ArtsAutosBooksBusinessEducationEntertainmentFamilyFashionFoodGamesGenderHealthHolidaysHomeHubPagesPersonal FinancePetsPoliticsReligionSportsTechnologyTravel

Valances

Updated on November 9, 2010

Window valances are used in every kind of room and with every kind of window as a decorative element and for other reasons depending on the room. In the living room or family room they are most likely there to hide the hardware used to hang your curtains or blinds. Of course, there is hardware for window valances as well, but there are styles of valances that include not only a curtain rod that extends across a window, but small rod extensions that go all the way back to the wall. The result is a box of fabric around the window hardware, hiding it from view. In a kitchen, the window valance might be a way to add some color and texture to a room that does not have many decorating opportunities other than chair cushions or to help draw the eye from kitchens to breakfast nooks because the height of the valances matches the height of the kitchen cabinets. In a bedroom, window valances might be a way to perpetuate a decorating theme or are also used to hide hardware. Window valance treatments are not part of the system used to block harsh sunlight or protect your privacy. They are purely a decorative item with some helpful side effects.

Shaped Window Valances versus Tailored Window Valances

When a retailer refers to a shaped window valance they are talking about a window valance treatment that looks like box around the top of the window.  Not only is there fabric that falls straight down anywhere from twelve to sixteen inches in front of the top of the window, the fabric continues around the sides.  Window valances usually hand approximately two the three inches in front of the window so the curtain rod that hold them up is attached to the wall with extenders.  Valance window treatments are made so that the fabric also hangs on those extenders creating a small box. 

Tailored window valances are different in that they do not include those pieces of fabric over the extenders.  Instead, the window valance hangs directly from the curtain rod with no fabric to hide the hardware.  Tailored window valance treatments are kind of like really short curtains, but they do not part in the center.  They are one piece of fabric that extends the entire width of the window.  You might choose a tailored style window valance over a shaped window valance if you were planning on using a loop hanging system rather than a rod pocket.  In addition, the tailored window valances are usually a little less expensive so if money is a concern they are the better choice.  Finally, the tailored window valances are typically easier to take down and, in the kitchen especially, they need to be washed often.  That is one reason you will see lots of information about tailored window valances one blogs and websites like BNS Kitchen Furniture.

Variations of Basic Window Valance Styles

No matter which basic window valance style you choose, shaped or tailored, there are a large number of variations that you can make to add character or elegance to your valances. One variation is a scalloped or pointed bottom edge. Instead of a completely rectangular piece of fabric with a straight bottom, the bottom edge can have small scallops, large scallops, or points. The shapes make the valance treatments more interesting and might be a decorative choice as well. For example, if the pattern on your sofa has small scallops then a scalloped window valance is a good way to tie the two together. Another example might be in the kitchen where you have diamond shaped accent tiles in you backsplash. A pointed window valance could be a connection to those diamond shapes in the tile.

Scalloped Window Valance
Scalloped Window Valance
Pointed Window Valance
Pointed Window Valance
Tapered Window Valance
Tapered Window Valance
Banner Window Valance
Banner Window Valance
Balloon Window Valance
Balloon Window Valance
Scarf Window Valance
Scarf Window Valance

Other variations include a tapered window valance or a banner style window valance. The tapered window valance is one where the fabric starts down on both sides, but then the bottom edge is one large curve where the middle of the valance is longer than the rest. The banner window valance is slightly different and actually consists of three pieces of fabric rather than just one. The center piece of fabric is a half circle that starts at the upper corners of the valance with the longest part in the center. Then, behind that circular piece of fabric there is a triangular piece on each side. Both of these styles of window valances are usually done with stiff fabrics or even boards covered in fabrics rather than loose puckered fabrics.

Still another variation would be the balloon valance. Balloon window valances are made so that there is a balloon of fabric hanging from the curtain rod rather than a straight piece. The baric that hangs down is folded back on itself to create a pocket of fabric which is puffed up. These window treatments need more maintenance than most because you need to constantly making sure that the balloon is puffed and not wilting. One last way to make small changes to the basic valance styles is by adding trim or fringe. Some valances will have fringe hanging down along the entire bottom edge while others will have small pendants hanging at the bottom of points. Other window valances include buttons or other small embellishments.

Scarf Window Valances

There is another style of window valance that is not at all like either of the two basic window valance styles I described above called a scarf window valance. The valances are long pieces of fabric that go from the floor on side of the window, up to the top, across the width of the window, and back down to the other side to the floor. They are usually made of sheer and light fabrics that hang well. The manner in which the fabric is draped across the width of the window can vary. On method is to just drape it from one corner to the other so there is one large scallop of material. If you use this method, there really is not need of a curtain rod extending across the window. Two loops or tie back racks would be sufficient to secure the fabric on either corner. Alternatively, you can use a curtain rod and drape the fabric over it in several places creating any number of scallops. Two or three seem to be the most popular choices.

working

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: https://corp.maven.io/privacy-policy

Show Details
Necessary
HubPages Device IDThis is used to identify particular browsers or devices when the access the service, and is used for security reasons.
LoginThis is necessary to sign in to the HubPages Service.
Google RecaptchaThis is used to prevent bots and spam. (Privacy Policy)
AkismetThis is used to detect comment spam. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide data on traffic to our website, all personally identifyable data is anonymized. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Traffic PixelThis is used to collect data on traffic to articles and other pages on our site. Unless you are signed in to a HubPages account, all personally identifiable information is anonymized.
Amazon Web ServicesThis is a cloud services platform that we used to host our service. (Privacy Policy)
CloudflareThis is a cloud CDN service that we use to efficiently deliver files required for our service to operate such as javascript, cascading style sheets, images, and videos. (Privacy Policy)
Google Hosted LibrariesJavascript software libraries such as jQuery are loaded at endpoints on the googleapis.com or gstatic.com domains, for performance and efficiency reasons. (Privacy Policy)
Features
Google Custom SearchThis is feature allows you to search the site. (Privacy Policy)
Google MapsSome articles have Google Maps embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
Google ChartsThis is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)
Google AdSense Host APIThis service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Google YouTubeSome articles have YouTube videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
VimeoSome articles have Vimeo videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
PaypalThis is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook LoginYou can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
MavenThis supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)
Marketing
Google AdSenseThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Google DoubleClickGoogle provides ad serving technology and runs an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Index ExchangeThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
SovrnThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook AdsThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Unified Ad MarketplaceThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
AppNexusThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
OpenxThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Rubicon ProjectThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
TripleLiftThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Say MediaWe partner with Say Media to deliver ad campaigns on our sites. (Privacy Policy)
Remarketing PixelsWe may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.
Conversion Tracking PixelsWe may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.
Statistics
Author Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)
ComscoreComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Tracking PixelSome articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)
ClickscoThis is a data management platform studying reader behavior (Privacy Policy)