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Make Valance Mounting Board
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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, projected mount. If you need a board that projects further than a 1x2, you can use a standard 1x3, which usually measures 3/4" by 2-3/4". Another standard board size that you can use is a 1x6, which is usually 3/4" by 5-3/4". 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 use a projected mount. Your Valance will be attached directly to the Headrail, which you should have already made. You can go to the next instruction topic.
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The photograph above shows an Outside Mount Valance. It is mounted on a French door over a mini-blind. The photograph on the left is an Inside Mount Valance, also mounted over a mini-blind. Both Valances are in the studio of an interior designer who had a small budget to dress up her space. Rather than purchase new Roman shades, she went with the Valances, which really help add color. |
Decide how you will mount your Valance and then measure your window. Measure at the top of the window and any existing treatments in three dimension 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" to 6" long, if you are simply covering up Top-Down shade hardware. If you are making an Outside-Mount Top-Down shade, you should make your Valance FRONT at least 1" wider than your shade so that it will pull up nicely into the Valance.
Make Valance Mounting Board. Note that this is the same as your Headrail if you are making a Top-Down shade. It is much better to make your mounting board BEFORE you make you Valance. That way you can identify any installation problems before you cut fabric and sew.
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Cut the board to the correct size using a hand saw. Cover the board using plain muslin, which should be cut 4” longer than the board and 3/4” wider than the circumference. Staple the hook fastener (Velcro) to the edge(s) of the board according to the drawings below. You will attach the Valance using this Velcro after you have mounted the board at your window. |
An Outside Mount Valance can be placed so that the board is projected (top drawing) or flat (bottom drawing). Of course, if you are using your Valance to cover a Top-Down shade, you can only use a projected mount.
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 board). 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.
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