Are swag balances out of style
I have custom made swag balances through out my traditional 1999 house. Is there any way to up date my decor without removing them?
Comments (25)
houssaon
2 years agoI think you mean valances, not balances. I think most find them too ornate for their tastes.
If you search "Swag Valances" on Houzz, you'll many repeats of the same room, not too many looking like they would fit into today's decor. But there are some that are quite nice.
This swag is very pretty.
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are swag valances out?
Comments (19)As others have said, 'in' or 'out' doesn't really matter if you love them. It is your home. Second, swagged window treatments are classic and never out of favor, particularly if you have traditional decor going on. My only thought is that it sounds like a lot of blue, although some of that will be alleviated when you replace the couch. And with grey walls and flooring, the room has a pretty 'cool' color vibe, I am guessing. Now that you are replacing the carpeting, perhaps you want to think about another color scheme for the whole room? Are you going to do hardwood/laminate or carpeting? That will make a difference in how the room feels if you go to wood. Depending on how dark or light that would be, you could do something warmer on the walls then. If you are doing carpeting, you could look for something in a warmer tone, perhaps a rich beige or soft gold, and then change out the wall color to something in the same family. That would be lovely with the blue. Or, you could do a neutral cream or beige carpeting and go to a soft warm green or even a pale coral on the walls. All that said, I wouldn't redo the drapery yet, until you have decided on the flooring and the couch. It is easier to find drapery to work with carpeting and upholstery than the other way around. Then you can pick a wall color that ties it all together. If you decide to get rid of the valance, you might think about something like this for drapery. It comes in a ming blue with warm beige/gold embroidery, which could be very pretty in the space, and still has the more formal feel. Or you could do the bronze or amber gold, depending on your wall color. la scala embroidered silk...See MoreRound table, skirted, glass top - out of style?
Comments (22)"Do people with any taste still use these?" LOL! I ask myself that Q all the time! Here are my general opinions: I personally don't like much of anything skirted...but then my decorating tastes are more minimal. With that said, If was WAS going to skirt a bedside table, I would make sure I didn't overdo fabrics throughout the room so it appears everything is bathed in fabric. I prefer more balance of fabrics, woods, and other textures. I would make sure the fabrics on the bed & potentially on windows aren't matchy-matchy with the skirting. I would attempt to either play up the side table, or down-play it depending on what else is going on in the room...to create balance. Either create a focal point or be careful to not over-ride an existing focal point. So, with THAT said, I would personally not put glass on top. To me that's fussy (but then, that's me), so instead of glass tops, I would put a tray or some other nice-looking piece along-side the lamp (or whatever is on there) for the purpose of placing glasses & personal items in a contained and protected spot. Also, to me...when I see glass tops when nearby lamps/lighting are on...I just see the reflection of the glass more than I notice anything decorative. Again, light reflection draws the eye to the glass. Not sure if that happens to anyone else...but that's what I see. You might want to assess the lighting and determine if that's an effect you might be going for....See MoreAre Valances Out of Style?
Comments (26)This is now 2018, mid-year. Are valances "out of style"?? Thanks to shows like HGTV, it's easy to keep track of what is "in style" in regards to decorating your home. And this includes window treatments. But there's one thing that you must always remember, and that is that you are decorating your home for yourselves not for Southern Living magazine or for HGTV. Your home is your oasis. It reflects who you are. It reflects your style and your taste, the same way your hairdo does and the make and model of the car you drive. You're not decorating your home to please other people. It's your nest. You do it the way you want. I will give you some clarification about valances. I'm not a professional decorator but I have a certain skill which I think helps. When you look at valances, some of them are just more formal and more elegant than others. Take into consideration the room. If it's a formal living room or formal dining room, maybe look at valances that speak of elegance and sophistication. If you are talking about a family room, or a kitchen, look at how you've decorated the room. Look at your furniture, and the valance should coordinate in style with the rest of your furnishings. Some valances are less elegant than others. In today's world in 2018, using decorator curtain rods and no valance is a trend. But that's all it is .... a trend. One day that will also be out of style, just like granite on countertops, and dark hardwood floors are already going out of style, if you will. Now, instead of dark wood on the floors, they're using much lighter wood. And instead of granite with swirls and such, they're using quartz with very little design in it. But that's all just a trend. If you want your window treatments to be timeless, look for classic looking window treatments or traditional window treatments that will not go out of style. Just remember that it's your home and your nest. You decorate it exactly the way you want. Window treatments are not inexpensive. We had a designer come to our home just to see what he offered, and what it would cost to do one window. The window is about 5 feet wide and from the top of the window to the floor, it was 9 feet. We have high ceilings. I decided on a simple panel for each side, and a valance across the top that was tailored and not ruffled or gathered, what I would consider timeless and traditional. With a 40% sale off the price, it came to over $1,400. I'm not going to spend $1,400 on just one window, so I will shop at a department store or online. Decorating your window is like buying a piece of furniture. In regards to valances, for high ceilings, valances can look very nice and crown a window beautifully. If you have low ceilings, then a valance might appear to be "heavy" visually, if you will. Enjoy the process, because what you choose will be part of your home for years to come....See More1928 Tudor Landscape: Help! Out of balance . Patio . Walkway . Deer
Comments (31)Kitasei, you are so right! I posted photos where I moved them, as not only do I need a casual flair (a little eclectic play), but I recognize how I can "have it all" by moving them to the more casual side of my property. One of my top priorities is connecting with people. My street is known to be one of the top most-walked, friendly streets in the city. Since I absolutely love connecting, I strike up conversations with those walking by and sometimes they linger. When I had benches (and once tried a patio table, chairs and umbrella), seldom would anyone join me. When I switched them out for my Adirondacks and a little table (above), they started to sit down and chat. There's something to be said for breaking the mold! In this case I have enough room to place them on the far side of my property (above). ...AND I DO like to be as true to architectural character as reasonable. I always want to know if something stands out...out of character! Thank you so much....See More
PROJAN MOYER
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoDepends the room and the swags , Show a picture of the spaces you want to refresh.
It's not about fashion "police" btw. Refresh, and update.................?Neither may mean a major STYLE change. If you are a traditionalist at heart, and many are? Then a wild swing may not be what you are thinking. Show what you have and the "thing" that would make you happier.
Both rooms have a hearth..............and a sofa. : )
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PRODiana Bier Interiors, LLC
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoThe question is really do you still like them? Classic swags, well-proportioned and made of good fabric can last for years and look great! If they're cut on the bias they hang elegantly. If you have this type you can keep them and update your look by repainting your room, perhaps reupholstering your seating, changing out accessories. Consider adding bamboo shades to the windows to update the look.
Swags that are poorly cut, made from stiff fabric and hung from a rod never looked good and don't age well. Which do you have?
These are some very pretty swags:
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JAN MOYER
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoAlmost always agree with Diana. But !! don't confuse a london shade ( three of her four pics ) - essentially a softer version of a roman shade. ) You may have this, for all we know, as below:........ a very traditional swag and jabot. A whole different and VERY traditional look.
Either way, define "update" ..........which can mean many things, and post the existing spaces.Donna Sikes thanked JAN MOYER - PRO
Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoLOL, Jan, you got me--three of the four I posted are relaxed/swagged London shades! But I still stand by my comment about how they are made. Stiff, pleated swag and jabots are not only dated, but they never looked very good. I always preferred gathered over pleated, and sheer swags and jabots still look pretty!
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Lidia
2 years ago
PROHALLETT & Co.
2 years ago- PRO
JAN MOYER
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoYour somewhat narrow question, begs OTHER......Below is why. You need to ask yourself what you mean by "update"
Compare...........
Many traditional homes are beautiful. ......right? Define your update, and show the rest of your spaces.
From below to what...........? A room is much more than its window treatments. Yup.....those should go : )
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2 years ago
freedomplace1
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoSwag valances are not out of style, and you could use yours for an “updated” design. As @kculbers aptly notes above, it is a classic style.
For example, here is one that I found recently, and will actually be using, for myself. It comes in a bunch of colors.
I think I may just use it in this color.
I love it.As another example, this Amazon offering also comes in lots of great colors.
Not custom, and not as nice as yours - but nice enough, and lots of folks are purchasing them. And there are actually some brilliant rooms shown in some of these customer review pics. Fun to see. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08BYR1P31/ref=ox_sc_act_image_3?smid=A3SEULT81IBW5B&th=1Also, FWIW, there are swag valances currently being sold (24/7) on Etsy.com. A lot of great choices - and custom options, as well.
These are just to give you a few examples, and also perhaps as a general point of interest. And so, yes, swag valances are truly very much alive and well - in 2021. Does everyone have to use them? No. Does everyone have to ’like’ them? No. Should “designers” know how to work with them? Yes.
So the key is to find a designer who understands the style and is willing to work with it - and/or do some research on your own, in terms of looking at current rooms that have valances - see what you like, and copy some of those elements.
@tozmo1 is clearly a knowledgeable and saavy designer. (Do not let the absence of the ”pro” designation fool you...) And I do agree with @tozmo1, that a green paint on walls could potentially be stunning with your valances. I think just about any of the greens could work.
This is a very rough mock-up that I did on my phone, with this sort of emerald color; it’s a striking look, I think.
Sage, olive, moss green... as I said, I think just about any of the greens could be a nice option for you. Not the only color option, of course; but if you like green and the general combo, it could be nice.I also like this room, with a green on the ceiling.
A couple of more green color/combo views:
There are any number of ways you can go for an update - doesn’t necessarily have to be green walls. Your furnishings and overall style come into play, as well. However, it could potentially be as simple as paint, Other than that, you have to decide what you really want to keep, what is negotiable, and take it from there. Not seeing your overall room, furnishings, etc., it is difficult to advise beyond this.Your valances are beautiful and you can certainly still use them. If you decide you want a change, that is fine, too. But I just want you to be able to make an informed decision, based upon accurate information.
Best Wishes.
ETA: Valance/window treatment info. Good article re: various styles, etc.https://prioritywindowvalances.com/valances-shades-for-living-rooms/
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Flo Mangan