What Are Cafe Curtains & Are They Right For Your Home?

Of all the rooms in the house, the kitchen is perhaps the trickiest of all when it comes to deciding what window treatments to go for. You want something practical, of course, but you don’t want to compromise on style and aesthetics… and the good news is that you don’t have to!

A popular choice for kitchen curtains is blinds of some kind, whether that’s Roman, roller, blackout or something else. But if you’re not particularly taken with these and want something a little different, you might be swayed by the idea of cafe curtains, which have been coming back into style very gradually over the last few years.

First popularised back in 19th century Vienna, these cute little half-size curtains were often seen in restaurants and other such establishments to ensure that dining guests could enjoy a certain level of privacy without having to compromise on natural light and a bit of a view.

Both stylish and elegant, cafe curtains are now no longer the sole preserve of bistros and eateries and they’re being seen increasingly in homes all over the world, featured in not just the kitchen but also bathrooms, bedrooms and anywhere else that takes the homeowner’s fancy!

When it comes to interior design, it’s often about the quick wins and cafe curtains represent just that. You can easily have a set whipped up and installed very efficiently indeed, allowing you to change the look and feel of your living spaces without much trouble at all. 

You could even switch the curtains up season by season, helping you to breathe new life into your home as the months go by. Or you could even tailor them to really reflect your home and lifestyle with some smart embroidery of your favourite motifs – or even members of the family! That would make a very beautiful style statement, indeed.

While cafe curtains work well in any style of house, they are particularly well suited to flats and terraced properties, where you’re more likely to be in close proximity to other people and where privacy is likely to be of a bigger concern.

In terms of fabric choice, they perhaps look their best when done in some kind of sheer material, as this will ensure that you enjoy the level of privacy you’re looking for without having to block out the light entirely. 

The end result is something ethereal, floaty and romantic, so if that’s the look you’re hoping to achieve at home then cafe curtains could well be the way to go.

Of course, it can be quite difficult to make interior design decisions, especially if you’ve not embarked on such projects before. You don’t want to make any costly mistakes, after all! If you’d like some help or guidance relating to curtain choice for your interiors, get in touch with the friendly and experienced Pret A Vivre team today.