Lately, we're all tied up. Knots are pretty much everywhere right now: in hair (14k gold barrettes, anyone?), in clothing (archival Chloé has never felt sharper), even in handbags (Bottega’s intrecciato clutches are having a field day). And now I am seeing them on curtains.
Cinching at the rod like a waistline, and pooling into something theatrical, I think fall calls for this kind of spectacle, and this laid-back, yet luxurious window treatment idea is something I am very keen to try.
‘The appeal of the knotted curtain idea comes from their casual look that feels DIY-ed but elevated,’ says Elizabeth Vergara of Vergara Homes. The tie, she suggests, is what shifts the energy to something informal, but deliberate.
‘When you add a tied loop panel, your room instantly feels more creative and layered due to the tie detail,’ adds Jennifer Cataldo, interior designer and founder of Maison Cataldo, who dubs the curtain trend ‘a more whimsical approach to the traditional curtain pleat.’
For fall, heavier fabrics up the ante. ‘Velvet or linen makes the knots more dramatic,’ Elizabeth Vergara notes. ‘The texture creates a cozy, layered mood,’ which works especially well in earthy or jewel tones. ‘The effect feels warm and seasonal without needing to swap out all your decor. It’s a simple change that brings a lot of personality to the room,’ she muses.
I am first to admit I am picky when it comes to curtains, and pay very close attention to how they fall. A lot of this comes from the curtain header type (eyelet, pinch pleat, tab top), and I think the knotted top might just be the answer to the perfectly hung drape. So I have done some shopping to find the best buys out there right now, from super casual big knots that would give an effortless, organic modern vibe, to dainty little velvet bows that add a playfulness to any room.
This listing was the first to put this type of curtain on my radar, thanks to more than 100 rave reviews – many of them begging for a restock. Fortunately, it’s finally happened. Consider this your chance to grab a cinematic drape while you still can.
For a more polished variety, Madison Park’s panels deliver in eight colorways and four lengths to cover just about any fall window treatment need. The sartorial touch is obvious, reading like something that belongs in an elegant English manor.
For a prettier look, choose tied bows over big knots. The semi-sheer cotton, trimmed with lacy details, earns its place in the name of romance. In pink, it feels especially right for fall when paired with bordeaux velvet accents.
Distressing can go sideways fast (some of us still shudder at our early-2000s jeans). But this Target gem nails it. The crushed velvet feels deliberate, not decrepit, and at this price, it’s a coup. Dynamic in texture, it sings alongside the warm glow of your best-placed lamps and sconces.
Swapping knots for bows once again – this time, bigger – UO Home delivers another fall-coded find in impossibly polished velvet. The peachy pink reads versatile year-round, though the Burnt Russet and Violet Dusk colorways are where things get vampy.
Nothing feels more natural than linen, and these knotted details make it look even easier. Crack a window and let the light filter through, catching on the tie-topped drapes as they shift and settle in the breeze.
Knotted curtains dish out the drama I'm craving for fall – but they're not the only drapes I have had my eye on. Recently, I tried a velvet window treatment that's right in step with cozy season – only this time, on my closet. Here’s what I thought of Anthropologie’s best-selling Harlowe Curtains in an unexpected setting.
