The Once-Popular Curtain Trend It's Time To Ditch

Curtains are oftentimes considered the finishing touch for a room's decor, helping it feel well-integrated and complete. However, it's usually not as simple as installing a rod over your window and putting two panels up. There are tons of curtain trends that you can tinker with, whether that's playing with the tonal curtain trend of 2024 or experimenting with different ways to get the curtain wall look. However, there is one style that you should skip since it's beginning to feel more and more dated, and that's valances and pelmets.

These are window treatments that are paired with curtains to create a more eye-catching look. Valances are pieces of fabric that go on top of the window, looking very similar to cafe curtains. Think of them as the "bangs" of your treatment setup. They're usually employed to hide the curtain rod and brackets, giving the window a more elegant look. A pelmet is a wooden frame covered in fabric that sits above the window, creating the same, but more structured, appearance. Both styles are very traditional and feel dated in most homes. Here is a closer look at why these styles are on their way out.

These window treatment styles are becoming outdated for the same reason most interior trends become passe — they've been around forever. Valances have been popular since the Victorian era and made a huge comeback in the '80s and '90s, which is why they're synonymous with most people's grandparents' homes. Similarly, pelmets have been around since the Renaissance period but have had their heyday in the '50s and beyond, adding a touch of interest to wallpapered rooms. Since these styles have been mainstream for so long, they tend to be seen as old-fashioned and stuffy. People are craving something new and different.

"Valances that are visually prominent and are made of the same textile as the rest of the drapery can feel dated," Kristina Khersonsky, designer and founder of STUDIO KEETA, told Homes & Gardens. The look doesn't fit in well with contemporary, mainstream designs, such as modern farmhouse, minimalist, laidback coastal, or modern traditional. However, there are alternatives you can try to get a similar, polished look without the mid-century feel. 

The easiest alternative to a valance and pelmet is no topper at all. Just let your curtain panels do all of the work and leave the top bare. However, if your aim is to add interest to the curtain rod while concealing it from view, try pulling the curtains completely closed so they hide the rod, and then pulling back the panels in the middle and securing them with a tie-back. This not only hides the window hardware like a valance or pelmet would, but also adds the same amount of drama at the top. And depending on which colors and textures you choose, you can alter the look of the design to best fit your aesthetic. 

If you like valances and pelmets because they provide interest at the top of the window, you can achieve a similar but more modern setup by pairing your curtain panels with Roman shades. It's a classic blind style that pairs perfectly with curtains. And since they pleat together when drawn up, they will create a similar flounce as a valance but appear more contemporary. And just like valances and pelmets, Roman blinds come in various styles, colors, and patterns to add a pop of interest to the curtains.