A Visual Guide to the Most Popular Window Treatments

There are many reasons why you might be in the market for new window treatments—whether you're renovating your home, building a new one, or just looking for fun ways to freshen up a room. Installing window treatments is a stylish way to elevate your space, and they can instantly make your house feel cozier and more refined. Plus, the right treatment can be a game-changer in terms of bringing a space together, helping to make any room feel more cohesive and complete.

From glamorous velvet draperies to new-on-the-scene solar shades, there are tons of treatment options to fit your desired style. But there's more to consider than just aesthetics when shopping for new window treatments. Function, cost, and room type are all equally important. We spoke with Rachel Hyslop, director of channel marketing at Springs Window Fashions, about the top treatments consumers are buying today, particularly among Graber clients, which is one of the company's leading brands when it comes to residential window treatments, specializing in custom designs and installation. When considering the reasons why certain treatments are topping the charts, Hyslop says locale and weather are major factors in decision-making—and that they should also factor into your own treatment choices.

Whether you're going for a rustic, mountain-inspired look that keeps the warmth in, or prefer a coastal, airy feel for your cottage near the beach, Hyslop's roundup of window treatments has you covered, whatever your preferred look may be. Here are some of the top window treatments she and her team are seeing across the United States today.

Cellular shades are a legacy product at Graber and have been a top seller for quite some time, says Hyslop. She credits this popularity to their versatility. "You can go all the way from sheer fabrics to full blackout for bedroom applications," she explains. "They're something I think can go into just about any type of décor style—and we find that a lot of people layer with cellular shades."

They're particularly popular among homeowners in the Midwest and Northeast, she notes. "That honeycomb design naturally lends itself to insulating windows and keeping homes warmer in winter and cooler in summer. And it just has a nice kind of crisp, clean linear look."

More of an unexpected option, the roller shade is essentially one continuous piece of fabric. "A lot of customers might see roller shades and think of the old vinyl roller shades that their grandparents had," says Hyslop, but this treatment style isn't just a thing of the past. The product line has gone through a lot of change and evolution, the pro explains. "The fabrics have become more designer-oriented—bolder prints, interesting texture (even velvety velour)—versus that kind of old-fashioned vinyl."

A more modern, eco-friendly version of the roller panel is the solar panel. The trendy treatment is hitting the country's west and southern coasts, where there tends to be warmer temperatures and larger windows—which is often what follows when you have a coastal view. "People want to let the light into their home, but they also want to know that they're getting protection from UV rays and other things that could damage floors or furniture," explains Hyslop. 

"Natural shades give an incredible texture to the room, and I think that's part of why they've been trending," says Hyslop. "Some of the natural fabrics almost have a true fabric feel, and we've been innovating—bringing in yarn and softer materials to blend in with the grasses and the bamboos, but also metallic threads and patterns."

The variety of these textures and tones is a major lure for homeowners, catering to those with casual, eclectic, refined, or colorful styles, alike. If you're considering natural shades for your home, Hyslop suggests pairing them with a liner for a blackout application in bedrooms—or if it's in a more sun-soaked area, such as a living room or kitchen, ditch the liner for light filtering.

Draperies are back in a big way, says Hyslop, but they have been completely reinvented. "We see consumers gravitating towards cornices that are more linear or straight, and just looking at simple side panels," says Hyslop. While form may be rather minimalistic, homeowners are playing things up with patterns and even color-blocking—a trend Hyslop and her team are seeing a lot more of.

Pleated shades may seem outdated, but they've also experienced a renaissance. "Part of that is just the fabrics—coming up with textural, printed fabrics, things that feel more modern and up-to-date," explains Hyslop. One of Graber's newest best sellers is a two-inch pleated shade, called Debonair, which comes in a neutral, tweed-like texture and is proportioned for slightly larger windows, says Hyslop.

When it comes to wooden blinds, Hyslop recommends installing them in bathrooms and kitchens—areas with natural humidity where consumers may be worried about moisture or warping. On a budget? Faux wood is a solid alternative, she notes: "Ten years ago, it was simply just an extruded PVC slat, but there's been a lot of innovation around printing on that slat and wrapping the slat to make it look as much like real wood as possible—and I feel like we're at a point where some of the printed faux woods are just looking incredibly real."

Real or faux, wooden window treatments are a great way to complement a rustic farmhouse or mid-century modern look.

You simply can't go wrong with a classic. "Shutters have a traditional look, but I think they're still strong," says Hyslop of the timeless treatment. While often spotted in coastal and colonial-style homes, they're also quite popular down south. "I'd say that particular product sells more in the Southeast, in homes with a more traditional style of décor."

"A Roman shade, depending on the fabric or style that you choose—and whether it's looped or flat—can skew very traditional or it can also skew a little bit more modern and casual," says Hyslop. She and her team at Graber tend to use Roman shades within a farmhouse to create a chic, eclectic, and transitional-style room.