Window Cornices

Cornices are not seen as often today, perhaps because people think of them as very formal or difficult to make. However, they need be either. With the right design and fabric or paint, a cornice can be made to suit any style.

Now, if you don’t think you’re up to making your own window cornice, it’s not difficult to find someone to make one for you. Almost anyone who makes other types of custom window treatments can make cornices, too. However, you may pay quite a bit to have someone make a custom cornice for you, and it’s something that you can do yourself pretty easily. In fact, you can make a beautiful custom window cornice even if you don’t sew.

If you want to make a fabric covered cornice for yourself, I recommend buying a kit for a beginner’s fabric covered cornice. These kits will contain a Styrofoam cornice board and instructions for how to properly cover the cornice board. You’ll purchase your fabric separately so that you can get a custom look. Some kits will contain batting to make your cornice padded, others will not. Choose your kit based on the look that you want for your room. Most cornice kits require no sewing; you’ll simply cut, tuck and then glue or staple your fabric onto the board.

If you don’t want to make a cornice from a kit, you can also make one from scratch. You’ll need some wood, batting and your fabric. Use the wood to build a board that will fit your window, cover the board with batting and then cover it with fabric. You can find detailed instructions for making a cornice board from scratch in many home decorating books and on websites.

Another great way to use cornice boards to dress up your windows is to build the board from wood and then paint it rather than covering it with fabric. You can simply paint the board to match the walls or trim color in your room, or make a more intricate cornice by painting a design on the wood, either using stencils or freehand. When making a painted cornice board it’s important to use good quality wood and paint it properly. Sand the finished board and then prime it. Give it a second light sanding and then two to three coats of base paint. Then you can paint designs on the board, if you desire.

As you can see, making a cornice for a window treatment is a project that nearly anyone can tackle. Your finished window cornice will give your room a beautiful custom detail without costing a fortune.