A Seasonal Change – Top 5 Curtain and Blind Trends for 2014

Framing your windows with style and elegance does more than just enrich your home – it gives you the freedom to be as creative as you like, when you like. For people that have ever-changing styles or don’t enjoy sticking to the same look for too long, a refresh of your curtains and blinds can be just the thing to brighten a space and change the atmosphere.

With the new season rolling in, bold prints, eco-friendly fabrics, bursts of colour and metallics are set to be some of the hottest trends in window dressings for 2014. Traditional tastes are becoming more daring, minimalism is coming face to face with drama and old is finally entwining with the new.

1. Multi-layer Window Treatments

If you’re struggling to decide whether you prefer the look of curtains or blinds why not go all out and combine the two? Layering window treatments is set to be a popular trend for this year and works best when you blend the colours of both, rather than contrasting them. Any type of blind can be used under curtains for a layered look and can add a bigger boost of flavour to the space.

Keep the overall look clean when you’re combining window treatments by ensuring the palette is consistent with both styles. Be careful when using light coloured drapes that you don’t choose a dark coloured rod – this tends to take the focal point away from the curtains and blinds, and makes the rod the dominant feature.  If you want to stay away from curtain rods or a cluttered look completely, padded pelmets can be the seamless way to finish off the window and complement the window dressings and space perfectly.

2. Bursts of Colour and Hot Patterns

Incorporating the warm and neutral shades of autumn or the cool calming blues of winter will bring a seasonal perception into your home. Accent with beautiful bursts of colour and your space will soon be blooming with fun flavours that will create a vibrant, yet relaxing atmosphere.

Oranges, yellows and greens are the smartest choices right now and complement the neutral seasonal colours exceptionally. These tints tend to be popular all year round – especially for those heading into spring now, so if you’re not up for changing your window dressings regularly, they will still stay stylish.

Contemporary patterns and bold designs will be prevalent charms for 2014 while exposed grains in wooden blinds and natural woven shades will continue to dominate. Worldwide, people are falling head over heels with Scandinavian design and this love affair will be significant this year. The bright accents, timber blinds and natural textiles are super-hot right now and can transform almost any space into one that’s lively, bright, clean and oozes beauty.  The earthy tints famous in Scandinavian design are complemented beautifully with greens, blues and greys.

Whilst minimisation is still common, it’s taken a daring approach and stepping over the boundaries to something a little more courageous. If lavish, flashy fabrics tend to be materials you stay away from, now could be a good time to venture to the other side and test them out. Anything from velvet (the way it catches the light can be an amazing focal point in a room), fur and silks are in this year – if you’re willing to be adventurous.

If that’s not bold enough for you, shades of gold are also starting to make their way in. Working hand in hand with soft pastels, gold tints have moved up from being a big no-no to something that can effectively enhance a space and balance existing décor.

3. Space Enhancing – Wider, Longer and Banding

Suburban homes seem to be shrinking in size these days, but even if you’re residing in a mansion – space enhancing designs are always desirable. The largest of houses can still have small windows, and the window dressing styles you choose can change the perspective of this significantly.

It’s been a growing trend for a while, large open windows – but this isn’t always easy to achieve if you don’t own the house or have a home with single windows. Letting adequate amount of natural light into your home not only positively influences your power bills, but its healthy dose of sunlight that can enrich both the look of your space and you.  To accommodate this trend, drapes are getting longer and wider. Combined with lush textiles like silk and velvet, this can really add to the overall look.

Instead of puddling extra-long fabric on the floor in a messy heap when installing longer curtains, choose drapes that are floor-length. Allow the curtains to gather just a little, by a few inches – similar to the appearance of when well-tailored pants “break” over shoes.

Another fantastic way to add visual width or height to the space is by vertical or horizontal banding. Homeowners are fast clueing onto this trend with its popular detailing that adds interest and dimension to plain drapes. The banding can give you the flexibility to match fabrics or patterns with your existing décor, whilst still allowing for a simple, effective curtain design.

4. Sheers with a New Look

The word sheer brings to mind frilly, over the top, lacy fabrics – but sheer is back, popular as ever, with a whole new updated look.

Worlds away from the familiar harsh-textured polyester sheer, this modernised look has interwoven with unexpected materials to introduce an exquisite, transparent beauty. Whilst some are employing the subtle, classic appearance other sheers have printed patterns with contemporary headings to match.

5. Setting the Right Mood – Tone on Tone 

The right curtains and blinds will allow the rest of the room and décor to shine. When deciding on window treatments, it’s important you first consider what mood you want to create. Does the look and feel of your space need to promote relaxing and sleep, or are you after something a little more vibrant and fun? If you want restful, choose solid colours with texture and keep to existing colour tones in the room.

Curtain and blinds should be harmonious with the walls and wall colour – this will help reflect what style you want to go for. There is nothing more fashionable than a space that can convey the right atmosphere, whilst oozing with style and feeling to create that ‘wow factor’, regardless of whether you want to be bold and adventurous with you designs, or simply subtle with a pop of colour.

Author Bio

Jayde Ferguson writes for Curtain World – Perth’s largest range of shutters, blinds and curtains to enhance your home. You can catch Jayde on Google+ to discuss this piece.