How to Make a Fabric-Covered Window Cornice

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Do the windows in your home still need a little something? A fabric-covered window cornice might be just the thing to give your windows a finished, tailored look. A cornice is a fancy word for a decorative box that is mounted above a window to frame the curtains. Cornices are great for evening out uneven windows, making a wall of windows look uniform or dressing up mini-blinds. The best part is that a cornice box is simple to build and upholster, and we're going to walk you through it.

Materials List:

Upholstery fabric
Polyester Batting 55" #124305
3M Super 77 Spray Adhesive Low VOC 18 oz. #636100
Basting tape

Tools List:

Sailrite Short Nose Upholstery Staple Gun #121410
Marking tool
Cutting tool
Sewing machine

Cornices are versatile

How to Make a Fabric Covered Window Cornice Video 2

Cornices are versatile window treatments and work in any style of home. They can have a modern or traditional feel depending on the shape and design. Simple rectangles are the most popular, but different curved shapes can also be designed. Cornices are often used to make a window appear larger and grander than before.

To make your own window cornice, you will need to first build your board. The video shows the finished board without fabric or batting on it yet so you can see how easy it is to build the shape. Then, once your board is built, you can upholster it. We used batting underneath the decorative fabric to give our board a softer look.

For this project, we chose a Sunbrella^® Upholstery Fabric. Any upholstery and décor fabric we carry will work great for this application. Take a look at our wide variety of patterns and colors to find a fabric that suits your style. From florals and stripes to geometrics and classic solids, we have a fabric that is sure to look great in your living room. If you have an extra long cornice, you may have to seam two panels of fabric together to get the desired width. If you are joining two patterned panels, be sure to watch our video "How to Join Patterned Fabric" to learn how to match up the pattern for a seamless appearance at the join.

This video will demonstrate how to seam your fabric (if needed) and how to upholster a window cornice. This is a fun and easy afternoon DIY and will totally make over your living room!

Are you making a new valance or cornice? Let us know how it turns out! Leave your tips and thoughts in the comments.