When it comes to decorating, window treatments often take a backseat. However, a well-crafted valance or cornice can be a stunning focal point for your windows and curtains, elevating the overall aesthetic of the room. To create a showstopping display, we’ve curated 28 DIY window valance ideas that cater to various rooms and styles. From reclaimed materials to woodworking and sewing projects, our featured ideas offer a range of creative possibilities.
By understanding the fundamental principles behind each project, you’ll gain the skills to adapt these designs to any room in your home, all while enjoying significant cost savings by creating high-end valances at a fraction of the expense.
Use Burlap and Ribbons to Create a Kitchen Valance
For those looking to add a touch of rustic charm to their home decor, burlap is an excellent choice for window treatments. Its neutral color palette makes it a versatile option that can seamlessly blend with a variety of design elements, such as quartz tiles and brown countertops. To give your burlap treatment a polished finish, simply hem the ends and add a decorative ribbon trim to create a beautiful, tailored look.
Creating a Valance With Decorative Fencing
Transforming a space with DIY flair, this unique window treatment combines functional simplicity with personal storytelling. A plastic fencing panel serves as the base, upon which vintage postcards and tags are carefully arranged, infusing the design with a sense of nostalgia and character.
By doing so, the creator has managed to strike a perfect balance between aesthetics and practicality, making it an ideal solution for those seeking to add a touch of warmth and personality to their room’s decor.
Sew Your Own Colorful Valance
Standard blinds can be transformed into a unique-looking room by attaching fabric valances that harmonize with other textiles present in the space. This design approach is accessible even for those who are not skilled sewers, as various fusible fabric adhesives are available in spray, gel, and heat-reactive strip forms. The choice of adhesive depends on the type of fabric being used, ensuring a secure and effective attachment.
Add Glamor to Plain Fabric With Beads and Fringe
Transforming a plain monochromatic fabric into a stunning piece of artistry, adding a touch of elegance with the simple yet striking addition of a beaded fringe along the bottom hem. This clever technique elevates the fabric’s aesthetic appeal, creating a visually intriguing and captivating design. To achieve this look, start by dividing the top section of the fabric into sections that can be gathered and rolled over a rod to create loops.
These sections can be secured in place using either sewing or pinning techniques. With the top portion taken care of, you’re now ready to add the finishing touch – the beaded fringe along the bottom hem.
Build a Simple Wood Cornice Box
Transform a straightforward cornice box into a charming focal point by incorporating distressed details and ornate brackets. This clever design solution is particularly well-suited to homes embracing a rustic or farmhouse aesthetic, where the distressed finish and decorative accents can be cleverly woven into the overall design narrative.
Create a Custom Fabric Cornice
When it comes to creating a custom valance, one of the most versatile materials to use is glue fabric on foam board. This combination offers numerous advantages, including its lightweight nature and ability to be cut to any length. This flexibility is particularly useful when working with irregularly sized windows, as you can easily create a custom fit that complements your home’s unique architecture.
By combining these two materials, you’ll be able to achieve a professional-looking result that adds a touch of elegance to any room.
Hang a Row of Napkins
A convenient solution to display napkins is to utilize clip and hook curtain rings that can be easily obtained from stores with a home goods section. These rings, which are typically mounted onto a curtain rod using clips, provide an added length advantage without requiring any additional fabric sewing, making it a simple and practical way to keep your napkins organized.
A No-Sew Window Treatment Using Sheer Fabric
The exterior of the room is elevated by a striking cornice that continues beyond the window frame, creating a sense of depth and visual interest. The introduction of sheer roller shades adds a pop of color as they subtly filter the sunlight entering the space, producing a warm and inviting ambiance. This clever DIY project can be completed in under an hour, making it an excellent addition to any room’s décor.
Craft a Unique Paper Flower Valance
Transform your space by creating a stunning valance using colorful paper flowers and foam boards. To ensure the longevity of your creation, use thicker cardstock to craft sturdy flower petals. This unique combination can be paired with a Roman shade for a cohesive and visually appealing result.
Build a Realistic-Looking Picket Fence
To create a charming and rustic accent wall, start by securing lightweight wood boards to a sturdy frame that doubles as a cornice box. Once the wooden slats are in place, add a natural touch by twisting grapevine through the openings, allowing its organic beauty to complement the rustic ambiance.
Try a Rolled Valance Project
When it comes to controlling natural light, a rolled valance is an effective solution. By installing one on a double curtain rod that extends beyond the window frame, you can achieve maximum coverage and filter out harsh sunlight. This clever design allows you to layer your window treatments, effortlessly integrating a roller shade underneath for added privacy and a seamless aesthetic.
Distressed Wood Adds Character to Walnut Valance
The rustic charm of walnut wood is showcased through the intentional distressing of the boards, perfectly harmonizing with the farmhouse aesthetic. Meanwhile, the versatile design of the cornice box allows for seamless integration with various window treatments, effortlessly complementing everything from delicate sheer curtains to blackout panels.
Add Character Using Fabric With a Geometric Pattern
To create harmony in your space, consider incorporating a geometric-patterned fabric into your valance design. This subtle touch can help tie the room together by echoing the colors found on the walls and accessories, much like the clever suggestions outlined by My Design Rules.
Easy to Sew Rod Pocket Valance
To create a rod pocket valance with a gathered appearance, you can utilize any type of fabric. To achieve this look, select a piece of fabric that is roughly twice the length of your current rod. Once you have chosen the fabric, start by sewing a deep hem at the bottom to accommodate the loop. Next, sew a running stitch along the top edge, ensuring it’s secure and even.
Use Lightweight Fabric for an Affordable Valance
The humble kitchen curtain gets a touch of elegance with a straightforward yet effective DIY approach. A length of fabric is skillfully gathered onto a black kitchen curtain rod, secured in place using clip and hook rings. To maintain the gathered folds in perfect symmetry, ribbons are employed as keepers, ensuring a polished finish.
Sew Matching Curtains and Roman Shade
To achieve visual cohesion, the homeowner opted to employ the same fabric for both the breakfast area’s tea curtains and the kitchen’s curtains as well. To give the finished product a professional look, iron-on fabric adhesive strips were used to create a seamless hem that could be easily slid over a curtain rod.
Combine Different Fabrics for a Unique Valance
When it comes to combining fabrics, fusible webbing proves to be an incredibly versatile tool. Not only does it enable the seamless joining of similar textiles, but also allows for the creative fusion of different fabric types. By attaching two distinct materials together, you can extend the length of your window covering and create a visually striking design that adds depth and visual interest.
Use Foam Insulation as Structure for Valance
When it comes to insulating drywall, a common approach involves inserting specialized materials or creative alternatives into the studs. In this case, we’re referring to the type of insulation that’s typically inserted into drywall cavities. An innovative way to create spacers between these rings is by repurposing pool noodles – cutting them into pieces and strategically placing them within the drywall for a unique and effective solution.
Tie up Fabric to Create a Scalloped Edge
Achieving a puffy finished look for your DIY window treatment requires a crucial step: inserting quilt batting as a liner between the board frame and fabric. This strategic move enables you to create a visually appealing, gathered effect by pinning and gluing pleats into place.
Easy Unlined Burlap Tie-up Valance
To craft this effortless DIY project, begin by measuring out burlap and start from the bottom, folding it to create an accordion-like pleat. Secure the folds with jute twine for a rustic finish. Surprisingly, despite its textured appearance, the finished product allows plenty of natural light to filter through, making it a great addition to any room.
Reclaimed Wood Pallets Create a Rustic Valance
Once more, reclaimed pallet wood proves its versatility by being repurposed into a stunning valance, cleverly secured to the wall with screws. This thoughtful solution not only adds a touch of rustic charm to the space but also showcases the creative potential of upcycled materials.
Create Upscale Cornice With Cardboard
When foam board isn’t an option, cardboard provides a suitable alternative for securing fabric. To attach the fabric, use thumb tacks to secure it to the cardboard. The lightweight nature of cardboard also makes it easy to hang on window frames or walls using command strips, offering a versatile and practical solution.
Upcycled Tin Becomes Unique Cornice Box
Transforming a rustic panel of tin into a unique cornice box, I began by cutting it into three pieces and securing them to a wooden frame. The tin was then white-washed, giving it a soft, weathered look. Alternatively, you could remove the rust or paint the tin for a bold, contrasting color. Despite the makeover, the textured pattern retains its visual interest, adding an eclectic touch to this cornice box design.
Wood Wall Remnants Become Matching Cornice
The harmony between the cornice, wall, and headboard is strikingly evident. The cornice seamlessly aligns with the surrounding wall, while the valance cleverly complements the headboard’s colour palette, creating a visually appealing cohesion.
Rustic Look Using Rope Stretched Between Panels
The incorporation of rope into a valance brings a charming, earthy touch to a room. In particular, this type of valance serves as both a textural element and a clever concealer for the top of a roller shade, adding depth and visual interest to the space.
Loosely Hang Colorful Napkins for Country Cottage Look
When it comes to creating kitchen valances, don’t limit yourself to traditional options. Consider repurposing table linens or even scarves from your wardrobe to add a touch of personality to your kitchen design. To avoid overwhelming the space, opt for a thin kitchen rod kit that will complement the lightness of the napkins. By thinking outside the box and incorporating unexpected elements, you can create a unique and visually appealing valance that reflects your personal style.
Quickly Create Personalized Valance With Wood
To give a rustic kitchen a one-of-a-kind touch, a wooden board can be transformed through the process of sanding and stenciling. This creative approach allows for a unique design that showcases personal style while adding warmth to the space.
Dark Stain Adds Drama to Easy Cornice Box Project
The juxtaposition of a rich, dark-stained wood panel against the delicate, flowing texture of long lace curtains creates a visually striking combination. To add further stability and visual interest, consider incorporating a bracket or other decorative element within a longer cornice design, as seen in the work of Abbi Kirsten Collections.
