How to Make a Fabric or Wood Valance
- 1). Design your wood valance. Place a piece of the fiberboard on a flat surface. Sketch the length and width of the valance according to the measurements of the width of the window and how much of the wooden valance you want to cover the top part of the window. Trace your design onto a cardboard and cut the template out. You can use this cardboard template later if you want to make a valance of equal size for multiple windows. Turn the fiberboard over and trace the design on the opposite side of the board.
- 2). Get the dimensions for the two side pieces of the valance, which connect to the wall. Measure the width of the side pieces for the valance (how much it extends from the window). You can determine how much by considering the thickness of your curtains if you are hanging them under the wooden valance. The length of the side pieces for your valance will be equal to the length of the shortest side of the cardboard template. The side pieces of the valance are secured to the back of the valance front piece.
- 3). Cut out the shape of the valance from the fiberboard using a circular saw. If you are making designs on the edges of the wood valance, use the jigsaw to accomplish the design, such as scallops.
- 4). Attach the sides to the valance front. Put wood glue down the length of both side pieces of wood, and attach them to each side of the valance with nails and the nail gun. Make sure the sides are attached to the edge of the valance. You should have a wooden box with three sides.
- 5). Attach your molding to the valance. Measure your molding to equal the length of the wood valance. Cut the molding with the miter saw. Cut the ends of the molding at a 45-degree angle and nail it on the front top edge of the wooden box, lengthwise.
- 6). Fill all nail holes with caulk. Allow it to dry and then sand the valance.
- 7). Prime your valance. Allow it to dry and paint it. Let the paint dry completely.
- 8). Cut your 1-inch-by-3-inch clear pine for the ledger. The ledger is what you hang the valance on. The length of the ledger should be an inch or two shorter than the inside length of the wood valance box. Screw the ledger to the wall.
- 9). Place the valance box over the ledger and secure it with screws.
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