If you are embarking on an interior decorating adventure, you have probably pondered this question already and talked with others about their opinions. So, are curtains outdated? Well, it really just depends.
Your grandma’s French countryside printed draperies complete with golden tassels, yes, are probably outdated. But, curtains encompass such a vast array of different types of window treatments, it is really unfair to lump them all together and pass judgment. Curtains, in general, are not outdated.
If you want your space to look fresh and modern, it is, however, important to choose your curtains carefully. Interior decorating may sound like a simple part of getting your home set up, but for anyone who has stood staring blankly into a bare room, you know this is not the case. Decorating a space is truly an opportunity to work on a clean slate and create whatever you want, or at least whatever you want within your budget.
Window treatments are high up on the priority list when decorating a room. This aspect of your project definitely deserves a lot of thought and consideration. Let’s look at some stylish and creative ways to approach curtains today.
The Practicality of Curtains
Let’s look at some of the more practical reasons why you should still consider using curtains.
- Privacy – Curtains are a great way to create more privacy for a room. Blinds or shutters are often bulky and expensive privacy options. If you do not want to invest in these, curtains are a more affordable way to keep your rooms private and cozy.
- Insulation – Another great aspect of curtains that most people do not consider is that they do provide insulation for a room. This can help to keep a room warm in the winter and cool in the summer. This can actually help to keep your energy more manageable as well.
- Control The Flow Of Light – We all love the natural light in our space, but maybe not all of the time. If you opt for leaving out the curtains, then you are pretty much at the mercy of the sunlight all day long, and this may not work for moments when you need a little light control. Like during those afternoon naps on the couch.
- Altering Room Size Appearance – Few people realize that curtains can also be used to alter the appearance of the size of a room. Using colors that exactly match, or almost exactly match, the colors of the wall will make a room appear larger. On the other hand, using strongly contrasting colors can make a very large room look smaller and cozier.
- Decrease Noise and Sounds – If you deal with echoes or excessive noise in your home, you can cut down on these sounds with the addition of curtains. Adding any type of additional fabric to a room can help to absorb noise and make the space more comfortable and quiet.
So, how can you use curtains today in stylish, modern ways? Let’s find out.
Keep It Simple and Sleek
You probably have memories of bulky curtains with mountains of ruffles adorning at least one room in your childhood home. Ruffles and frills are definitely out. Today, sleek and simple curtain styles are what it’s all about.
Simple curtain styles allow you the freedom to make changes in the future without the need to change everything. If you are aiming for a minimalist style, you do not want bulky or bold window treatments.
Keep It Functional
Choose curtains that you can take care of easily. You certainly do not want to add more chores to your never-ending to-do list. Easy-to-maintain curtains will be made of fabrics that can easily be washed and do not attract dust excessively.
Purchasing curtains that are not labeled “washable” will be difficult to maintain, according to the home interior experts at Better Homes and Gardens. “If the drapery and lining are made of different fibers. In this case, one might shrink, causing the other to pucker and hang poorly.”
Keep Colors Neutral
Using neutral colors along with sleek, simple styles, helps to create a trendy minimalist look that many homeowners are after today. Neutral colors are also useful because they provide a great deal of flexibility when it comes to redecorating other aspects of the room. If you want to change the furniture, but leave the curtains in place, this is much easier to accomplish if the colors are neutral and will work with more furniture options.
This also applies to wall paint. You may discover in the near future that although you love your curtains, you need a color change for the wall paint. Neutral colors make this a much less stressful decision.
Keep It Sustainable
Today there are more and more opportunities to use recycled materials in our everyday life. Even curtains are being made from recycled cotton or bamboo. This is a really lovely way to help your planet with your decorating choices.
Natural fabrics that have been recycled are beautiful and sustainable.
Window Treatments That Are Out of Style
Although curtains, in general, are still definitely in style, there is no denying that some window treatments are past their day. Check out these treatments that are simply done.
- Ruffled Valances – The ruffled valances of days gone by should absolutely stay a part of the past. If you are going to treat a window, treat the entire window, not just the top.
- Busy patterns – Busy patterns are just too hard to work with, so they are out. When you choose a busy pattern, you are almost guaranteed to throw them out when you want to change up the look of the room later on. Neutral, simple, sleek curtains, however, can be used with a lot of different styles over time.
- Corded blinds – Although we are mainly discussing curtains here, it’s worth mentioning that corded blinds are no longer as relevant for window treatments. The cords get tangled and present a safety hazard to children and pets. Bye-bye corded blinds.
A Few Other Considerations
If you are thinking about using curtains, here are a few more things you should take into consideration.
- Allergens – If you or someone in your family has an allergy to certain types of fabrics, or to dust in general, you will want to really consider whether or not to use curtains. Some curtain fabrics can make allergies worse. Curtains also collect dust. If you do opt for curtains in your home, you will want to make sure to choose a hypoallergenic fabric. You will also need to make sure you keep the curtains properly vacuumed to cut down on dust build-up.
- Wall security – You will also want to keep in mind the sturdiness of the walls in the area where you plan to hang your curtains. Curtains need to be hung in such as way that brackets can be secured to a stud within the wall. This will ensure that the weight of the curtain does not pull the brackets out of the walls later on. You can easily locate the studs with a stud finder. This is a handy tool that can be purchased at a construction supply store.
- Pets – If you have pets in your home, particularly cats, you will want to consider how long your curtains should hang. Sometimes, low hanging curtains are too much of a temptation for cats. They will scratch, jump, and hang onto the curtains. This can quickly destroy your window treatments. If you have a pet that might attack curtains this way, you’ll want to consider avoiding low hanging options.
Conclusion
Curtains are by no means outdated, but in order to maintain a modern look in your home, you should choose the style and fabric carefully. A little personal research goes a long way to reveal all of the different ways you can use curtains in your home in a stylish way.
