Our Kitchen Valance

A few weeks ago, I gave you all the latest peek at our current rental kitchen. The wallpaper certainly created the biggest visual change in here, but the valance above the window also helped the room feel more complete.

There is nothing particularly fancy or functional about valances…they are literally just strips of fabric above a window. However, they are the ideal place to use a large-scale, eye-catching, unifying fabric to set the tone or feel of a room and/or bring lots of different elements together.

I chose to hang our valance on a curtain rod to match the other window treatments throughout our lower level. However, there are many ways to hang valances, including rods, rings with clips, tension rods and even Velcro if you really want it to be a quick, simple, and totally temporary DIY.

There are many, many ways to make a window valance (including just throwing some fabric over a tension rod!), but this tutorial outlines how I prefer to do it. This method features a lining on the back of the valance and a rod pocket to make for clean lines and simple installation. That said, these instructions could also be easily adapted to fit your specific needs. I tried to break this down to make it as simple as possible for the novice or everyday sewer. If you can measure and sew a straight line, you CAN do this project, I promise! Let me walk you through it!

NOTE: My flowered window valance was VERY wide (about 70″!) making it really hard to photograph in a way that would be truly helpful to you. So that you could see exactly how this window valance comes together, I re-created a (much) smaller version with some scrap fabric.

How To Make A Box Pleat Valance

This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase something via one of my links, I may make a small commission.

Box pleat valances are usually mounted to a board, but you can make a box pleat valance on a rod, too and it's super easy.

Follow my step by step tutorial with pictures.

Whether you sew or you don't, you can get a custom look, on a budget. It's really all about the ironing.

Last week I updated my master bathroom with a few small accessories, this box pleat valance being one of them.

Today I am sharing how I made it.

I'm careful to warn you though, I'm not any kind of expert sewer.

All of my stitching prowess can be attributed to one semester of middle school home economics, one super crafty aunt, one grandmother from Sicily.

And one very generous and patient friend.

I never use a pattern for my curtains and I can assure you that there are going to be some experienced seamstresses out there cringing at my methods, but they work and my sewing projects look great.

Ok, enough of my disclaimer, you have been warned. 😉

DIY Window Valance | Free Tutorial

Let's learn how to make a DIY Window Valance! Are you tired of looking at plain, boring windows? Want to add a touch of style and personality to your home without breaking the bank? Look no further than a DIY window valance!

In this blog post, we'll show you step-by-step how to create your own custom window valance using simple materials and basic sewing skills. Whether you're a seasoned DIY-er or just starting out, this project is perfect for adding a pop of color and texture to any room in your home. So grab your fabric, thread, and sewing machine, and let's get started on creating a beautiful window treatment that will make your space truly stand out!

Box Pleat Valance Pattern

Most inverted box pleat curtains and valances are mounted to a board. That was too permanent for me.

I didn't want to make a cornice box or add new hardware to the window, so I made my valance on a rod.

*IF YOU DON'T SEW, YOU CAN USE FUSIBLE WEB INSTEAD OF STITCHING.

Just keep in mind that it's supposed to be washable and dry cleanable, but I've never tried it.