Window treatments often turn into a design challenge or major investment, but if you neglect your windows in favor of a different design focus, you’ll be left with a bare view. Whether you find yourself needing to freshen up your current window treatments, or are starting from scratch, here are this year’s top 10 trends to help you turn any window into your new favorite focal point.
10. Organic Materials
Bring nature indoors by using organic materials to decorate. Exposed wood grain in blinds and natural woven shades are joining the ranks of bamboo as popular choices. Wood is making a huge comeback in decorative hardware, while bamboo, birch and maple are the materials of choice for the newest finials and pulls.
9. Color
One of the quickest ways to update a window is with colorful treatments. Blue is becoming the new “red” in the window treatment industry, with a variety of ocean hues in teal, aquamarine and soft green. Soft lavender and gray, dusty hues round out the soothing part of this palette. Persimmon, orange and gold will be popular jewel tones, while brown continues to dominate. Brown has been, and continues to be, the new basic color.
8. Luxe Fabrics
Luxe fabrics are exactly as they sound — opulent and showy with bold colors and textures that beg to be touched. Luxury fabrics key in this category are silk, velvet, damask, fur, leather and suede. While the overall design trend leans toward simplicity, this trend will remain popular with those who desire embellishment and luxury.
7. Bamboo
Zen-chic bamboo in Roman shades and decorative hardware will continue to be a popular trend. Bamboo is popular for its sustainable, environmentally-friendly quality.
6. Velvet and Grosgrain
Like luxe fabrics, velvet and grosgrain are a luxury trend taking cues from the fashion industry. Grosgrain, a strong, closely woven ribbed fabric usually made of silk or rayon, is used as a ribbon detailing on blinds and drapes. Velvet banding can also be used as detailing, or as ladder tape to cover up route holes for string in blinds.
5. Sleek Lines
Simple, sleek lines are dominating window fashions in everything from flowing drapes to chrome decorative hardware. Creating sleek silhouettes against a window instantly lends a clean, modern look to any window and room. A quick way to get truly streamlined treatments is with popular panel-track systems.
4. Bold Prints
Bolder and bigger prints with texture are top choices for window treatment fabric. Bright floral designs that attract traditional tastes and graphic geometric patterns that offer youthful spunk are some of the bold prints being seen on windows lately.
3. Silk Panels
Silk has exploded onto the scene and is still going strong. Silk is a pricier option for window treatments, but the shine and luxury of the fabric instantly wakes up a dull room.
2. Luxury Tech
As society increases its obsession with ‘gotta-have-it-gadgets’, people counterbalance with organic and natural products in their homes, and window treatments are no exception. Window blinds can now be controlled via remote, a light switch or even the Internet. But just because your windows have gone high-tech, it doesn’t mean they have to be stark and uninviting. Layering fabrics with high-thread-count cottons is one trend sure to cozy up a window.
1. Green Design
Green design is becoming a popular trend from consumers looking to combat allergies to those looking for heat- or cold-repellant window panels. Honeycomb shades, the third most popular window treatment Shades and blinds have always been about keeping light out, but now they can also save you money on your heating bills. Honeycomb shades are a great example of where tech meets nature. Performance fabrics have also gone “green,” with anti-microbial, anti-fungal traits woven into the yarn or offered as a topical spray. Stain-resistant and mildew- and mold-resistant fabrics are also popular picks for allergy sufferers. Even the environmentally conscious will feel right at home with non-toxic dyes on fabrics.
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