Wooden Window Valances: A Do it Yourself Window Treatment

A great do-it-yourself home improvement project that can be easily accomplished anytime of year is creating decorative and unique wooden window valances to complement windows with a curtain and rod arrangement.

Tools and Materials Needed to Create Wooden Window Valances:

One power jig saw
1 by 4 wood (or sized according to your own particular project needs)
One Phillips screwdriver
One small can of wood filler
One Pair of safety glasses
One bottle of Carpenters glue
A 2" countersinking drill bit and drill
Variable wall anchors (type of anchor needed will vary depending on wall construction type)
Assorted coating materials such as interior latex paint, polyurethane, and stain are left to taste

Directions for Crafting Wooden Window Valances:

1. The first thing you should do to create your valances is outline, in pencil, a template design of your choice on the wood. Do this uniformly, keeping the symmetry of the entire piece in mind.

2. Once this is accomplished, proceed to follow template lines carefully with jig saw.

3. The valance ends need to be made according to the amount of depth necessary to cover curtains and their rods. For example, a rod assembly extending 3.5 inches out from the wall would best suited to have valance ends constructed no less than 4 inches nor more than 5 inches. An extra decorative touch would be to design these ends so that they curve smoothly inward and below the bottom level of valance by several inches.

4. The valance ends should then be secured to valance with carpenters glue and countersunk Phillips screws.

5. Use a wood filler to cover countersunk screw recesses.

6. Depending on wall type (dry wall, lath and plaster, or wood), valance assembly can be hung by inserted anchors or secured directly with screws installed angularly from top of base. Small L-brackets can be put to good use on all wall types. Many decorative brackets are available at most hardware stores and can add a contrasting addition to the beauty of wood.

With your new valances completed and installed, your home will truly have a tangible expression of your originality while leaving "cookie-cutter" decorative touches to the department stores.