4 Curtain Styles That Instantly Date Your Home

Southern designers share the curtain looks to avoid for a modern aesthetic.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 2:39pm

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According to Southern interior designers, certain curtain styles like overly ornate trims, slatted wood shutters, and ballooned drapery can make a home feel outdated. The experts recommend opting for clean lines, tailored looks, and curtains that properly fit the space for a more contemporary feel.

Why it matters

Curtains are a key design element that can either elevate or date a room's aesthetic. Knowing which curtain styles to avoid can help homeowners create a more modern, timeless look in their living spaces.

The details

Designers say elaborate trim, fancy bouillon fringe, and overly ballooned drapery in silk fabrics are all curtain styles that read as dated. They recommend choosing a more tailored look with pinch pleat drapery in cotton fabrics that kiss the floor, rather than a puddled look. Slatted wood shutters should also be avoided in favor of sheers to let in light while maintaining privacy. Ensuring curtains are the proper length and width for a space is also key to avoiding a dated appearance.

  • This article was published on February 4, 2026.

The players

Kathleen Reynolds

The founder of Kathleen Reynolds Interiors in Greenville, South Carolina.

Heloise Mitchell

The founder of Mintwood Home in Washington, D.C.

Alexandra Killion

The founder of Alexandra Killion Interiors in Houston, Texas.

Kristin Harrison

The founder of Georgia & Hunt Design House in Northern Virginia.

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What they’re saying

“Elaborate trim on jabot and cascades have been updated for decorative iron hardware and rings. Fancy bouillon fringe has been changed for decorative tape down the leading edge.”

— Kathleen Reynolds, Founder, Kathleen Reynolds Interiors (southernliving.com)

“We aren't living in 1990 or a castle in the 1700s. The look is too fussy and distracting, and it takes away from any pattern or design on the windows and the space.”

— Heloise Mitchell, Founder, Mintwood Home (southernliving.com)

“Slatted wood shutters feel terribly 90s to me—also just so heavy! I would much prefer a sheer to let light in and keep privacy.”

— Alexandra Killion, Founder, Alexandra Killion Interiors (southernliving.com)

“We tend to install mostly pinch pleat drapery in a beautiful cotton fabric preferably kissing the floor. We don't like a puddled look, as it dates your home as well.”

— Heloise Mitchell, Founder, Mintwood Home (southernliving.com)

The takeaway

Updating your curtains with a more modern, tailored look can instantly refresh the aesthetic of any room. Avoiding dated styles like ornate trims, slatted wood shutters, and overly voluminous drapery will help create a timeless, elevated design.