• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Sabrinas Organizing
  • Home Organization
  • Healthy Recipes
  • DIY Home Projects
  • Donate Stuff
  • Recycling Events 2022
  • Browse Gift Ideas
  • Solution Consultations
  • Virtual Organizing
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home Organization
  • Healthy Recipes
  • DIY Home Projects
  • Donate Stuff
  • Recycling Events 2022
  • Browse Gift Ideas
  • Solution Consultations
  • Virtual Organizing
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home Organization
  • Healthy Recipes
  • DIY Home Projects
  • Donate Stuff
  • Recycling Events 2022
  • Browse Gift Ideas
  • Solution Consultations
  • Virtual Organizing
×

Home » Home Organization » DIY Projects For The Home » How to Make Cute DIY Wood Cornices / Valances

How to Make Cute DIY Wood Cornices / Valances

Last Modified: July 1, 2022 Sabrina Quairoli This blog uses cookies. It also has affiliate links. We earn sponsored content income.

****Visit our "Disclosure Policy and Cookies" for details.****

Whether you call it a wood cornice or a wood valance, it will give a window that has no frame a clean and upscale look. Today, I will show you how we made these cute DIY wood valances or cornices from scratch for our home. Follow along and make yours today!

Note: these wood cornices/valances are mounted on the top of the window to hide the hardware from the blinds. They are affixed to the wall and are not easy to remove. We wanted them that way.

How to make Wood Cornices featured image

In our living room and dining room area, we have one double window, two single windows, and two small windows. If we bought them already made, it would cost a fortune.

CreateForLess.com - Create More, Spend Less

What inspired me to do these DIY Wood Cornices / Valances?

I always liked wood cornices and has always been something I wanted to do in my home. You see, my windows are not framed in wood. They only have a ledge at the bottom. So, making a wood cornice was a nice option instead of fabric, to help reduce dust and streamline the window treatments.

What supplies did I use to make these DIY Wood Cornices / Valances?

We had all of the tools in our tool closet so we didn't need too many things but wood and molding.



Boutique Rugs --FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS WITHIN THE U.S. Visit their Best Selling Rugs sorted by size and type!



Supplies used:

  • 3 - ReliaBilt  1-in x 2-in x 8-ft Square Edge Unfinished Oak Board - no need to go with hardwood. - this link is from Lowes. It is not an affiliate link.
  • 3 - ReliaBilt  ¾-in x 3-7/16-in x 8-ft Primed Wood Casing - Look for the best looking, not curved ones. This link is from Lowes. It is not an affiliate link.
  • 10 - Scrap 2 in. x 2 in. x 4 in. good quality wood - we ripped down a long 2 x 4 piece of wood we had.
  • Drill - we used a cordless drill.
  • Table saw
  • 2 - corner clamps
  • 20 - Wood screws box - 3 inch
  • Wood filler or white chalk that is paintable.
  • Nail gun and finishing nails 1 inch
  • White paint
  • Paintbrush

The above links are from Amazon; if you purchase something after clicking through, I will receive a small referral fee. Happy Shopping!

How much did it cost to make these DIY Wood Valances / Cornices?

This project costs us about $158.00. This cost was primarily for the wood; we had all the paint and supplies/tools listed above. It made five (5) windows which cost $31.60 each! That is a bargain! It is usually at least $100 for each window if you buy them already made.

MasonJars.com - Shop Original Products

How did I make these DIY Wood Valances / Cornices?

Here is what the double window looked like before the cornices.

Before cornices on window

Make support pieces of wood.

First, we ripped down the ten - 2-inch x 4-inch pieces of wood. These pieces would be the corner of the cornice to hold the molding in the front and side. And set them aside. The 4-inch pieces will hide behind the molding and will not be seen.

Cut scraps of wood to 2 x4 size

Screw wood together.

Then, we cut the oak pieces of wood to measure the length of each window minus the 2 inches of the ripped wood above. Each window was measured differently, so we did one window at a time.

To determine the length of each cornice, we measured the ledge at the bottom and made it that long.

The length of the cornice molding front = 2 inches of ripped wood + 2 inches of ripped wood + ??? remaining length of ledge.

Then, we clamped the two pieces of wood together and screwed in nails that would hold them in place. We used two screws and recessed the screws so they were not flush with the wood. This would mess with the molding when we needed to add it.

use the corner brackets and screw together the wood

Cut molding.

Now, it was time to cut the molding front and sides. We did a 45-degree angle cut on both pieces to match them together when attached to the other wood. Then we set it aside. Make sure to mark where you want the back 45 degrees to land on the supporting wood.

make 45 degree cuts with molding and cut to length.

Mount supporting wood to the wall.

Next, we added the back pieces of wood to the wall above the window. Allowing enough space to use the blind strings and be able to remove the blinds if we needed to replace them. Make sure to screw the 2 x4 pieces to the wall for more security. This will help the size molding to adhere to the nails when adding the molding to the wood. Learn from our mistakes. On all the other windows, we added an extra screw at the end of the vertical piece of wood.

mount the wood to wall around window

Then using a nail gun, we tacked the molding pieces to the wood frame in about four or five places, depending on the length of the cornice.

Fill the holes and paint.

We then filled in the holes that were made by the nail gun.

use wood filler to fill in the nail holes

Now it was time to paint the wood cornices. I then painted them two coats of white glossy paint to match the other molding in our home. And let it dry for a few hours.

The Big Reveal of these DIY Wood Valances

After cornices on Window

This wood cornice/valance looks lovely. It looks like it belonged there all along. We are so happy with the outcome.

How long did it take to make these cornices/valances?

It took us a weekend from Friday to Sunday.

Tips on making these Cornices/valances:

Do one window at a time. Do not rush through the process. Each window may be unique and have its how challenges.

Use the same paint you used for your other molding. That way, it blends in with the surrounding areas.

Make sure to add an extra screw to the vertical piece of wood when mounting to the wall for extra support.

Feel free to watch the video below to see the transformation and follow us on YouTube!

I hope this makes you want to try making your own DIY wood valances in your home. If you decide to do this, please come back and let us know how it went. We would love to hear from you.

Popular DIY Painting Projects:

Visit our other DIY painting projects to get more inspiration.

  • How to Update a DIY Front Porch Storage Box
  • Low-Cost Main Bathroom Update
  • How to Make A DIY Holiday Porch DIY Reversible Sign
  • How to Create a Front Yard Flower Container
How to Make Wood Cornices Square image
How to Make Wood Cornices stories length
(Visited 35 times, 3 visits today)
Do you live in South Eastern Pennsylvania? Don't know where to start organizing in your home? Need a plan? Check out our Sabrina's Organizing Solutions ConsultationsAre a DIYer and just need accountability to get through the mess in your home and life? Check out our Sabrina's Organizing Virtual Organizing Services

Connect with Me on Social Media!

Facebook - Instagram - Twitter - Linkedin - Pinterest

More DIY Projects For The Home

  • How to Organize a Kitchen Beverage Cabinet
  • How to Repurpose Crochet Doily to Make Doily Wall Art
  • DIY Lift Top Coffee Table Makeover
  • Elegant DIY Tray Makeover for only Five Dollars

About Sabrina Quairoli

I love sharing my passion for organizing life and the home. I hope you get inspired when visiting my home organizing tips, quick weeknight recipes, party planning ideas, and DIY organizing projects.

Primary Sidebar

sign up for weekly challenges ebooks
Sabrina Quairoli Owner of Sabrinasorganizing

Hi, I'm Sabrina! Thanks for stopping by and checking out my blog where you can find Home Organizing, Quick Weeknight Recipes, and DIY Craft Home Organizing Projects. Feel free and browse around to get motivated to improve your home life!

Read more about me →

Popular Home Life Posts

  • Places To Donate Jewelry You Do Not Want
  • 7 Games to Help Kids Understand How to Organize
  • This Year's Recycling Locations and Shredder Events
  • What to Keep in Your Shed
  • The Most Important Things to Keep in Your Linen Closet
  • Air Fried Pepperoni Chips Recipe

Check Boutique Rugs new arrivals here sorted by rug type and size!

sign up for weekly challenges ebooks
Have a small business? NEED SMALL BUSINESS ADMIN SERVICES? Visit our blog and services by clicking below.
Sabrina's Admin Services

Amazon Disclosure


Sabrina's Organizing blog is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Sabrina’s Organizing Web Stories

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • About Me
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure Policy and Cookies
  • Google Analytics Privacy Statement and Opt-Out Option

Newsletter

  • Sign Up for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact
  • Solution Consultations
  • Virtual Organizing Consults
  • Write for Us
Creative Commons License

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2011-2022 Sabrina's Organizing Blog content by Sabrina Morresi-Quairoli is licensed. Based on a work at Sabrina’s Organizing blog, social media content, newsletters shared, permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available when contacting me.