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How To Make a Valance.  A fabric Valance can be used alone on a bare window, dress up an existing window treatment or used to hide the hardware of a top-down shade. Read the complete instructions on how to make both an Inside Mount Valance and an Outside Mount Valance. Learn an easy technique that makes your Valance look like a padded cornice when it is mounted on a simple 1x2 or 1x3 board. If you are unclear about any terms used, I
have given many definitions in the FAQs Terms
and Definitions Section.
Step 1. Decide upon an Inside-Mount or an Outside-Mount Valance.
You have two options for mounting your Valance: inside or outside. On a bare window, you can use either an inside or outside mount. However, if there is an existing window treatment, you will usually use an outside, projection mount. If you need a board that projects further than a 1x2, you can use a standard 1x3 (which usually measures 3/4" x 2 1/4"). Another standard board size that you can use is a 1x6 (usually 3/4" by 5 1/5"). If you want another projection depth, a full-service lumber store will "rip" a 1x6 down to a smaller size for a nominal fee. If you are making a Top-Down/Bottom-Up (or a Top-Down Only) shade, you will need to use a projected mount, BUT this can be either above the window (Outside-Mount) or mounted to the inside top of the window trim (Inside-Mount). The reason for this is that you need room for the shade to pull up inside of the Valance. If you have already made your Top-Down shade, you will be placing your Valance directly on the Headrail, which should already have the Velcro attached. Step 2. Measure Your Window. Measure the top of the window and any existing treatments in three dimensions (width, length and depth). Decide on the finished width and the finished length of the FRONT of your Valance. Normally the length of a Valance will be between 10" and 24". The Valance may also be very short, say only 4" - 6" long, if you are simply covering up Top-Down hardware. If you are making a Top-Down/Bottom-Up (or a Top-Down Only) shade, you should make your outside-mount Valance FRONT about 1" wider than your shade (or about 1/2" on each side).
Step 3.
Make Valance Mounting Board. (Note that this is the same as your
Headrail if you have already made a Top-Down shade.) If you are making an Inside-Mount valance, you only attach the Velcro to the front of the board. The sides will be up against the inside of the window frame.
You use a flat inside-mount installation ONLY if the inside depth of your window is less than 1-3/4" (the largest dimension of a 1x2). I still use a 1x2 and install the board using a 3" drywall screw. I could also purchase a 1x1 board, but I like to keep life simple and find that keeping 3" screws around is easier than storing various lengths of 1x1's. I pre-drill a hole that is just large enough for the screw to pass through the board. Then I can simply insert the screws, tap on them with a hammer, and screw them into the window trim. Since a Valance is not heavy, I use a minimal number of screws or angle brackets to hold it to the wall or window. The heavy part is the actual board. I space my "attachments" about 20" to 24" apart. So a 2-ft board would have 2 screws (one at each end). A 3-ft to 4-ft board would have 3 screws (one at each end and one in the center), etc. Continue the
Learning Process with "Part 2: Make a
Valance"
There is, of course, no way that I can guarantee that you purchase anything from me. However, there is one thing you should NOT do. That is, modify and claim these directions as your own. Contact Information: Terrell Designs, owned by Terrell Sundermann 5325 Sanford Cir. E. Englewood, Colorado 80113 Phone: (303) 758-0188 Email:
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It is much better to make your mounting board BEFORE you make your Valance.
That way you can identify any installation problems before you cut fabric and sew. Cut
the board to the correct size using a hand saw. Cover the board using plain muslin. (Cut the muslin
4" longer than the board and 1/2" wider than
the circumference of the board.) Staple the hook fastener (Velcro) to the edge of the mounting board.
The Velcro goes on the front of an Inside-Mount board
and the front and both sides on an Outside-Mount board. You will attach the Valance
using this Velcro after you have mounted the board to the wall. 
