No valance please. Not anywhere but a child's room., and especially not skimpy valances : )

I would consider Hunter Douglas " Vignettes" which can be had in room darkening options, and will appear as lovely roman shades when yanked up in day time hours.. Many fabrics and colors and no added treatment will be necessary.

Drapery is a good thing. Vignettes/blinds/shades are utilitarian but add nothing to the personality of a room unless you are going for the not finished feel. Reading on houzz gives the idea valances are passe right now. I think they do a marvelous job of giving some color, warmth to a room while hiding the utility window covering by day when it is not being used. Window seats are a challenge when you need privacy or light blocking. Would roman shades give you what you need. They are suggested often here. They add some life/color and curiously look very valance like when drawn up.

I totally agree with Jan , NO valences or dust collecting drapes. “Personality “ in a room is best achieved by other means, not by adding froufrou to the windows..

I like Jan's thought about Vignettes, or I'd consider three roman shades with room darkening/blackout fabric liner.

Hmmm. I will have to keep exploring. Roman shades have been a heavily recommended product for years. And I love the ones I have in my home in the kitchen nook and family room. I don't know that I would call them utilitarian but, they do not provide the "look" I want to add to my MB. The walls have been painted with shades of grey and black, we have added grey stone around the fireplace, and we will be changing the carpet to a similar shade. I had intended on adding some artwork and a few succulents for color but, was really looking for something to soften the look and not make it look as industrial. Thank you for the comments :)

Roman shades are SUCH a classic choice. Especially with all the possibilities of fabric. (whether cloth or woven wood)

The sky is the limit with color, texture and trims.

THINK of all the different fabrics and colors you can explore.

I love classic Roman shades and that would be my first choice.

Too, it would be nice if people could share a variety of opinions here without the fear of being screamed at by a "pro" about how they're wrong.

If your windows in the window seat are proportional to the other two windows in the room...

You could do bottom up blinds, and also use the valances that you like that are on the other two windows. Three rods, blinds, and valances, keeping the three windows look and feel.