How to Choose Window Valances
Window valances are great for dressing up plain curtains and blinds or even bare windows. You may have been inspired to think about decorating with these window treatments after seeing a great valance in someone’s home or in a decorating magazine but when it comes to finding the right valance for your own windows in a particular room it can be a difficult choice. What you see in that great picture is unlikely to be right for YOUR windows but you can still find a valance which will add style to your home.
1. Set a Budget
Think about how much you are willing to spend on your window valance and remember you will need drapery hardware too. While cheap window valances will not do much to enhance your room décor you don’t have to go overboard with designer draperies to have a beautiful home either. If you’re not sure about how much valances cost do a little research on prices online to get an idea so that you don’t get a shock when you go shopping.
2. Measure Your Windows
If you already have drapery rods in place then take a length measurement from these otherwise measure the width of your windows and add between 4 and 6 inches to the width depending where you want the rods to extend on each side of the window.
Simple Cream Swag Valance
3. Think about Styles
Valance window treatments come in so many styles from a simple curtain topper with pinch pleated heading to the fanciest set of swags and tails but the most important thing is that the valance you choose fits in with the style and theme of the room you have in mind. Is your room a boudoir fit for a princess or a formal dining room you will use for dinner parties? Are you looking to decorate a country kitchen window or a chic city bathroom? Always think about whether each particular style you are considering matches the room style or confuses it.
4. Think about Fabrics
Fabrics need to meet the following criteria
- does the fabric drape well or could it be pressed into crisp folds depending on the style of the valance
- is the fabric weight similar to the weight of the curtain fabric if relevant (if you think about light cotton curtains being topped by heavy velvet valances or heavy velvet drapes being topped by a sheer scarf valance you’ll see what I mean about weights needing to match)
- is the fabric design and color in keeping with the color and design of the curtains and the color and design of the room. You may want to choose the same fabric for your curtains and valance (perhaps with a contrast lining) to make life easy!
5. Go Browsing
Once you have an idea of your requirements browse around online to get some options. You may find just what you are looking for in ready made valances but you will find many more options if you look at custom valances for the windows. If you have not yet chosen curtains you may be able to buy coordinating drapes or shades and valances together. And if you are still not sure which to buy see our buying checklist so that you can weigh up the various options.
6. Place Your Order
Once you are happy with your choice place your order and wait for your purchase to arrive in the mail!
The Best Discount Valances
Window valances can cost a pretty penny. If you are not careful you can easily run up a five hundred dollar credit card debt when you order a custom valance for an average sized living room window, and that is too much for the average sized budget, particularly when you consider that this type of window treatment is only one part of the equation, and you will need curtains or blinds too.
You may scour your local area for a suitable valance at a discount but unless you hit lucky and find one in the sales you are likely to be out of luck and have only sore feet to show for your trouble (and am empty wallet because of all the other things you bought in the sales that you were not meant to be looking for).
The best place to search for discount valances by far is on the Internet where you have virtually every style of window treatment on the planet at your disposal. Without moving from your chair, you can easily find the window valances for sale at the cheapest prices as well as those with the best designs. Unfortunately the two are not often the same thing, so if you are looking for discount window valances you may need to compromise a little.
Discount Valances
CLICK IMAGE FOR DETAILS
Think about your room and about what would make it look good and then settle for a design, which provides the right effect at the right price. If you are open to considering many different styles, you will often have more luck finding discount window treatments, simply because you will not pass by deals which are different from the fixed picture you would otherwise have in your mind for precisely how your windows should look.
Another idea when you are looking for cheap window valances is to consider creating your own scarf valance as these are relatively easy to make and simple to use to decorate the tops of your windows. You would need to find a suitable fabric, which basically means one that drapes well and matches or complements both your room and your curtains or blinds. Buy a length which is two to three times the width of your windows, plus an allowance for seams. See “How Hang a Scarf Valance” within “Scarf Valance Best Buys and Ideas” which will explain how to measure and style your scarf valance.
The Latest Kitchen Window Valances
While you can use simple window valances in your kitchen as a top window treatment to decorate above a plain curtain or blind, for the most part kitchen window valances are part of a set with a window valance at the top of the window and cafe curtains below – so called tiered kitchen curtains. This type of window covering allows maximum privacy while still letting in plenty of light through the upper part of the window.
Tiered window valances add a level of decoration which is particularly effective in a family or country kitchen. They have a warm, welcoming feel which is in contrast to the latest contemporary kitchens with shiny surfaces and gleaming stainless steel. If you have a contemporary kitchen, limit window valances to the simple type. A kitchen window valance in plain fabric with a tabbed top can be very effective for this kind of style where any kind of frill or gathering would look out of place.
When choosing valances for kitchens, take care to buy window treatments which are easy to care for as kitchen curtains and valances need washing more than most due to the moisture and grease which floats around in a kitchen, where a lot of cooking takes place.
If your kitchen windows are small, take care not to block too much light with your valances and curtains. You don’t want your kitchen to become unnecessarily dark. One trick is to hang your kitchen valance a little above the normal position, just covering an inch or two at the top of the window, giving the impression of a slightly taller window.
Below, you will find a selection of the latest kitchen window valances to help you choose the kind of valances which are right for your kitchen. There is only space to show a few, so if you don’t see anything to your liking, take a look here for a great selection, many with discount prices.
 Battenburg White Kitchen Window Valance (Click Image for Details) |
The curtains shown here are sold in three parts to produce a beautiful tiered effect. There is the white kitchen valance insert, swags hanging to the sides of the valance and cafe curtains in a choice of lengths. All three are made in 100% machine washable cotton. Click here for further details. |
 Beautiful Tie Up Kitchen Curtain Valance (Click Image for Details) |
Attractive garden fruit design kitchen window valance with tie up feature in easy care 52% polyester 48% cotton, fully machine washable. This would look great in a country style kitchen. There are matching bottom tiers available too in two lengths. For more information and discount Click Here.
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This kitchen valance set would look great in a contemporary modern kitchen and give a smart streamlined look to your windows without frills. 100% cotton, machine washable. The set is available in two colors, red stripe pictured and blue stripe. You can get details of both here.
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 Contemporary valance Set in Red or Blue Stripe (Click Image for Details) |
 Valance Kitchen Curtains with Fun Chef Design (Click Image for Details) |
There are three parts to this set which are sold separately including the inset valance, the side swags and the cafe curtain (bottom tier) so you can choose a required. The chef design on these curtains adds a fun touch to your kitchen. Edged in black and white gingham. Made in machine washable polyester cotton. Click here for details.
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Unusual three part kitchen valance set (sold separately) comprising an inner sheer white window valance, swag pair and curtain tier in 100% polyester decorated with sunflowers. For details of sizes and low prices Click Here
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 Sheer White Kitchen Window Valance with Sunflower Design (Click Image for Details) |
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I hope you find just what you are looking for here. Please note, unless otherwise labeled, all product links will take you to great deals on Amazon.com. See affiliate disclosure.