Trends come and go in fashion, but one that’s common today is the trend in furnishings to mimic the trend in fashions. Window treatments are striking a familiar color chord and picking up the flavors of details found in clothing, from bold prints to color pairings. In all, windows are heading in some interesting directions that provide more choices for homeowners at better than ever prices.The new black

Far from dull brown, the new black is brown. But this isn’t your grandmother’s brown; it’s rich, deep dark chocolate brown. Paired with blue, teal, mint green, orange or apricot (it just sounds delicious), brown is coming back onto the window scene in a strong way. Brown evokes the color of tree bark and nature itself, making it a comfortable and relaxing color that has a strong presence without being overbearing the way black sometimes can. Brown is friendly and it’s a color most men love.

Cues from nature

Another strong theme in window treatments continues to be the use of natural materials. This can range from bamboo curtain rods, to reed shades, even bamboo fabric home items. Bamboo fabrics are showing up in clothing and in home furnishing lines, such as towels, blankets and sheets. Wood elements are also showing up in decorative accessories and elements. To bring a current twist to window treatments, try adding a small border of hand-carved wooden beads. This may be all it takes to make a window topper or panel feel more current.

Bold and beautiful

Strong patterns with bold color are another window trend that’s coming into fashion. Taking a bold pattern into a panel doesn’t make much sense, though, because the folds of the panel will make the bold pattern disappear. To make the most of bold, bright patterns, apply the fabric to window shades set inside the window openings. These look especially good in rooms with little color or pattern going on because the strength of the pattern on the window really pops against the plain walls. Or, apply a bold or busy pattern on a cornice, another window treatment that’s coming back into fashion again. Cornices allow for a big punch of color and texture without becoming a deluge. Paired with simple panels, a brightly colored or bold patterned cornice will add real design zing to a dull window.

Touch of luxury

Texture is also a key design trend in window fashions and luxury fabrics stand at the front of the line. Many are looking for privacy and old-fashion movie theater drama in their home theaters and velvet is the perfect option. The rich opulence of velvet is hard to beat except by one fabric and that fabric is silk. Nothing says richness like silk. Why? The drape. Silk floats unlike any other fabric and has tremendous body without feeling heavy in the room. Top that with the luxuriant luster of silk, and silk has a combination that’s hard to beat. It also says you are a fan of quality that nothing is too good for your windows.

Affordable windows

Window treatments used to be hard to find and were very high priced even for so-called inexpensive lines. But with the Internet and online shopping, now even silk and velvet window treatments are available to consumers at prices that won’t cause financial hardship. The consumer faces an ever-widening field of window treatment options and choices. It’s nice to know that these choices also range in price that also matches the wide variety of window treatment styles today.