Once, what curtain rods looked like mattered less than their ability to hold up yards of pleated and puddled draperies, elaborate swags and Roman shades. Today rods have become both visible and decorative for several reasons. Window treatments have been simplified as the windows themselves gain more prominence and as homeowners seek to bring more light and views inside.
Rod manufacturers also have debuted handsome designs that expand the repertoire beyond the traditional wood and brass examples. Their tricks? Altering not just the materials, but also the colors, widths and finials and injecting some whimsy.
Among today’s most popular rods are antique-looking, wrought-iron ones with a black or green cast, colorful or transparent glass rods that resemble handblown sculptures and narrow rods that are as minimal as trapeze wire. Finials and tiebacks add humor with motifs simulating serpents, leaves, arrows and celestial bodies. The end result: The rods look splendid with or without any fabric. In fact, some designers are showing curtain rods on walls with no windows or as anchors for wall hangings.