Living rooms always need an artistic touch for window decorations & styling. This space reflects your lifestyle, inspiration, and personal identity. Every homeowner wants to cover windows with trending curtains for maximum functionality, comfort, and elegance.
In 2026, the world will have endless trending drapery designs for living spaces. In this guide, we’re going to uncover the 12 most trending curtains from bold to neutral and modern to minimalist. Moreover, we also describe a complete selection procedure for the homeowner’s convenience.
12 Living Room Curtains That Interior Designers Are Choosing For 2026
Curtains add a soft & finishing touch to any interior space due to their versatile colors, prints, and textures. Modern renovations in Dubai demand fabrics that should be sustainable, luxury, and low maintenance.
- Soft Sheer Curtains
- Layered Curtains
- Pinch-Pleat Curtains
- Blackout Drapes
- Box Pleat Curtains
- Eco-Friendly Curtains
- Smart Electric Curtains
- Solid Colored Curtains
- Floor Length Curtains
- Printed Curtains
- Royal Velvet Curtains
- American Style Curtains
Let’s explore all the trending window curtain designs one by one. Make a perfect drapery choice to impress your guests, relatives, and friends.
1- Soft Sheer Curtains
Trending this year due to their ability to filter natural sunlight while maintaining airy vibes. Homeowners love sheer curtains in Dubai because they provide a soft feel, daytime privacy, and an outdoor view. They’re available in multiple transparent fabrics, such as Linen, Organza, Lace, Voile, or Cotton. Pick them in both soft and neutral colors as per your theme requirements.
2- Layered Curtains
This window covering technique is in trend due to its luxurious feel, extra functionality, and privacy. In this technique, you can pair blackout drapes (keep it in front) with sheer ones (keep them in back of blackout) using double curtain rods. In addition, you can also layer curtains with blinds, shades, valances as per your styling requirements.
3- Pinch-Pleat Curtains
These timeless curtains come with single, double, or triple pleated header styles. However, their triple pinch-pleated drapes are more popular due to their eye-catching & elegant appearance. Their uniform folds attract the visitors and add a charm to the window. You can go with any fabric, color, texture, or print for these drapes.
4- Blackout Drapes
Its a need for every home window due to endless practical & aesthetic features. This window covering not only block upto 100% light but also improves your sleep quality. Their thick & dense fabrics reduce heat transfer and noise pollution to create a comfortable & serene atmosphere. These drapes look good in rich colors, plain surfaces, and textured designs.
5- Box Pleat Curtains
Popular for their architectural look and symmetrical header design. They give a more contemporary look to the window as compared to classic pleated curtains. The large, evenly spaced box-like folds add a more decent style, ideal for large windows. You can also opt for this trend for any room.
6- Eco-Friendly Curtains
Due to increasing homeowners’ awareness of sustainability, eco-friendly drapes are in high demand in 2026. These specialized window covers are made up of biodegradable fabrics (linen, bamboo, cotton) that don’t release any volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air. These breathable curtains maintain a freshness in the room while improving indoor air quality.
7- Smart Electric Curtains
The world is moving towards smart home technology for a luxury lifestyle, convenience, and safety. Unlike traditional curtains, they not only provide privacy but also reduce your HVAC cost by improving energy efficiency. In this innovative practice, you can integrate your window curtains with an electric motor and batteries for remote & phone control.
8- Solid Colored Curtains
The trend for solid window covers is usually driven by their timeless aesthetics, royalty, easy matching, and low maintenance requirements. They can be easily matched with any interior decor items like furniture, tiles, upholstery, and wallpapers. In the market, these elegant drapes are available in red, navy blue, charcoal, brown, olive green, blush pink, pale yellow, or terracotta.
9- Floor Length Curtains
The full-length drapery is one of the most prominent trends in the market. They add a mind-blowing visual appeal and sense of taller windows & doors. These dramatic curtains start from the ceiling and touch the floor for a classical look. Choose thick fabric with solid colors and any header style for this type of curtains.
10- Printed Curtains
Want to create a bold statement in your living room? Decorate windows with printed curtains rather than simple plain ones. These drapes come with several prints, including botanical, geometrical, floral, abstract, motifs, or animated. By covering living room windows with these drapes, you can make a focal point for visitors.
11- Royal Velvet Curtains
Velvet curtains are popular for their luxurious feel, warmth, and richness. They’re available in both neutral and solid colors as per your theme requirements. You can hang these thick & dense fabrics with tab-top, grommet, pinch-pleat, or wave header style. Ideal for bedrooms, living rooms, guest rooms, hotels, restaurants, or cafes.
12- American Style Curtains
American style curtains have multiple French pleats that give a structured look. With uniform folds, they require more fabric volume for maximum coverage. You can design them with all types of blackout, sheer, and acoustic fabrics. They’re perfect for high ceilings, large windows, or glass doors for a modern ambiance.
Factors To Consider Before Selecting Living Room Curtains
Before selecting any curtains for your drawing rooms, you need to assess some parameters. We have listed down all the core factors to make your selection process much easier and smoother.
Purpose & Functionality
Think about how much privacy, insulation, and blackout effect you need for your room! If you need complete darkness, go with blackout drapes. However, if you want to brighten the interior, sheer linen curtains would be a better choice.
Right Fabric Choice
Want to cover windows with lightweight options? Linen, Voile, or Cotton are good. These soft curtains also filter sunlight to illuminate the room. For a luxurious look and maximum insulation, heavyweight Velvet, Polyester, Silk, or Brocade fabrics are more effective.
Color, Pattern & Style
One of the most confusing factors is to consider the right curtain color, pattern, and style. You have two options: contrasting or matching curtains. Look at your furniture upholstery, wall decor, flooring, and carpets to get ideas for cohesiveness.
Right Size & Measurements
Take precise measurements of your window length & width to ensure perfect-fit curtains. Moreover, you can choose from floor-length, puddle-length, sill-length, or floating curtains as per your specific style requirements.
Hardware & Layering
For curtain hanging, you can pick from curtain rods or tracks (tracks are in trend due to their sleek designs). You also have the option of layering blackout with sheer curtains in contrasting colors. In addition, you can also layer curtains with roller blinds for a modern window look & extra functionality.
Wrapping It Up!
Finally, we have manifested 10+ trending curtain designs to improve your living room decor. In 2026, curtains are seen as key design elements to balance style and comfort in living spaces. We also highlighted some modern window covering concepts like eco-friendliness and smart home integration to meet latest renovation ideas.
Holding a Master’s in Architecture from the University of Texas at Austin, Emily Rodriguez has dedicated more than two decades to the art and science of building renovation. Starting her journey in historic preservation, she developed a profound respect for blending old with new in building design. Emily became a vital part of our team in 2019, renowned for her insightful and innovative renovation tips. She has been leading our DIY home improvement series since ever since, where she shares her wealth of knowledge in turning outdated spaces into modern havens. When not engaged in writing or consulting, Emily is a passionate advocate for heritage conservation and enjoys exploring vintage architecture, a hobby that complements her professional expertise.
