The key difference lies in their structure and look: valances are soft and flowing, made from loose fabric, while cornices are considered hard window treatments. Cornices are typically fabric wrapped around a wooden frame, creating a more structured, flat appearance.
Custom cornices and valances provide an ideal opportunity to shift your architecture, personal taste, and functional needs into alignment.
One of the great benefits of a cornice is that it neatly conceals your window treatment hardware—whether it’s the top cassette of a roller shade or the stack of blinds—keeping everything clean and polished. Cornices can also cover plain drapery rods, adding a lovely and elegant touch to your windows. Plus, when custom-made, cornices can be crafted in any shape or size, allowing you to design something perfectly suited to your space.
For a timeless and beautiful look, a traditional cornice design features “ears”—the sides that extend down the window—longer than the center. A straight, horizontal line over the window paired with scalloped detailing on the ears creates a classic, endearing aesthetic. No matter the size of your window, a cornice can be a stunning focal point, adding both style and function to the room. The only consideration is proportion: the ears of the cornice should be in harmony with the window size for a balanced appearance.
At its core, a cornice is a fabric-wrapped board where the fabric lies smooth and taut, making it perfect for showing off patterns or creating a sleek, clean look. Cornices can also be customized with shaped bottoms or layered with drapery panels to add even more dimension and personality to your space.
Custom valances are a work of art with fabric that covers the uppermost portion of a window. Valances are versatile as they can be used on their own or in conjunction with shades, blinds and side panels.
In a window that gets little sunlight, like perhaps a kitchen, you can use only a pretty patterned valance so you can still let natural sunlight inside and be able to see well without the need for as much lighting in the room. Another great use of valances on their own is a bank of windows, such as bay or bow windows that don’t get a lot of sunlight. These specialty windows are an architectural feature of your home and deserve to be seen in all their glory.
Many homeowners and businesses decide to use blinds, shutters or shades in windows in a solid and neutral color and then they add a colorful valance to give the window a great deal of interest.
Choosing custom valances allows you to choose from a huge selection of styles to fit your exact specifications. Valance styles vary from a straight bottom hem that is straight across at the top of the window to beautiful accents with ascots, scallops, balloon styles, swags, scarf’s and so much more.
Valances of any style are also a wonderful way to add some exciting and dramatic trim. You can choose from thousands of styles of trim tape on the edges, fringes, box pleated ribbon or tape, buttons, frogs, rosettes, and piping to give your custom draperies and valance choices a style that is all your own. We love to repeat your choice of valance trim on tiebacks for drapery panels to seamlessly pull your entire creation together.
When done right, the right top window treatment—be it a cornice or valance—can truly elevate a room’s design, aligning with your style, quality expectations, and day-to-day lifestyle.
At Designer Draperies, we bring a history of great work and expertise to every project. As a longstanding, trusted window treatment specialist for discerning homeowners, designers, and architects across New Jersey, we’re known for:<
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