Window Valances for Every Style
Save a Little Cash, Add a Bit of Flair by Dressing Just the Top of Your Windows
The first time my seamstress bid on my home's draperies, I wanted to punch myself in the soul to escape the steep, you-gotta-be-@$%#&-me, sticker shock. Anyone who's had a seamstress consultation is probably familiar with the amount of money it costs to dress windows properly.
Then I discovered the art of using valances. While draperies are money-suckers, mostly due to the amount of fabric, liner and labor required for custom fabrication, valances are another story; they require less material and often even less labor, depending on style and size. Before you go counting out this less popular choice of window dressing, take a look at all it has to offer.
Then I discovered the art of using valances. While draperies are money-suckers, mostly due to the amount of fabric, liner and labor required for custom fabrication, valances are another story; they require less material and often even less labor, depending on style and size. Before you go counting out this less popular choice of window dressing, take a look at all it has to offer.
And then there's the pleated, skirt-style valance. This style is a bit more traditional, think Phoebe Howard, and it embodies extreme elegance. My favorite place to play with pleated valances is a traditional or transitional style nursery. Depending on which gimp, tape or trim you choose, the style can go fully feminine or moderately masculine. Just stay away from nauseating prints like smiling duckies, pink bunnies or monster trucks.
And then there was the balloon valance. I'm a modernist so I don't have much to say on this from an experience point of view. Instead, let's just discuss its DNA. It's basically an unlined rectangle of fabric with casings at the top and bottom edges. For structure, fabric is threaded onto curtain rods through both casings with the lower rod fixed in a position allowing the valance to sort of drape over and conceal it, creating the balloon effect. Hence its name—ha!
Upholstered cornice board —yes, please. What's so wonderful about these doozies is their ability to save money otherwise spent on hardware. The upholstered horizontal header above the draperies conceals a simple drapery track. Plus, just like the simple upholstered valence, cornices are DIY-friendly. This means you can cheap out with your hardware and spend more on dining out—oops, I mean higher-end fabric.
The architectural wood cornice. Here's something not seen as much today as decades back. Just like the upholstered cornice, this option conceals hardware. The main difference is the introduction of elaborate millwork into a space; it's a great way to get architecture and upholstery all in one.
Sneaky, sneaky, sneaky. Here's a way to achieve the look of a valance with a super affordable, readymade window covering: the woven shade.
Tip: Run out to a big box store, grab yourself bamboo or woven grass, then make yourself a deal that you'll keep them raised 2/3 of the way up. This blocks out that extra amount of light meant for a valence but with the fully operational function of blinds.
Tip: Run out to a big box store, grab yourself bamboo or woven grass, then make yourself a deal that you'll keep them raised 2/3 of the way up. This blocks out that extra amount of light meant for a valence but with the fully operational function of blinds.
Back to the pleated, skirt-like valance. If you're into a print versus a solid, toile always ensures stunning results. Skull-and-crossbone patterns? Notsomuch.
And then there are cases where covering up windows should be punishable by piranha. Beautiful windows like this would be sinful to cover; however, adding a bit of privacy with sheer cafe curtains—that's okay.
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To try it yourselves, pick up pre-cut plywood, batting, L-brackets and fabric. Assemble the form, wrap it with batting, attach the fabric to the back with a staple gun, then fasten to the wall with the brackets.