Window Dressing Trends
Window Dressing Trends
Decorbuddi’s Jackie Hoyte lays out the top window dressing trends to suit your home and lifestyle
FABRIC FEATURE WALLS
Statement walls are evolving into full length fabric feature curtains. The trend away from fitted carpets towards wooden floors and natural materials has left us looking for new ways to introduce more layers of cosy and comforting textures. Scandinavian chic interiors are at their best when they are carefully balanced with a selection of linens, rugs, cushions…. and now feature curtains.
Functional and fun, wall-to-ceiling feature curtains create a statement, add warmth, and naturally improve the acoustics in a clutter-free environment. As personal as art and sculpture, a single colour bold velvet will totally transform a minimal, contemporary apartment whilst a multicoloured weave in a variety of designs from botanical patterns to geometric graphics add life to the grand sash windows of a period property. Fabric feature walls are not limited to traditional materials.
Investing in gorgeous, thick, colourful fabrics creates impact but is only the beginning. Anything goes, with unexpected materials being used from micro-cord to neon PVC.
LUXURIOUS LAYERING
Layering up for winter is not just for your personal wardrobe, but also for your window dressings. Whether it is a primeval attempt to protect us from the outside world or just a passing trend, right now we are in love with layering everything. Semi-sheer curtains peeking out behind thicker drapes not only look super chic, but also create a shimmer of light whilst maintaining our privacy.
Double tracks are a great way to create hotel-chic at home with a bottom layer of sheer combined with an elegant top covering of the main fabric design. A stunning decorative panel of a favourite fabric frames the window, adding a touch of luxury.
When budget is an issue dress curtains are just as effective at minimising the fabric requirement. They remain static whilst a plainer, more economic option is chosen for the larger quantities of the functioning
curtain behind.
There are endless possibilities and combinations. Adding a variety of textures and structures creates intrigue and atmosphere, whilst solving any functional issues that are too much for one layer
alone. Window dressings not only block out light, but also protect from UV rays that can bleach and damage wooden furniture and flooring. Patterned or plain window films are an easy solution, filtering light and providing privacy for street-level windows, combined with a choice of shutters, curtains, roller or Roman blinds. Layering is both practical and beautiful.
New materials bring an even wider plethora of styles and options. Bamboo, linen, and paper are just a few of the sustainable materials used to create innovative window treatments. Jute, a popular natural flooring material is now available for blinds. A long, soft vegetable fibre, it can be spun into strong threads, perfect for weaving and creating blinds. It also grows extremely quickly making it an incredibly efficient, renewable material. Established fabric manufacturers are incorporating recycled materials, such as plastic bottles, into their processes – creating fabrics which are tactile, durable, and kind.
SHUTTER DELIGHT
Plantation shutters are great for privacy, security, allergen reduction, noise reduction, light control and look stylish too. Says Georgina Broadhurst from Just Shutters notes, “Coloured shutters are growing in popularity, and there is no need to limit your creativity and stick with plain white shutters. You can also have the colour matched to paint brands such Farrow & Ball.”.
Shutters come in a range of louvre sizes: the smaller 64mm for example, looks homely and warm in a cottage environment, while the larger 89mm gives a light, bright airy feel to a home.
And rather than shutting out light, rooms can look lighter and appear larger and you can create a lovely ambience delivered by the diffused quality of the light through shutters, as well as presenting alternatives to traditional window dressing.
INDOOR OUTDOOR INVISIBLE DESIGN
The trend for opening up the back of our homes with bi-fold or sliding doors continues with the addition of an invisible wall of floor to ceiling glass, bringing the garden in and creating a feeling of natural tranquillity. But it also causes a dilemma about how to dress this area.
Large areas of glass increase the need for temperature control and a means of ensuring privacy, but standard curtains and blinds can spoil the view and the attractive clean lines of this open design. Choosing the right window dressing is crucial to maintaining the sense of light and space. Although Bi-fold doors peel away from their respective walls, without carefully considered window dressings you could be left with over-hanging blinds or curtains, shattering the illusion completely.
If you are at the beginning of your renovation project, a clever solution is to create a recess in your ceiling to tuck away the curtain and blind mechanisms. Remote-controlled roller blinds remain hidden out of sight, to be brought down at the flick of a switch when you need shade during the day or privacy at night.
If the windows have already been installed, it is still possible to create the same effect by introducing a fake invisible pelmet out of mdf. Paint the pelmet the same colour as the wall and it will disappear altogether.
Jackie Hoyte is an interior design expert at Decorbuddi
