Dress Up Your Windows With Charming Country Valances
If you're looking for an easy and affordable way to give your living room a fresh new look, consider adding charming country valances to your windows. Valances are a decorative window treatment that can quickly and dramatically dress up plain windows. Going with a country-inspired style allows you to achieve a cozy, inviting look perfect for relaxing in your living room.
From the most popular styles to proper sizing and hanging tips, you'll learn how to accessorize your windows with these charming accents.
What Are Country Valances?
Country valances are a type of short decorative window treatment made of fabric that is placed right above the window frame. They are characterized by checks, plaids, florals, lace, or burlap fabrics that evoke a casual country or traditional farmhouse aesthetic.
Country valances are typically made of lightweight, semi-sheer fabrics like cotton, linen, or lace to allow some light to filter through. They help soften the hard edges of windows and add some visual height. Valances can filter light as well as boost privacy slightly when layered.
Benefits of Country Valances for Living Rooms
There are many great reasons to consider country valances for your living room windows:
- They are an affordable and easy way to redecorate your living room with a fresh new look compared to replacing curtains or blinds.
- Country valances instantly add style and dimension to plain, boring windows.
- They help filter bright light and increase privacy slightly.
- Valances tie the windows into the cozy, inviting country or farmhouse decor of the rest of the room.
Most Popular Country Valance Styles
When selecting country valances for your living room, you'll find plenty of charming styles to choose from. Here are some of the most popular options:
Layered Valances
Layered valances feature two or more short tiered layers of fabric, providing fullness and dimension. They work especially well over wide living room windows. The layered look also allows more light filtering.
Burlap Valances with Lace
Burlap valances offer an easy-going, rustic vibe with their natural fabric look. Accenting them with lace provides a nice blend of masculine and feminine. Lace trim along the bottom is a common detail.
Buffalo Check or Plaid Valances
Nothing says "country" like buffalo checks and plaid. Classic red and black check or buffalo plaid instantly give your windows a cozy, all-American farmhouse feel.
Embroidered Floral Valances
Delicate embroidered floral designs, often on light cotton or linen, provide a soft, feminine touch. Choose muted florals for a relaxing vibe or vibrant spring blooms for a cheerful cottage look.
Ruffled Cottage Valances
For a romantic cottage style, consider ruffled valances, sometimes called cottage valances. Soft ruffled fabric paired with ribbons and lace has a dreamy, feminine appeal.
Country Valance Considerations for Your Living Room
When selecting the perfect country valances for your living room, here are some key factors to consider:
Window Size and Privacy Needs
Consider the size of your windows and how much privacy you need. For small windows, a simple single valance may suffice, while larger windows look best with wide, layered valances. Privacy needs also determine what style and layering works best.
Function of the Living Room
Think about how your living room is used. If it's a place for peaceful relaxation, calming solid colors or simpler patterns work well. For family hangouts and entertaining, choose vibrant, striking valances to set a lively mood.
Desired Look and Aesthetic
Decide the overall country style you want to achieve - traditional farmhouse, rustic cabin, French country, or English cottage? Your valance choices should complement the room's decor. Pull colors and patterns from existing furnishings.
Mixing Patterns and Textures
Don't be afraid to mix and match patterns and combine different textures like burlap and lace for lots of visual interest. Just be sure they tie together through color scheme or embellishments.
Getting the Right Length and Width
Proper sizing ensures your valances fit the windows well and achieve the look you want. See our hanging tips below for recommendations on ideal valance length and width.
Hanging Tips for Country Living Room Valances
Use these tips to properly hang your country valances above the windows for the best look:
Recommended Height
Hang your valance so the bottom hem is about 2 to 3 inches above the window trim. This provides attractive proportions without covering too much of the window itself.
Recommended Width
For the fullest look, your living room valance should be 1.5 to 2 times the width of your window frame. So a 30-inch window could have a 45 to 60-inch wide valance.
Inside vs. Outside Mounting
You can mount country valances either inside the window frames for a more tailored fit or outside the frames for a modern, dramatic effect. Outside mounting also maximizes light control.
Layer for Dimension
For wider windows, layer two valances for added depth. Hang them a few inches apart and opt for two different colors or patterns.
Pair with Other Window Treatments
Coordinate your valances with blinds, shades or curtains to control light and privacy. For short windows, a standalone valance can suffice.
Styling Your Country Valances
A few simple styling tricks take your country living room valances to the next level:
- Tie backs or holdbacks add flair while keeping the valance out of the way when opened.
- Incorporate complementary decorative accents like roosters, sunflowers or mason jars on the windowsill or nearby tables.
- Switch out lighter spring or summer valances for warmer florals and plaids in fall and winter.
- Paint the window trim a contrasting color to make the valances really stand out.
DIY vs Custom Country Valances
DIY Valance Options
Looking to make your own country valances? Craft stores offer a variety of DIY valance boxes that provide pre-cut fabric panels you just assemble. This allows creativity on a budget. You can also make easy no-sew valances with iron-on bonding tape and hot glue.
Benefits of Custom Valances
For a perfect fit and tailor-made look, custom country valances are worth the splurge. You can select the exact fabric, length, width and details. And there's no guesswork when properly measuring your windows.
Measuring for Custom Valances
When ordering custom valances, measure the exact width from outside edge to outside edge of the window trim. For the length, measure from the top of the rod or above the window frame where you'll mount, down to where you want the valance to end.
Country valances are an easy and stylish solution to dress up boring living room windows. With charming checks, florals, plaids, and lace designs, they allow you to quickly introduce cozy cottage style. Just be sure to mind the details - from proper sizing to calculating light control needs. With the right country valances, you can easily achieve a fresh new look for relaxing in your living room.