To add a simple touch of elegance to certain windows, try a sheer valance. A valance made from sheer material may suit if you hang it over your existing curtains. If you are starting out from scratch with your curtains it is fairly easy to choose material that complements the material you are choosing for your side curtains, or you may prefer to hang sheer curtains and window valances with just a simple blind that can be pulled down behind them when you need privacy.
Sheer window valances can either be made from the same material as the rest of the curtains hanging in the window, or for a slightly different effect, you can use different material for the valances and the curtains. If you do this, it is usually best to make the valance from plain colored material and have the curtains either a different complementary color, or choose a pattern where one of the colors matches the color of the valance.
Alternatively, you could choose a patterned sheer material for the valance and hang them with plain single-colored curtains. It is usually quite a bit simpler to have the curtains all made from the same material, or at least the same shade of color but with a little imagination and ingenuity it is possible to come up with very striking designs when you do mix and match the valance and side curtains.
Some people choose to only hang sheer curtains in their windows. This works well only when privacy is not an issue. It is a great idea if you want to showcase the view seen from a window or when you simply want to allow more light into a room. Hanging sheer material for this purpose is especially helpful in a smaller room as the openness and the airiness of the curtains helps the room to seem larger and flowing.
Aside from allowing light into a room, this type of window treatment also plays another important role in establishing the ambiance in a room. Many people will hang a valance primarily to hide any hardware attached to the window. It immediately softens the effect by hiding curtain rods or blind mechanisms. This is especially true when the rod is merely functional. Those who hang curtains on decorative rods usually prefer to have the rods seen, however.
There are many different styles of valances. One of the more popular styles is the sheer scarf valance. It is elegant yet somehow adds a slightly causal air to a window at the same time. Many people like this style of valance because it is very easy to sew and to hang, and there are also many different ways the material can be draped. Other popular styles include the pleated valance, the balloon valance and the swag style valance.
For those handy with a sewing machine, it is also relatively simple to sew your own sheer valances. Pleated or balloon valances are not as easy to make, but the simple swag style or the scarf style valance are both very easy to sew. Really all you need to be able to do is sew straight lines and hem the material, as the rest of the design depends on how you hang them. The scarf valance is draped over the curtain rod, while the swag valance is caught up in the middle and attached by a simple hand-stitch.
If you are looking to dress up your windows, you really could not go wrong by adding valances to your existing windows. Made from sheer material, they will add softness to almost any window treatment.
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