A curtain valance is a panel that covers the top of a window to hide drapery hardware. Also known as a topper, a valance can be used with or without a curtain for decorative purposes. It adds a modern or classic style, depending on the rest of your decor.
How do you hang curtains and a valance?
Part 3 Part 3 of 3: Putting up the Valance Download Article
- Hang the curtains. Thread the curtain onto the rod and then hang the rod in the brackets. ...
- Slide the valance onto its rod. Hold the valance in one hand and slide the rod through it. ...
- Put the rod onto the brackets and hang the valance. Place the rod on the brackets for the valance. ...
- Use a steamer to smooth out wrinkles on the valance. ...
How to sew a curtain valance?
Sew the Rod Pocket
- Measure the thickness of your curtain rod. Standard rods are one inches, continental rods may be 3 to 5 inches.
- Use the measurement of your curtain rod, plus one inch to determine where to mark the seam for your rod pocket.
- Mark along the entire width of your valance with a piece of chalk two inches from the top of the valance.
How to drape a valance?
Scarf Valance
- Place the pressed scarf valance right side down on a large, flat surface.
- Fold the valance back and forth like an accordion to create a stack of soft folded fabric. ...
- Cut at least three strips of paper in wide bands. ...
- Ask a friend to help you balance and bring the folded valance up to the drapery rod. ...
How to make shower curtain valance?
- Buy two different curtain rods.
- Install the hardware for the cafe rod or regular rod for the sheer panel or lightweight curtain.
- Install the hardware for the valance.
- Thread the lightweight curtain or sheer panel onto the café rod or regular curtain rod.
- Thread the valance onto the its rod.
How to look at a valance?
What is pleated valance?
What is a pleat called when you fold over a window?
What are the pleats on a silk valance called?
How to make a box pleat valance?
What are center pleats on Roman shades?
Can you make a straight pleat valance with contrasting fabric?
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Curtain Valance
This is short curtain at the top of a window, usually a deep frill of fabric framing the window and hiding the curtain track or rod and usually has a gathered or pleated heading.
Types of Valance
This is the same as an Austrian Shade except much shorter. It has vertical rows of shirring and horizontal gathers which produce soft scallops at the bottom of the curtain valance. It can be trimmed with a fringe for added decoration. This style of valance suits a light, soft fabric and doesn’t require lining.
How to look at a valance?
Pay attention to the sides of the valance. There must be extra fabric when looking at the valance from the side, one way or another.
What is pleated valance?
So what is a pleated valance? It means that the fabric on top of the valance has been folded over multiple times to create what is known as a pleat. The pleats are then spaced out evenly to create a unique top header. Inverted box pleats are very popular nowadays thanks to their modern design, but there are also other pleats like pinch, goblet, pencil and cartridge pleats, for example.
What is a pleat called when you fold over a window?
In this example, the fabric is pinched at the very top of the window treatment. Because the pleat is creating by folding over the fabric twice, the Euro pleat is also often called a double pleat or two-fold pleat. It’s also called a fan pleat sometimes (as you can probably tell by now, pleats have many synonyms).
What are the pleats on a silk valance called?
Notice how the pleats on the silk valance above are tucked in towards the center of the valance. These are known as knife pleats. Sometimes inverted box pleats and knife pleats can be combined together. In the two examples of the red valances below, the middle section of each valance had inverted box pleats, while the jabots on the sides were made with knife pleats.
How to make a box pleat valance?
I’ll be honest with you – it’s easy to find a low-quality rod pocket box pleat valance. That’s because there shouldn’t be any stitches that are running across the pleats. Ask your workroom to do one of two things to make sure you’re getting a good quality valance: 1 Create a hand-sewn rod pocket. That way, stitches are visible from the back, but not from the front of the valance. 2 Create a normal rod pocket, with blind stitches across the pleats. This is a combination of a machine-sewn rod pocket across the flat section of the valance and blind stitching across the inverted pleats by hand.
What are center pleats on Roman shades?
If you come across relaxed Roman shades or valances, you’ll often find a center box pleats. These pleats are actually very shallow and are tucked in only about 2 to 3 inches behind the front fabric on each side. This is a trick that fabricators often use to create a more pronounced “smiley face” shape at the bottom of the valance.
Can you make a straight pleat valance with contrasting fabric?
This is necessary to create the proper pleat, so stay away from valances with shallow inverted box pleats.
How wide is a valance?
Tailored valances are often just a few inches wider than the window. Here, a 40-inch window was dressed with a 42-inch valance. Ring top valances like this goblet pleat valance can be tailored, too. Even though the valance hangs casually and can be adjusted on the rod, this adjustment is limited to just an inch or two.
Why do valances look tailored?
While this may seem like a large range of width options, the valance actually looks tailored because the brackets on the curtain rod are adjusted to create a flat, snug fit. Difficult windows like these corner windows not only require tailored valance, but you’ll need custom valances, too.
How to tell if a valance is tailored?
The best way to tell whether a valance is tailored or not is by the specific measurement requirements that it has. For example, a gathered valance where the fabric can be pushed together or apart to equally fit windows that are 36 inches or 52 inches wide cannot be considered to be tailored.
What is a tailored valance?
But the idea is no different than buying a tailored suit or dress. So a tailored valance is simply a top window treatment that happens to be fitted to a window.
Can a 70 inch valance fit a 40 inch window?
If the same valance ends up looking different when it’s installed on two differently sized windows, then it isn’t tailored. For example, a 70-inch valance may have to be ironed flat to fit a 68-inch window, yet it will have to be shirred on the rod to fit a 40-inch window.
Is a window valance a custom made valance?
A tailored window valance isn’t necessarily a custom-made valance, but it can be. There are many valances that can fit a window perfectly that aren’t custom-made. But by the same token, a loosely fitting valance that’s marketed as a “one size fits all single windows” kind of valance isn’t tailored.
Is a rod pocket valance a fitted valance?
Not all rod pocket valances are tailored, but some of them are. Because this style is limited to only fit a window between 38 to 40 inches wide, it’s considered a fitted rod pocket valance. Board-mounted valances are considered to be tailored and are custom-made. Need more design inspiration?
How to make valances look new?
With a soft brush make your valance look sparkling new.
What is a valance return?
To put it simply, a valance return on a window or door is the space between the wall that valance covers and the face of the valance. In other words, valance returns are the side pieces added to a standard valance. In this context, it is important that you should provide a fine finish to the blinds by fixing the valance returns properly ...
What is an allowance on a window?
An allowance is defined as the average width of a valance which can be required on each side. It is meant to give a tailored and snug fit look to your blinds or curtains at the bottom. Return – Depth of the valance from the wall adjoining the window.
Where do you measure valance return?
Measure the valance return from the wall to the back of where the front piece of the valance will sit.
Do Valance returns work?
Have a quick look: Valance returns impart the perfect solution for any home décor. They dress up your blinds in a fascinating way. They make your windows look bigger than before. They are easy to trim up to the desired length. No tool is required while installing them. They resist moisture.
Do valances come with returns?
Valance is supplied with returns sized to hide the end portion of the blinds back to the mounting surface. Please specify the exact measurement of the valance returns so that no addition or deductions are made. It is recommended to install the valance and their returns at the same time.
Can you install valance and return at the same time?
It is recommended to install the valance and their returns at the same time.
How long are valances?
They are often used in cottage-style décor or to provide some coverage for doors or bay windows. Standard-sized valances are usually 5 inches long.
What do curtains do to a room?
Neat, well-lined, and carefully placed curtains will make a room look bigger and fresher. They can add to the symmetry of the room or help you hide an awkwardly-placed window. On the other hand, the effect of using the wrong curtain size is harder to define.
How far down do curtains leave?
Puddling length curtains usually leave up to two or three inches below the floor. The idea here is to get the curtains to puddle on the floor. This style is usually showcased in very formal rooms, such as old-style dining rooms. The “puddles” tend to look better with heavier winter fabrics, and velvety finishes will add to their dramatic appeal.
How far above the window should a curtain rod be?
Before deciding on a certain size, make sure to locate the exact points where the rods will be installed and supported. Try to make sure the rod is at least 4 inches above the top edge of the window. This will ensure complete coverage and will prevent the rod from being visible through the window – unless you are dealing with tier curtains, a visible rod is a huge no-no!
How far should a floating curtain be from the floor?
Usually, floating curtains should hang either 4 inches under the edge of the window or just two inches away from the floor.
How wide are curtains?
Standard Curtain Width. As a near-universal convention, most standard curtain panels are 48 inches wide, so sizes vary mostly in length. The idea is that if you have very wide windows, you should be able to line several curtains together – so the big challenge is to look for the right length.
What is floating curtain?
The idea behind floating curtains is to leave some room between the edge of the curtain and the floor. This style is great for scenic rooms with very wide or panoramic views: if matched with sheer or light curtains or with an additional layer of cascading or tied draperies, floating curtains create a very exotic visual effect.
How to look at a valance?
Pay attention to the sides of the valance. There must be extra fabric when looking at the valance from the side, one way or another.
What is pleated valance?
So what is a pleated valance? It means that the fabric on top of the valance has been folded over multiple times to create what is known as a pleat. The pleats are then spaced out evenly to create a unique top header. Inverted box pleats are very popular nowadays thanks to their modern design, but there are also other pleats like pinch, goblet, pencil and cartridge pleats, for example.
What is a pleat called when you fold over a window?
In this example, the fabric is pinched at the very top of the window treatment. Because the pleat is creating by folding over the fabric twice, the Euro pleat is also often called a double pleat or two-fold pleat. It’s also called a fan pleat sometimes (as you can probably tell by now, pleats have many synonyms).
What are the pleats on a silk valance called?
Notice how the pleats on the silk valance above are tucked in towards the center of the valance. These are known as knife pleats. Sometimes inverted box pleats and knife pleats can be combined together. In the two examples of the red valances below, the middle section of each valance had inverted box pleats, while the jabots on the sides were made with knife pleats.
How to make a box pleat valance?
I’ll be honest with you – it’s easy to find a low-quality rod pocket box pleat valance. That’s because there shouldn’t be any stitches that are running across the pleats. Ask your workroom to do one of two things to make sure you’re getting a good quality valance: 1 Create a hand-sewn rod pocket. That way, stitches are visible from the back, but not from the front of the valance. 2 Create a normal rod pocket, with blind stitches across the pleats. This is a combination of a machine-sewn rod pocket across the flat section of the valance and blind stitching across the inverted pleats by hand.
What are center pleats on Roman shades?
If you come across relaxed Roman shades or valances, you’ll often find a center box pleats. These pleats are actually very shallow and are tucked in only about 2 to 3 inches behind the front fabric on each side. This is a trick that fabricators often use to create a more pronounced “smiley face” shape at the bottom of the valance.
Can you make a straight pleat valance with contrasting fabric?
This is necessary to create the proper pleat, so stay away from valances with shallow inverted box pleats.
