Cosy café curtains hit the sweet spot

Crank up the cosy factor, because kitchen curtains are back in style.

The window coverings are having a moment on social media, with users sharing tips for installation, before-and-after transformations, DIY projects, and more. The term “kitchen curtains ideas” has more than 100 million views on Tiktok, and “kitchen curtains” has nearly 640 million.

In particular, café curtains have recently found a following again. Lightweight and casual, but with some European charm, they've cycled in popularity over the years. The 1980s and 1990s were a particular high point.

“Café curtains are thought to date back to the 19th century, originating in Vienna, Austria,” says the Studio Mcgee Design blog.

“They'd adorn the bottom half of windows in cafés, bistros, and coffee shops, dressing up an otherwise large, plain window, creating some privacy for diners while allowing sunlight to filter in from the top.”

This time around, café curtains are hitting the sweet spot for those who like both homespun charm and practicality. Haley Weidenbaum, a co-founder and chief executive of the window treatment brand Everhem, told Better Homes & Gardens that certain of-the-moment esthetic preferences suit café curtains especially well.

“The cottage core trend is a big part of the resurgence of café curtains, but at the root of it, we have seen an emphasis on both design and function in the interior design industry over the last few years — café curtains hit these two elements precisely,” said Weidenbaum.

“From a design point of view — it's a nod to the past. A kitchen adorned with café curtains transports you to a simpler time that is cosy, pastoral, and romantic.”

Café curtains tend to come in lightweight or sheer fabrics such as cotton and linen. In terms of maintenance, they face certain kitchen-related challenges. They may attract food stains and dust so daily attention is the solution, said Weidenbaum.