Have you been looking for design inspiration and finding that design trends all seem to have labels? From Scandi chic, to cottagecore, and academia, there seems to be more than a few of them! Trying to remember them all can be a task and a half, so here are some of the modern ones explained in one handy place. 

Cottagecore

Perhaps the most traditional of the design styles we’ll delve into, cottagecore is all about pastel shades, softness, and nature. If it were fashion, think floaty, linen dresses, flower and leaf embroidery, Peter Pan collars, embroidered aprons, and soft, nature inspired romance.  In room decoration it’s lots of shelving, a plethora of plants, lots of air and light. 

But what does it mean for your curtains? Flowers of course! A floral curtain in a natural hue (if it’s pastel and the colour of a flower, it’s in cottagecore) is a sure way to get some cottagecore vibes into your home without flowers completely taking over. They bring nature in, and add visual interest to your windows. Choose a linen curtain for an airy feel in a lounge. For a bedroom a thicker material will work best, and have a black out material on the back (such as this Heritage Blackout Lining). 

If you don’t want flowers, this Peony & Sage linen curtain from Sewing House is a great option – the small, repeating pattern is nature inspired, but is easier on the eye than some florals (and you can have a cottage pleat curtain heading, adding to the style choice).   

Dark Academia

The colour scheme for dark academia is dark and moody, with a look to classical education. Have you ever seen a dark, broody library that has wooden panelling, deep shades in the paint or wallpaper, leather chairs? That is dark academia at its best. 

In your curtains, choose heavier materials such as velvet. This material exudes expense and elegance and comes in every colour and a multitude of patterns. For dark academia, keep the colour dark, and the weight of the material will do the rest of the magic. 

Light Academia

A close cousin of dark academia, light academia draws from the same ideas of sophistication and classical education, but with a light colour palette. It’s almost a marriage of Scandi chic and dark academia – the shapes and architecture of dark academia, but the warm, neutral colours that bring in the same light as Scandi chic. 

The materials of light academia are marble, linen and cotton. Finish your curtains with a simple pleat for timeless elegance.     

Scandi Chic   

A blend of minimalism and warmth, Scandi chic is easy to spot and categorise the moment you see it. With its base of neutral colours with deeper tones as accents, it’s an easy on the eye palette that is light and airy. 

The warmth comes from materials such as untreated wood, and linen and woolen soft furnishings. For a calm, nature vibe, choose blue or green curtains; if you want to invoke excitement and energy choose yellow or orange (for more ideas look at our colour psychology blog). The curtains can have texture, but should be a plain, block colour so as not to create visual clutter.

Now that you have a simple guide to some of the main style choices and ideas of how your curtains can be the centre of those design choices, order some made-to-measure curtains today!