Interior designer reveals the outdated home trend that's not been in fashion since the 80s – and what to swap it for
Nate Berkus, interior design guru and star of HGTV, says the once-popular window coverings are officially outdated.
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While they were all the rage in the 1980s and '90s, especially for tall windows and sliding glass doors, he reckons they're making your space look tired.
'Fabric vertical blinds are out,' Nate told The Washington Post.
And if you're still clinging to them, you're not alone, they're surprisingly common in UK homes.
Drapery panels
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But if you want your place to feel fresh and modern, he suggests ditching the blinds and swapping them for full-length drapery panels for a more elegant and layered look.
Nate says it's all about where you mount them too.
Forget curtain rods that sit just above the window frame, that's another no-no.
Instead, mount the rod as close to the ceiling as possible to draw the eye upwards and give the illusion of a bigger, brighter room.
'When you walk into a space, you want your eye to go up,' he said on Instagram.
'You don't want your eye to be cut off.'
Ripple folds
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He also recommends choosing curtains with ripple folds or inverted pleats to create a clean, tailored effect.
Go for ones that skim the floor, about a quarter inch above, rather than pooling into a messy puddle.
My council flat is so stylish thanks to second-hand finds - plus the treasure chest place you need to look for bargains
And while you're updating your curtain game, Berkus says simple hardware is best.
A sleek rod with rings will keep things looking sharp, and if you're feeling creative, you can even DIY it to save cash.
Not only do drapes look more modern than blinds, they can also transform the feel of a room completely.
Colour contrast
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In another Insta post, Nate showed off light ivory floor-to-ceiling curtains against dark panelled walls, saying the contrast instantly brightens up the space.
He added that soft, neutral shades like off-white, bone or chalk work best if you're trying to lighten up a dark room without repainting.
So if your living room still looks like a scene from a '90s soap, it might be time to give those vertical blinds the boot and bring in something that actually flatters your space.
Meanwhile, if you've been waiting to give your home a new refresh then summer is the perfect time to do so.
But it's important to make sure that when you update your space, you create a look that won't quickly become outdated.
Especially since certain design trends are beginning to fade now that we are halfway into 2025.
And with that in mind, interior designers have revealed the colours that are quickly losing their appeal this year.
Elsewhere, a TikTok interior design guru has shone the light on the three trends that make your home look 'cheap' and there's an overused flooring you may wish to avoid.
The guru, Bilal Rehman, works as a luxury interior designer and according to him, he's seen plenty of clients make the same mistakes over and over again.
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