Valences and Cornices

Here, we aim to provide you with a comprehensive guide to these elegant and functional design elements that can truly transform your living spaces. Whether you’re looking to add a touch of sophistication to your windows or enhance the architectural appeal of your interiors, valences and cornices offer endless possibilities for creativity and style.

What Are Valences and Cornices?

In short, valences are typically used to enhance other window treatments such as shades to create a more finished look. Cornices can stand alone, and serve as more architectural elements across the top of a window. Both are decorative features typically installed at the tops of windows, doors, or walls. They serve both practical and aesthetic purposes, adding depth, visual interest, and a finishing touch to any room. These elements can be made from various materials such as wood, fabric, metal, or even composite materials, allowing for a wide range of design options to suit your preferences and interior decor.

Valences are designed to conceal the hardware and mounting brackets while providing an elegant top treatment. They come in different styles, including board-mounted, pole-mounted, and swag (or draped) valences. They can be tailored to match your existing window treatments or act as standalone decorative accents.

Cornices, on the other hand, add a sense of grandeur and definition to a room, serving as a decorative crown for your windows or as an accent along the walls. Cornices are often crafted from wood, plaster, or polyurethane and are available in various designs.

An advantages of cornices is their ability to make a room appear taller and more spacious. By drawing the eye upward, cornices create an illusion of height and can transform an ordinary space into an extraordinary one.

When selecting valences or cornices for your home or commercial space, consider the overall style, scale, and purpose of the room.