I am VERY picky about drapes – but this new trend for knotted curtains is a laid back but luxurious look I can't wait to try

Designers say the relaxed, cinematic drape feels especially apt for the season

Side-by-side of three knotted curtain panels styled in various living rooms
(Image credit: Urban Outfitters; Anthropologie)

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.’

White knotted curtain panel featured in a sunlit living room with wall art

Urban Outfitters Knotted Curtain is what first sparked my interest in this trend

(Image credit: Urban Outfitters)

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.


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.

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