Are Curtains Outdated?

Curtain Traditions

• Curtains are synonymous with traditional interiors. Pinch pleats and rod-pocket heading styles add an extra level of comfort to bedrooms, family rooms, or any place that can benefit from the softening effect of draped fabrics. Curtains are often associated with old-fashioned values and surged in popularity throughout much of the 20th century, when most American homes installed curtains for both aesthetic and practical reasons. Linings increased the lifespan of curtains while providing energy-saving benefits. Curtain longevity has increased steadily to give them staying power that contributes to the overall style statement of interior spaces.

Curtain Updates

• Curtain varieties have expanded to include formal drapery styles that offer exquisite details, such as embellishments, decorative headings and board-mounted treatments. Custom-made draperies take up the slack where ordinary or outdated curtains may fall short, such as in formal living and dining rooms. Interior designers, professional workrooms and installers strive to create stunning one-of-a-kind treatments with dressmaker details, such as smocked headings and corded edges, to adorn and update all window types.

Curtain Replacements

• If you favor contemporary interiors, traditional curtains may seem outdated. You may prefer more understated window coverings. Modern and minimalist room designs often omit curtains of any type in favor of regimented, factory-made vertical and horizontal blinds. Updated curtain styles, such as ripple-fold and knife-pleated curtains, are a compromise that pays homage to contemporary style while adding the comfort factor of fabric. Other factory-made window coverings that can be used to minimize the need for curtains include fabric soft-fold shades, which incorporate a sturdy continuous clutch roller system that encourages daily up-and-down control for privacy and light while adding minimal amounts of fabric at the window.

Curtain Adaptations

• Some curtain styles may be considered outdated, due to their early European and American influences, such as gathered and ruffled country curtains, which were common during the 20th century. Updated curtain styles have taken up the slack with appealing details that morph to complement interior design trends, such as grommet and tab-top curtains. Eclectic decorating encompasses many decorating styles that harmonize well with curtains and easily adapt to your casual lifestyle. Operable curtains on traversing rods encourage movement and visibility options that conform to the needs of your room’s environment. Low-maintenance fabrics that resist stains, wrinkles and fading, while maximizing energy efficiency, ensure the staying power of curtains in homes and businesses for many years to come.