They continue to be the industry standard for elegance. Pinch-pleated drapes characteristically retain their shape, maintaining a consistant appearance opened or closed an hang beautifully. 

Longer looser pencil pleat

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Inverted box pleat

Cleaner look in headings

 
The inverted pleat (back pleat), my personal favourite,  is a soft but tailored look for modern decor.  It has been replacing pinch pleat styles when a more clean contemporary feel is required. Lighter colours and tone on tone add  softness to home decor.

Lonny Magazine

Grommets have been around for several years and are definitely  still in vogue.  While some grommet drapes can look very informal, it is possible to have a more styled look too.  The banded grommets below are a great example.

 For grommets to look "lush" you need at least 7 or 8 folds at the top.  That means purchasing two sets of ready made panels or have custom fully closing ones. . If you plan to open and close grommet panels daily be warned that you will spend a lot of time fiddling to adjust them so they hang nicely. 

 Tineke Triggs via Houzz

Updated Sheers

Yes, sheers are still popular but they are a world away from the fussy, frilly and lacy ones that the word sheer brings to mind. The "new" sheers have subtle iridescence and are interwoven with unexpected materials, or have embossed or printed patterns or contemporary headings as in the room below..

Houzz 

-Marya Flurnoy via Houzz

This is an updated look for sheers.  The graphic nature of the valance brings the whole look a notch above the expected. 

Global Living

Printed or textured sheers look great with any decor.  

Roman Shades
Roman shades continue as a  favourite for contemporary homes.   Who can resist their clean lines and  the options for amazing patterns.  Because they are a flat construction the fabric needed is much less that full drapes.  This allows you to upscale your fabric choice and make a real statement.  I can't say enough about Roman shades because they are my personal favourite.  Their flat surfaces are almost picture like and work especially well in kitchens, eating areas and bathrooms.

House Beautiful

 Houzz

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Metal Blinds Return

Who thought we would see a resurgence in metal  blinds?  It's begun and is driven by the popularity of stainless appliances, other metals especially bronze in 2012 and  industrial style loft living.

 Kirch Blinds

Woven Wood Shades
The trend to more eco-friendly materials has prodded this design aesthetic along. most are made from sustainable materials including: grasses, sisal, reeds or  bamboo. 

Red River Interiors

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