The red lipstick that completes the look, the tie that defines the suit, and the detail that makes the window  — valance! 

Though often treated as mere ‘add-ons’, valances are - in fact - style statements that can make any bare window go from dab to fab in a jiffy. A well-chosen valance doesn’t just ‘hang’ there — it owns the window! However, making the right choice sometimes calls for a helping hand, or in this case, a few well-chosen designer tips. And our in-house stylists will help you with tips and tricks to envision and design your perfect custom valance. But before we get into the intricacies of picking a valance, we must introduce you to their often-overlooked functional aspects. Let’s get straight to it!

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Statement Pieces as Functional Accessories: Valances for the Win

If you’ve been pegging valances as just a pretty face, our stylists beg to differ. At the end of this read, we’re sure you’ll see valances in a whole new light. Because beyond looks, there are a whole lot of subtle benefits that these suave window treatments offer, including:  

PLUGGING LIGHT LEAKS: A blessing for light sleepers, valances cover the upper portion of the windows, preventing any light leaks from the top. A special bonus for anyone using valances as ‘toppers’ with their drapes in bedrooms!

MASKING UNEVEN WINDOW HEIGHTS: If you have two adjacent windows starting at slightly different heights, it's akin to a mismatched beat in a perfect melody. And making architectural changes to fix this flaw will leave a hole in your pocket or not be allowed at all in rentals. But, with strategic placement, valances can be your saving grace. Simply mount your valances at the same height, forming one consistent visual line. This tricks the eye into perceiving the windows underneath to also be at the same level, and ta-da! You’ve got ‘optically even’ windows now,  and with such minimal investment too!

CONCEALING UNWANTED HARDWARE: Your current window treatments may be sporting a set of unsightly hardware that you may not be keen to show. An easy fix is ‘over-treating’ these window dressings with valances that tuck away any unsightly elements under the valances’ show-worthy silhouette. 

MAKING SHORT WINDOWS APPEAR TALLER: If a set of short windows is negating the stately decor of your space, valances will not just fix your problem but also be a worthy member of your decor. Mount the valances a few inches above the window frame, making sure the bottom hem covers just the window trim. This nifty trick hides the true vertical span of your window, creating an illusion of a longer window.

And now - with all this knowledge in your pocket - we initiate you into the valance fandom! Let’s give you a short tour of our collection and the valance styles on offer at Sewn.

The Portal of Possibilities: Sewn’s Fabric Collection

At Sewn, you can choose from over a dozen valance styles, and get your chosen style sewn in any fabric you like from our collection. That’s over 3000 stunning fabrics, ready to transform your valance into a vibrant canvas of personal expression! 

A damask patterned velvet whispers of opulence and grandeur, with its rich texture and intricate patterns stolen from a royal robe, adding a regal touch to any window. It's perfect for those looking to make a statement of luxury and refinement. A country floral print cotton, on the other hand, hums of cozy, rustic charm — think cottages tucked away in the countryside, where warmth and comfort take center stage. This can be your go-to for a laid-back, welcoming aesthetic. 

Fact is — every fabric in our 3000+ strong collection — is a storyteller in its own right, weaving a tale of texture, hue, and mood. Whether you’re drawn to the soft, lazy allure of linen, the opulent shimmer of silk, the whispers of monochromes, or bold statements of colorful patterns, our collection nestles options enough for every taste and space.  

So, take your time and let the fabrics speak to you — they’re the key to unlocking the aesthetic language that will define your valances, windows, and ultimately, your space.

Custom Valances: The Styles on Offer

Once you’ve picked your fabric, the next big decision is choosing the valance style. With fourteen different styles at your disposal, you can rest assured that whatever the vision, you will find the perfect match with us. And to help you select the right one for your space, what follows is a quick breakdown of the valance styles we offer, highlighting their key features and the scenarios where they truly shine. Whether you're going for timeless elegance or modern flair, there’s a Sewn valance to make your home look its best!

POLE-MOUNTED OR BOARD MOUNTED?

Our board-mounted valances are mounted on 4-inch deep boards with velcro, come fully assembled and ready to install, including the board and all necessary hardware. The pole-mounted valances - equally easy to install  -  are hung on standard drapery poles (not included). 

The board-mounted styles offer a tailored and structured finish - much like a custom-made Brioni suit -  making them perfect candidates for formal settings and spaces like reception rooms, dining rooms and other living areas. In addition to their neat, streamlined appearance, they come with benefits like ease of installation and maintenance, making them all the more attractive to our clients. 

Offering a relatively ‘easy’ aesthetic, our pole-mounted valances are more suitable for casual settings owing to their free-flowing structure. They are an absolute win if you have show-worthy hardware that you’d like to highlight, or if you already have drapery poles in place and are not keen to swap them for new hardware. Plus, you can mount these valances inside the window frame on a tension pole if so desired - a rather spiffy solution if the wall space around the window frame is scarce. 

FLAT SURFACED OR PLEATED?

Styles like our modern flat valance and scalloped valance mimic cornices, and feature pleat-free flat frontage. Their clean ‘face’ profiles offer a highly tailored aesthetic, and are beautifully well-suited for any contemporary setting. On the other hand, our pleated valances - such as the shawl valance or rod pocket valance - feature softer silhouettes with their pleats, swags and scallops, making them better suited to classical settings - whether formal or casual. 

With their clean, uninterrupted front profiles, flat surface valances allow the fabrics to shine. Patterns are free to take center stage without ‘distractions’ from structural elements like pleats and swags. These streamlined styles - when layered with pleated drapery underneath - make for an arresting contrast between the valance’s straight lines and drapery’s rippled contours.   

While our board-mounted flat front valance is a perennial favorite for modern/ minimalist homes, if you’d rather tread a path to ornamentation, opt for styles like our flat front scalloped valances and board-mounted shawl valance. Tracing a bridge between sleek simplicity and a touch of classic charm, these styles offer a gentle nod to tradition without overthrowing a contemporary design.

On the other end of this spectrum, our pleated valances feature soft folds and sumptuous swags - making them the perfect candidates when the fabric itself is somewhat subdued. Choice of a plain or textured fabric, therefore, can benefit greatly from one of these styles. Or, you may choose small-scale patterns that play a cheeky hide-and-seek with the pleats but do not contest their dominance.

As with the flat-surfaced options, our pleated styles too offer candidates for varying different aesthetic preferences — from the traditional formal to laidback rustic. For instance, if your home speaks of an idyllic laidback lifestyle, rod pocket valances will nail the vibe. But if your home tells tales of a gilded glam instead, styles like our board-mounted Sheffield or Shawl valances will fit right in. 

Styling Tips for Custom Valances

With the knowledge of the fabrics and styles on offer already in your bag, the destination is just a few designer tips away. So, fellow decor enthusiasts, we bring you these final words of wisdom from our stylists before you launch into some well-earned retail therapy. 

PATTERN SCALE: While choosing patterns, make sure the pattern scale is compatible with the size of your valance. If you are ordering a relatively narrow or short valance, a large-scaled motif may be cut off at awkward lengths owing to the valance’s small square footage. Therefore, make sure to check the scale of the motif before you finalize your choice of a patterned fabric.

VALANCE STYLE: If the pattern is the ‘hero’ of your fabric, opt for a flat-surface style valance that mimics a plain canvas and lets the pattern shine. If however, you’ve chosen a textured or plain fabric, the well-formed folds of pleated valances will offer higher visual interest, ringing in the oomph factor. Lastly, if your choice of fabric features small-scale patterns, a ditzy floral for instance, you can swing either way and go for either flat or scalloped valances.   

DECOR STYLE: Make sure that your fabric and valance style align with your overall decor style. For example, while a straight-lined, flat valance with geometric print fabrics typically spells out a modern savoir-faire, a frilly rod-pocket valance with a ruffled header and ditsy florals captures the charm of country living. So, your fabric and valance style further the aesthetic language of your space.

LAYERED ARRANGEMENT: Time and decor, both have been witnesses to the age-old pairing of drapes with swags, cornices and valances. In a more modern refinement, we now see valances paired up with roman shades and blinds as well. In addition to the undeniable visual allure, these layered arrangements also offer functional benefits like sealing any light leaks from the top, and better insulation.

VALANCE TRIMMINGS: The only thing better than a cherry on top is two cherries on top! Trims and borders add to the decorative potential of valances, carrying with them a booster dose of personality and character. Plus, they accentuate the valance's shape and highlight its contours. Most importantly, they mark the space with a custom-made seal, imprinting the patina of hand-sewn elegance, something any homeowner would flex. All in all, valances with trims can easily join the team of objet trouvés you put proudly on show in your home.

A Concluding Note on Valances & their Versatility

Born in the Baroque era, a gilded celebration of unapologetic maximalism, valances are inherently associated with yesteryear’s glam and raging, unabashed opulence. Ringing true to such embellished decor aesthetics, we carry styles such as our board-mounted shawl valance, swag valance, and the Sheffield. Their cascading jabots and structured pleats bring a kind of splendor to your home that no other decor element can. Indulge as you like.

However, this is not to say that valances are relevant only to period homes today. In fact, designers have long recognized valances as versatile shapeshifters - offering adaptability and charm - transcending all times and trends. Shedding the gilded mold, valances don their modern avatars in styles such as our flat panel valances and faux roman shade valances.

Travel to the idyllic pastoral dwellings and our rod pocket valances with their frilly headers will give you a warm greeting. And while this picture reads softly feminine, a box pleat valance donning a checkered pattern gives a serious nod to the masculine aesthetic. 

In summary, whatever aesthetic vibe your heart and windows desire - from youthful exuberance to mature sophistication, from modern minimalism to ornamental opulence,  rest assured that Sewn’s collection of valances has options galore for one and all. So, without any further ado, go ahead and shop away. Delivering perfection to your doorstep in no time is our promise!