The benefits of adding a window valance

Everyone wants a lot of windows in their house. They are often a selling point, but few people stop to think about what covering those windows will entail. Window treatments are an essential part of home décor because they provide us with privacy and help protect the things inside our home from strong sunlight. One type of window treatment is a window valance. There are several reasons why window valances are a good option when choosing your window decorations.

First, window valances hide curtain rods and other curtain hanging accessories from view. A regular curtain rod is a straight piece that hangs from two wall fixtures at each end. Hanging valances are a slightly different type of rod because the rod turns ninety degrees at each end and returns to the wall. The valance fabric continues the entire length of the rod so that any other curtain rod or blind hardware behind is completely hidden from view. No matter how good your blinds or curtains look, metal hardware is distracting and takes the beauty out of your windows. Borders help eliminate this problem.

Second, valances can help link two or more rooms together. Interior decorators are always looking for ways to link adjacent rooms so that the eye easily flows from room to room and the entire house appears as a cohesive entity rather than a random grouping of rooms. Even if your windows are of different sizes and at different heights in different rooms, window valances can bring an element of uniformity to your windows from an interior perspective. If you are careful to hang your valance treatments so that they are all at the same level, the eye will travel along that line easily. It can cover more than one window and less than another, but it will tie together the different areas of your home very well.

Finally, drapes and valances specifically can bring color, shape, and texture to a room that would otherwise have none. The breakfast nook, for example, is a room where there is very little room for decoration, unless you are using utilitarian items like placemats or seat cushions. Valances are another opportunity like that. You can bring out the colors in the kitchen or other neighboring rooms and you can add a patterned border to give the room some shape rather than making the whole thing too angular. For example, a scalloped edge can soften a breakfast nook with a square table and chairs.