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!
Scarf Valance Best Buys and Ideas
As window valances go, a scarf valance is the easiest kind to hang or make. It is simply a length of fabric, hung over a drapery pole in an elegant and stylish way, which is then secured to keep it in place.
You will find most scarf valances are made of sheer or very light materials such as voile or muslin as these have superior draping qualities. A window scarf valance like this is generally cheap to buy and is not worth making. You would probably find that the fabric would cost more than a ready made sheer valance. It is only when you are looking at much more elaborate valances that you can save huge amounts by making them yourself.
You can also improvise quite a bit without having to do as much as get your sewing machine out. If you find sheer or fine curtain panels which you like, but which don’t have a matching valance, buy an additional long curtain panel and use that as a matching top treatment for your window.
Brylane Home Scarf Valance (CLICK IMAGE for AVAILABLE COLORS)
How to Hang a Scarf Valance
Hanging scarf valances is actually very simple, although it may take a bit of experimentation to get the exact effect you want with your window treatment. To hang a scarf valance you need a pole or drapery rod, fixed a few inches above the top of the window, extending two or three inches beyond the window on each side or valance holders or rings which are fixed where the ends of the pole would be.
If you don’t already have a length of fabric you want to use as a valance scarf, experiment with a piece of twine or a spare piece of fabric to get the effect you want with your valance. You can then see the right length of fabric to buy for your finished scarf window valance.
Once you have your fabric, neaten the edges so that they will not fray, and then drape it over the pole with a small amount overlapping the top the window, and then loop it around the pole at the sides so you have lengths hanging part way down the side of the window (or create the same effect looping the fabric through the valance holders at the sides). You can either make these side lengths equal, or have a more asymmetric valance with one side longer than the other. Once you have a look you think you like, stand back and take a look from a distance so that you can see if it is in proportion to the window.
You can leave your window scarf valances without fixing them in place but once you have a look you like it is worth securing a valance to prevent it slipping about. All you need are a few loose stitches or a couple of pins to keep things in place. Undo these when you take your valance down to launder it. If you are worried about getting the same effect when replacing your valance, take a picture so that you can copy the look later.
How to Find the Best Scarf Valance Styles
These types of window valances are merely draped so it is very easy to copy any styles that you see. Look for pictures in interior design magazines and online (see Best Buys section below) to get the best scarf valance ideas and then just experiment with a similar piece of fabric until you get the same effect. Unfortunately, some of the look may depend on the proportions of the window you are decorating, so you may not get quite the same effect but you can have fun trying out different styles.
Best Scarf Valance Buys
You can find a lot of scarf valance window treatments at low prices right HERE. Many of the scarf valances for sale have discounts and free shipping. The pictures there will also give you some scarf valance ideas to try out.
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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