2020: What a year! Most of us are looking forward to 2021 with optimism and hope that the next 12 months will bring better things than the unique challenges of the past year. We’ve all spent more time at home this year, which for many of us means we’ve re-focused our energy from travel and social gatherings to home improvement and learning how to make the most of our space.
We’re asking more from our living space than ever before: telecommuting, attending school remotely, using Zoom for events we would have enjoyed in person, and somehow still finding space and time to rest and relax. House layout, furnishings, paint color—and yes, even window coverings—matter more when you’re at your house 24/7.
The Best 2021 Window Treatments For Your Home
“Best” has many different definitions, and it ends up being different for every house—and every room! Each room has its own unique needs when it comes to window treatments. Bedrooms might require blackout shades for complete darkness, while a home office might need bright, full daylight. Kitchens and bathrooms need easy-to-clean window treatments that are durable and can withstand humidity. If you’re just getting started with new window treatments, we know the number of options can be intimidating. We’ve dedicated an entire post to inspiration for each room of the house, including tips about why some treatments are better in some rooms than others.
In 2021, you might be looking at new needs for existing rooms—for example, setting up an office environment in your master bedroom or creating a space where the kids can attend school remotely. These needs place additional demand on your floor plan, and unless you’re planning on moving, you’re likely trying to figure out how to do more with the same amount of space.
Even if you’re not reorganizing your space to accommodate new needs, you might be ready to update or improve your window coverings in the coming year. Upgraded window treatments make your interior space more enjoyable, and yes, the right window coverings can even help your home sell more quickly when the time comes! From curtain ideas to drapes to blinds to shades, our designers have put together this guide to inspire you.
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New Innovations In Window Treatments
Before we dive into window treatment trends for 2021, let’s explore some of the innovations and new technology we see for the coming year.
DUAL SHADE SYSTEMS
While layering two types of window treatments isn’t necessarily breaking news, we are now seeing more integrated systems that include dual-layered shades. New Silhouette Duolite shades are a great example of this. The Duolite system combines a transparent light-filtering fabric shade in the front and an opaque room-darkening roller shade at the back of the treatment. This type of treatment is the perfect solution for a room that has multiple roles, such as a bedroom with an office in it. Use the light-filtering shades during the day to let in sunlight without glare, and lower the room-darkening roller shades at night for total privacy or to keep the room dark while sleeping. Pair the shades with motorization to have full light control at the push of a button!
Another popular pair for dual shade systems are woven wood shades in front with a simple cellular shade behind it. Woven wood shades have traditionally been paired with privacy liners that block light and your views outside. Pairing with a cellular shade instead has the advantage of still allowing some visibility out of the windows while blocking the view into your room to increase privacy without sacrificing light.
CELLULAR SHADE INNOVATIONS
Ever-popular for their home energy efficiency, we see some unique advances in cellular shade technology and styles. Usually available in 1-inch and 1.5-inch pleats, we’re seeing an even wider 2-inch pleat coming on the market in 2021. This gives the shades a smoother, more uniform, and more modern appearance. Also, attractive are cell-in-a-cell shades, which are among the best products to prevent heat from coming in during the summer and keep heat inside your home during the winter.
PLANTATION SHUTTER INNOVATIONS
We’re starting to see plantation shutters available in larger, 4.5-inch louvers. This increased slat size creates a cleaner look with fewer lines than the traditional 2.5 or 3.5-inch louvers. Also growing in popularity for 2021 are hidden tilt rods, which take the bar off the shutter’s front. Shutters are operated directly by tilting the louver with your hand or via remote control for motorized solutions.
SHIELDS WITH SAFETY IN MIND
If you run a business, you’ve had to make many changes to ensure safety during customer interactions. We’ve seen many COVID-19 safety shields and screens enter the market and are proud to offer the Workspace Shield™ as our top pick for businesses that require face-to-face interaction among staff and with customers.
See more 2021 window trends and innovations in our new video »
What window treatments are in style for 2021?
Our most popular window treatments for 2021 are:
- » Energy-saving cellular shades, which can help lower your electric bill by blocking heat in the summer months
- » Curtains 2021 trends have practical and decorative elements. Don’t limit your decor design strategy to the drapery of window openings, but think about utilizing curtains for door openings and room zoning.
- » Patterned materials or plain drapes and curtains for 2021, available in sheer or blackout styles and are versatile in controlling light and sound levels in your living space
- » Real wood blinds, which add the warmth of natural wood grain to your decor—or faux wood blinds for rooms with higher humidity
- » Time-saving solutions with motorized treatments, with Smart Home voice activation options available. For those with Google Home or Amazon Echo, you can now ask her (Alexa) to raise, lower, open, close your window coverings, and even set the Amazon Echo to close blinds at a particular time of day. Go, Siri!
- » Classic plantation shutters, for a beautiful and enduring look that adds to the value of your property
What are the latest trends in window treatments?
We’re seeing some exciting interior design trends for 2021, including popular colors, materials, and looks for the interior and decor.
Popular Colors for 2021 Window Treatment
Interior design experts and trend analysts see emerging color trends around soft neutrals, monochromatic color schemes, and bright, nature-inspired elements for 2021. We also see a continued rise in popularity for gray and gray-tone shutters, including cooler and gray-tinted natural browns for wood window coverings.
» The Top Color Trends of 2021 Reflect a Sense of Hope and Optimism
Also popular for 2021 is going with a more neutral wall paint color and allowing the window treatments to be a bold accent, choosing a bright or saturated color for your blinds or drapery panels. This will enable you to update your room’s color scheme with new curtains easily or rotate through several different curtain colors based on the seasons.
Soft neutrals like off-white, natural linen, and light champagne tones are complimented with more saturated golds, nature-inspired greens, and coral tones. Gray-tone wood shutters are rising in popularity, replacing darker brown tones.
Curtains 2021 – Design Trends For Your Living Room + Home Interior
A popular curtain design trend for living rooms is going the monochromatic route, with the wall paint, window shades, and curtains material all sharing the same color family. They don’t have to be the exact same color or tone, but light tan walls are nicely accented with a darker tan cellular shade and framed with off-white linen curtains. This isn’t just for neutrals, either—you can make a bold design statement with a green or grey tone room.
Floor-to-ceiling curtains that extend far past just the window opening are a great way to add height to your room or accent a room with tall ceilings. Selecting curtain rods that make a statement is another way to add a unique look to your living room or bedroom drapery.
Are window treatments out of style?
Privacy and light control in the residence are two things that will never go out of style! We are seeing more minimalist and understated window design ideas coming into the trend focus. Ornate and intricate valances are being replaced with simple and sleek designs for the cornice. If you’re concerned about selecting new window treatment only to have them go out of style in a few years, consider ditching the hottest trends of the moment and going with a simple, enduring classic. Neutral tones for cellular shades, natural wood blinds and shutters, and solid color draperies in simple fabrics are a few style ideas that tend to be popular for many years.
Window Treatment Styles And Designs That Are Out in 2021
CAREFUL WITH COLOR
Selecting materials with bold patterns and trending colors can be a lot of fun, but if your treatments follow trends too closely, keep in mind that they might “age” quickly, leading you to replace them after just a few years. Curtains are relatively easy to replace, so experimenting with statement fabrics is usually a safer bet than putting an accent color on custom-size plantation shutters, for example. Speaking of shutters, gray and gray-tone wood grain is rising in popularity for shutters, with all-white and dark wood shutter stains declining in popularity.
BYE BYE TO BUSY
While combining several colors, patterns, and textures can create visual interest, too much variety in your treatments can look busy and create a space that feels cluttered instead of comfortable. Opt for simple valances, understated fabric patterns, and just 1 or 2 textures for a single window.
CUT THE CORD
While you can still find blinds with cords for sale, they’ve been almost entirely replaced with the safer—and better-looking—cordless options. Going cordless makes your treatments safer for kids and pets, plus cordless lifts look great and are easy to operate. Take it a step further by making your housework for you: add motorization to your cordless window coverings for the light control at the push of a button!
NEW YEAR, NEW WINDOW DECORATION
Ready to replace your window treatments with a new style for 2021? Schedule a SAFE & CONVENIENT Virtual Consultation with one of our Window Covering Design Experts. It’s free, and you’ll be working directly with a dedicated designer via video chat. Yup, that’s right, no-obligation complimentary design service. Plus, you still get to see samples—once you have a few favorite styles picked out, our designers will send swatches of shades, blinds, and drapery fabrics to your doorstep. Call today to learn more information at 800-828-2003 and set up your Virtual Consultation!
Need ideas for window treatments
Have 11 windows that need some kind of treatment. Would like suggestions and a quote
Need to replace the 6 front window treatments to my home. I currently had top down/ bottom up cellular shades which have become damaged through wear and tear. I have 2 29x66in and 4 27x66in. west facing windows. Any suggestions and quotes would be appreciated.
BT Abington Window Installers has a staff of experts ready to assist you. We recognize that our clients want the greatest windows, doors, and other home features to help them improve their house’s overall appeal. No matter what type of work you need to do, we are glad to have satisfied clients after each repair and installation.