Floral Curtains Are Trending Again (And Here's How To Decorate With Them)

You may have thought florals were gone forever, giving way to stark white and neutral interiors, but Grandma's favorite curtain is back, and it's getting a makeover. "Floral curtains are definitely having a surge in popularity at the moment, especially with the grandmacore and cottagecore trends in full swing," said Erika Dale, interior designer and founder at Erika Dale Interior Design, in an exclusive interview with House Digest. The design pendulum is swinging back away from greige, and lively patterns, like florals, are here to brighten things up. 

Done right, there are many stylish ways to decorate with floral prints, and that includes curtains. While some curtain trends are worthy of ditching, florals can be more versatile than you might think. Dale says, "Not only are people using floral prints as a layer of pattern play in soft, cozy, casual chic spaces that look like they are straight out of an English cottage, but also in eclectic, colorful, or dark, moody spaces for another element of interest."

As with any pattern, making smart choices is key to ensuring the trend doesn't go wrong. "The downside of the floral curtain trend is that, because the pattern and colors are so prevalent on such a large fabric item, getting the details right is crucial to avoiding the drapes looking gaudy or out of place," says Erika Dale, who spoke exclusively to House Digest. "This is less of an issue with a subtle, traditional floral, but with a vibrant floral chintz that will call for your attention right away, it has to be the right kind of attention."

It's always a good idea to keep trends relegated to the easiest to change items (such as curtains). When the trends are going out of style you will be able to swap them out with no fuss. "Adding floral drapes is a great way to bring in a ton of pattern and color to transform a room with just one addition," says Dale. "The great news is that there are really affordable options out there to give it a go which are easy to swap out in the future if you are ready for something new."

Erika Dale gives House Digest readers exclusive advice on incorporating floral patterns into their homes: "When selecting a floral drape, be sure to bring a sample into the space before committing to see how the color, pattern, and scale of the print interacts with the rest of the elements in the room. Mixing patterns is definitely an exciting and sophisticated way to decorate, but it has to be done with a careful and thoughtful hand." Don't be afraid to try a variety of options before committing to the right pattern — it's better to play around in the planning phase than regret your decision later.

Luckily, there is an option for almost any style. Dale says, "Traditional floral chintz patterns are huge right now, thanks to the wide variety of colors and patterns as well as their historical roots. They look like a dream in traditional, modern traditional spaces, cottage, and vintage-inspired eclectic styles. Interiors with a more modern, moody, or global aesthetic are utilizing more abstract, colorful, or dramatic, dark florals to create depth and pattern." If you need more guidance on choosing the right window dressings, whether or not they are floral, learn about the common mistake people make when choosing curtains.