• Softening the line of blinds
• Balancing a window with a room's more elegant furnishings
• Covering worn frames
• Concealing unattractive hardware
• Capping overly tall windows or lengthening short ones

Balloon Valance
These valances are essentially pieces of looped fabric, with the ends gathered together at the top and the loop hanging beneath. Depending on the specific styles, sections of fabric can then be drawn up into swag-like scallops. Balloon valances are often stuffed with batting or tissue paper to give them a fuller appearance.

Cornice, Upholstered
Cornices generally consist of a face board (the front), two end boards (the sides), and a dust board (the top). They are stiff and angular, unlike other valances, and require no additional hardware such as rods. For a truly elegant, layered look, overlay a cornice on top of a softer valance treatment. This gives the overall treatment a hard upper edge and softer lower edge. Using floor length curtains with a cornice is perfect for a formal room.

Pleated Valance (return to top and menu)
These generally come in two varieties: box pleats and pinch pleats. A box pleat consists of two folds turned toward each other, creating a flat-fronted, rectangular pleat. They are very angular and stiff looking with a strong vertical element. Pinch pleats are gathered at regular intervals, creating more cone-shaped pleats.

Scarves and Swags
Window scarves are simply pieces of fabric wrapped and draped around rods, brackets or swagholders to create swags. "Swag" is often used interchangeably with "valance", but is in fact a specific kind of top treatment. Swags must include a crescent-shaped loop of fabric. Swags are generally accompanied by jabots, also known as cascades or tails. These are vertical drapes of fabric flanking the swags.

Shaped Valance
Shaped valances are comprised usually of a rod pocket and are defined by the cut of the fabric. Shaped valances vary the most of any valance group. Some shaped valances are board mounted. These are noted as such and do not need additional hardware such as rods.


Sleeve Valance (return to top and menu)
These simple valances are largely comprised of one or two shirred rod pockets creating decorative gathers between, above, or below the rods. Use these valances for an understated elegance and to soften harsh lines.


Tab Top Valance
Tab top valances hang on looped fabric tabs. They do not enclose the drapery rod and require decorative or at least attractive hardware. Tab top valances meant to lay flat should be the width of the window and kept smooth. Gathered tab top valances should have a width of at least 1.5 times that of the window to ensure proper fullness. Our made to measure, tab top gathered valances are twice the width of what you order. So if you tell us the window width is 3 feet, the tab top, gathered valance will include 6 feet of material.