We showcase the latest trends in window treatments

We showcase the latest trends in window treatments with beautiful solutions to transform your interior.

1 Renaissance inspiration

Sheer curtains go a long way in softening an unattractive view while maintaining a light and airy feel. Inspired by the Renaissance era, Marné Erasmus Mynhardt of Mitat used these cotton tie-top curtains to great effect: they drape beautifully and soften the exposed roof, weathered wall and burglar bars at the Old Post Office Building which houses the Mitat studio in Sir Lowry’s Pass Village. Originally designed for a stoep, the curtains hang from cup hooks screwed into a curtain rack that Marné cut from pine and finished with embellishments and PVA paint. >>

2 To dye for

Sarena van Schalkwyk, owner of Sara Interior, chose a thick cotton canvas for the dip-dye curtains in this Stellenbosch bedroom (above). “Natural fibres are best suited to home dyeing and work well if you’d like to create volume,” Sarena says. “The ends of the wet fabric were dipped in different intensities of the dye several times and were then hung up so the dye slowly ran to the bottom. The green palette is natureinspired: the room has a large window overlooking the garden and green is my favourite colour to pair with wood.”

Bright ’n beautiful

While neutral curtains are classic and understated, colourful curtains such as these add an element of fun. Various fabric panels can be sewn together to achieve this aesthetic. For a professionally-finished look, a charcoal border ‘frames’ the curtain.

Tip Opt for a darker colour when choosing a border for patterned fabric; ideally, a colour that’s repeated in the pattern. This will ‘anchor’ the fabric without drawing too much attention away from the pattern.

4 Beautiful borders

Curtains pooling on the floor add an element of luxury, a look that can easily be achieved by adding a border. “You can finish a plain curtain with a border to add texture, colour or volume to a room,” explains Sarena. For this Stellenbosch bedroom a few vintage French linen sheets were sewn together. A fan of extra-long curtains, Sarena added a red border. The French palette of red, blue and white was unintentional: “The colour of the wall was originally the same as the linen sheeting, but after the curtains were hung it was painted in a lovely blue for contrast,” she says. >>

I love fabrics, especially the way they feel and move, which is why curtains give me the most satisfaction in interiors. – Sarena

5 Inside out

Open-plan takes on a whole new dimension in Caspar van der Merwe and Hein Visser’s home in Tofo, Mozambique, as entire façades slide open to create a seamless flow from the indoors out. A 600mm clerestory window that runs below the roofline makes it impossible to hang curtains above the sliding doors in the traditional way, so they’re mounted flush with the ceiling.

On trend! Contrasting borders are all the rage, so beautiful curtains don’t have to be ditched if they’re too short. Fresh idea! The homeowners painted a matching red border on the wall.

On trend! Curtains in a bold palette are injecting a burst of colour into homes again.

On trend! Craft techniques such as handdyeing are very popular right now, but keep the look simple by sticking to a monotone palette or a simple two-tone ombre.

Curtains and curtain rack from Mitat; whitewash paint technique on the table and chairs by Chrislien Bath Fresh idea! The custom-printed motif on the curtains was also stencilled onto the dining table.