The Outdated Window Treatment Trend We're So Over

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Shopping for the perfect window decor for your home can be tough. While the layered look might be a defining window treatment trend for 2026, the jury is still out on other styles. Case in point: café curtains. As the name suggests, this retro style of curtains is said to have originated in cafés and bistros in Europe in the 19th century. They're smaller, rustic-looking curtain panels that are typically mounted at the halfway point of a window, allowing light to shine through at the top while still providing privacy toward the bottom.

Café curtains might be an established thing, but some design pros are really over them. "They're definitely fleeting and tend to read as cutesy," designer Brittny Button of Button Atelier told The Spruce. She recommended styling them in rooms "where the decor is more sweet natured," like a cozy reading nook, for a vintage-inspired look. 

That is a very specific design aesthetic, though. For those of us who aren't into cottagecore decor, café curtains could easily look outdated in our homes. And we tend to agree with Button's expert opinion that this window treatment style doesn't have staying power. Over the years, their popularity has ebbed and flowed. We're not feeling traditional café curtains for 2026, and there are many options to try out instead.

With café curtains, it's a fine line between "charmingly nostalgic" and "totally outdated." Their lack of versatility is the main reason why we're not sold on this style. They only really look at home in the context of whimsical, rustic or vintage-inspired decor styles. If your interior design taste skews modern or eclectic, you may want to choose standard curtains over café curtains. The latter style is more likely to look out-of-place alongside contemporary furniture and decor. You can create a similarly airy feel with standard-length sheer or light-filtering curtains. (Be sure to measure your windows before purchasing curtain panels. Understanding dimensions and proportions is key to achieving your desired look with window treatments.)

One thing is certain: Maximalist home decor is back on trend for 2026. For a trendier spin on traditional café curtains, search for cropped curtains in a bold or eclectic style, like this orange Velvet Tie Window Panel from Urban Outfitters, or these custom Korean Patchwork Curtains from Etsy seller Itosashiko. You'll get all the practical benefits of café curtains — namely, added privacy for your home and a breezy, well-lit look — with a playful vibe that won't read as outdated.