• Use modern curtain silhouettes to complete a contemporary design.Curtain. image by Victor Samoilovich from Fotolia.com
  
  Many homeowners think of curtains as an afterthought in interior design, but in reality, they either perfect the look of a room or cause design discord. If your style is minimalist and modern, your curtains should also reflect the "no fuss, no frills" philosophy. Select curtains with smooth, sleek lines to achieve a contemporary look.
  
  

Stiff Pelmet and Roman Shade

• Unlike its gathered and whimsical valance predecessors, stiff pelmets instantly communicate "modern" to a room's design. Select an MDF-backed straight-design pelmet in a modern upholstery to match your stiff Roman shade. To achieve a custom look, glue matching trim to the edges of your stiff pelmet and the sides of your roman shade. This window covering pair works best on smaller windows, adding definition without overwhelming a small space.
  
  

Grommet-top Curtains

• Curtains topped with grommets or eyelets eliminate the need for excess material near the curtain rod, achieving a sleek and simple design. Metal rings punched right into the fabric every 6 to 10 inches allow the curtain to slip directly onto the rod, leaving cleaner lines in the fabric folds. As one of the easiest curtains to make, grommet-topped curtains present the beginner sewer with a manageable project. Seamstresses generally select a light- to medium-weight fabric for eyelet-topped drapes. Experiment with widths of grommet placement based on your preference for how straight you want the top and bottom edge of your curtains to be.
  
  

Tab-top or Tie-top

• Achieve a more casual contemporary look with tab-top curtains. Curtain manufacturers sew tabs or ties every 3 to 5 inches into the reinforced top of each drapery panel. Standard tie-top drapes have 5 or 6 tabs. For a unique approach, change the look of a standard store-bought curtain with the simple addition of different fabric on the ties and along the sides of the drape. Select a strip of fabric in a complimentary color and sew along the bottom or interior side of the panel, using the same color for the tie-top tabs.