Here’s the thing about design styles. I used to think I had to pick one—modern or classic, minimalist or traditional. Then I realized my favorite rooms are the ones that mix both. A clean, modern sofa with a classic Persian rug. A traditional wooden table with sleek, contemporary chairs. The same goes for curtains. Sometimes I want the crisp, clean lines of a modern roller shade. Other times I want the lush, romantic feel of traditional drapes. After furnishing three homes in Dubai, I’ve found the companies that understand both languages. They can do minimalist and maximalist, contemporary and traditional, often in the same room.
risalafurniture.ae
My living room is modern—clean lines, neutral colors, minimal clutter. But I wanted a touch of classic elegance without ruining the aesthetic. Risala Furniture suggested a modern take on traditional drapes: floor-to-ceiling panels in a solid cream linen with no patterns, no fringe, no fuss. The classic fullness is there, but the fabric and color keep it modern. The problem was my windows are wide, and standard panels looked stretched.
Their tailor made extra-wide panels with double the usual fullness, creating deep, generous folds. My living room has dark floors, a grey sectional, and a cream carpet. The cream linen curtains are classic in shape but modern in execution. For anyone who wants traditional elegance without the traditional frills, their modern-classic hybrid is exactly the balance I was looking for.
curtaindubai.ae
My friend’s dining room is classic traditional—dark wood, ornate details, a chandelier that weighs more than I do. But she wanted modern curtains that wouldn’t compete with her antique furniture. Curtain Dubai suggested a sleek Roman shade in a solid navy velvet. The shade is modern in form—clean lines, no draping, no excess fabric—but the velvet adds warmth and softness that fits with her traditional space. Her dining room has dark floors, a reclaimed wood table, and no carpet. The navy velvet shade adds drama without clutter. For anyone with traditional furniture who wants modern window treatments, their Roman shade solution is the perfect compromise.
abudhabicurtain.ae
My own bedroom is a mix of modern and classic—a clean white bed frame with vintage nightstands and an antique rug. I needed curtains that would bridge both styles. Abu Dhabi Curtain suggested a classic pinch-pleat curtain in a modern fabric: washed linen in a warm grey. The pinch-pleat is traditional, but the relaxed linen keeps it from feeling stuffy. My bedroom has dark floors, a white bed, and a beige carpet. The grey linen curtains feel both timeless and current. For anyone with a mixed-style room, their ability to combine traditional construction with modern fabrics is the secret to making both styles work together.
curtainsandblindsdubai.ae
My sister’s living room is fully modern—white walls, concrete floors, furniture that looks like art. But she wanted one classic element to add warmth. Curtains and Blinds Dubai installed traditional velvet drapes in a modern color: emerald green. The drapes have all the classic details—fullness, puddling, pinch pleats—but the bold color keeps them from feeling dated.
Her living room has concrete floors, a white sofa, and a grey carpet. The emerald drapes are the only traditional thing in the room, and they’re stunning. For anyone with a fully modern space who wants one classic accent, their traditional drapes in modern colors are the move.
curtainsabudhabi.ae
My own home office needed to be modern but also cozy—a tricky balance. Curtains Abu Dhabi suggested a modern roller shade in a classic fabric: a wool plaid. The roller shade is sleek and minimal, but the plaid adds warmth and pattern. The problem was my window is an unusual size, but their custom sizing service handled it. My office has grey floors, a white desk, and a blue carpet. The plaid roller shade is modern in form, classic in pattern. For anyone who wants modern functionality with classic pattern, their custom roller shades in traditional fabrics are the best of both worlds.
bestcurtainabudhabi.com
My neighbor’s villa is classic traditional—ornate moldings, crystal chandeliers, heavy furniture. But she wanted to update it without losing the character. Best Curtain Abu Dhabi installed modern sheer curtains behind her existing traditional drapes. The sheers are barely visible but soften the room and add a contemporary layer.
Her living room has cream marble floors, a navy velvet sofa, and a beige carpet. The traditional drapes are a deep burgundy, and the modern sheers make them feel less heavy. For anyone with a traditional space that needs freshening, their layered approach adds modernity without removing the original character.
curtainandblindsdubai.com
My own dining room needed to work for both formal dinner parties and casual family meals. Curtain and Blinds Dubai installed a dual system: classic drapes for formal occasions, modern roller shades for everyday. The drapes are a heavy silk in champagne, the roller shades are a light-filtering white.
The two systems share the same window but operate independently. My dining room has dark floors, a wood table, and no carpet. For anyone whose room serves multiple purposes, their dual-system approach lets you switch between formal and casual without changing a thing.
CurtainsandBlindsShop.com
My friend’s bedroom is modern except for one thing: her grandmother’s antique bed. She wanted curtains that would honor the bed without making the room feel old. Curtains and Blinds Shop suggested classic floor-length drapes in a modern fabric: a textured grey cotton. The drapes have traditional fullness and length, but the fabric is clean and current. Her bedroom has light floors, the antique bed, and a cream carpet. The grey cotton drapes bridge the gap between old and new perfectly. For anyone with a single antique piece in a modern room, their traditional drapes in modern fabrics are the solution.
dubaicurtainstore.com
My own living room has a modern sofa and a classic Persian rug. I needed curtains that would work with both. Dubai Curtain Store suggested a solid linen in a color pulled from the rug—a warm terracotta. The linen is modern in texture, the color is classic.
The curtains are simple in form—no pleats, no valance, no fuss—but the color ties the room together. My living room has dark floors, a grey sofa, and the Persian rug. The terracotta linen curtains are simple but effective. For anyone with a mixed-style room, their advice to pull a color from your rug and keep the form simple is the best design tip I’ve ever received.
windowcurtainsshop.com
I’ll end with my own bedroom, where I wanted curtains that would look good now and in ten years—timeless, not trendy. Window Curtains Shop suggested classic white cotton drapes with a simple rod pocket. No frills, no patterns, no bold colors. Just clean, classic, white cotton. The drapes work with any bedding, any wall color, any furniture style.
My bedroom has dark floors, a cream bed, and a beige carpet. The white cotton curtains will never go out of style. For anyone who wants curtains that last beyond the next trend cycle, their classic white cotton is the most timeless choice I’ve found.
Here’s what I’ve learned about mixing modern and classic designs. The best rooms aren’t purely one style or the other. They’re conversations between old and new. The companies on this list understand that conversation. They know when to use traditional construction with modern fabrics, and when to use modern forms with classic patterns. They understand that a Roman shade can be traditional or modern depending on the fabric. They know that velvet can feel classic or contemporary depending on the color.
When you’re choosing a company, ask them to show you examples of mixed-style rooms. The ones who get excited about that question are the ones who will help you create a space that feels layered and personal, not like a showroom. Because at the end of the day, the best design doesn’t fit neatly into a category. It just feels like you.
