I would try light green curtains with the valance you made. Since you sew can you make pillows the red you want by taking the comforter to the fabric store.

@NJ Accents: I see where you were going there. I do think the before picture with the dark paper on the lower half of the wall is part of what framed out the space. I have taken some new pics of the latest thing I tried, plus I did find some pillows that may work...here's the latest attempt. I need to re-cover the valance with the material from the curtains. And I may tie them back slightly...still playing with it.

I'm torn about the green band on the valance now. I liked it offset when I was just doing the valance, but now that I added the curtains, I'm wondering if it would be better to move it to center, make it wider, or maybe lose it altogether? The reason I added it in the first place was to tie it to the fabric on the seat. Any thoughts?

@Carolina Photo to Go - I did try the green curtains like the ones in the front window, which I love, but thought I needed to go with something else since I did the seat in green. What do you think of the latest picture above? Am I heading in the right direction? And I would love your thoughts on the green band too...

Why did you choose brown and green when your bedding is burgundy? The seat fabric (country) seems to be a completely different look than the bedding, curtains and pillow (more formal). I would try to complement your bedding more by choosing a seat cushion, pillows and curtains that complement the look and color of your bedding...perhaps burgundy, sage, and beige pillows that have some pattern or texture. You are a very talented sewer and your valance looks very professional! Like the dark brown, just not in that space.

Can you move the valance to the ceiling height? I think the wall space above your valance is a little distracting. Since you are quite talented with sewing, you may consider making a roman shade in the green fabric with a brown border and mount in place of shades or mount over shades and just have a nonfunctional shade with you existing shades behind. What about adding some molding (to look like raised panel) to wall below the window seat and painting white to match the trim color? I also wish the window seat cushion was a couple inches thicker. So far you are doing a great job!

@Laurae 1967: I really wanted to have some green in the room and thought I could bring some in with the pillows on the bed and the wall art I made. The windows seat fabric isn't country in my opinion, but some may think it is. So would you change the valance color? I am still playing with it and am posting some pics of today's attempts. I appreciate the comments...thanks!

@Roseanne: I did actually push the valance to the ceiling, but then you could see the top of the shades, which I didn't like. But then your suggestion of adding roman shades would solve that issue. I had thought of roman shades before, but wasn't sure of how to do them. And I love the idea of the raised panels. I have been searching Houzz for ideas there, but most window seats I have seen have what look like fake drawer fronts which look great, but I'm not sure how to achieve it on mine.
The thing is, my seat is higher than most window seats and I think it makes it more difficult to copy some of the ideas I've seen here. Always appreciate the help on this forum though...thanks!

leave valance style the way it is and mount to ceiling, leave side panels. I think if change paint color on the front of the window seat below cushion and put some trim to make it more decorative i think would look awesome or even waynescoating i think i spelled that right

I noticed on second look that you have brown in your bedding so I guess it all makes sense. I like the idea of beadboard or wainscoting on the bench front or even the sides. Wish I could sew like you! Very talented!!

Thanks Laurae! I will post more pics as this project evolves... :o)