Determining Fullness for Gathered Style Valances

Ask most decorators and they will tell you to always have your window valance (the shirred/gathered style) to be 2 ½ times fullness. This means if your rod is 40” wide, you would want a 100” wide valance (ie: 40 x 2.5 = 100).

While we agree with this most of the time, there are some gathered window valances that look better when they are not so full. For one, balloon style valances when using too much fabric will not look as they should, they will look crowded and droopy.

We also feel that thicker linen type fabrics do not necessarily need to be at industry standards to achieve a custom full appearance. What is most important to some people is not as important to others.

While fullness is often associated with custom draperies and valances, some customers prefer to see more of the actual fabric print, which if the fabric is quite full they will lose.

We list on our website what fullness we suggest for all our gathered styled valances. When in doubt, feel free to send us a quick email or phone call to help you determine the best size to order.

How to Measure for your Board Mounted Valance

Measuring for your board mounted valance is quite easy. First you need to determine if you are planning on hanging panels underneath the treatment.

If no panels are to be hung then you need to measure from point A to point B. Point A is where you want the valance to start and point B is where you want the valance to stop. That’s it – you’re done.

When no panels are to be hung under the valance, it is best to have the valance look form fitted, about an 1” wider than the actual window or window molding (if you have molding).

If you do plan on having panels under your valance, you will need to decide if you want the drapes to hang in front of your window or stacked off the window.

If you choose to stack the drapes off the window and you have the wall space to do it, then you will need to order the board mounted valance wider to accommodate the drape width.

This will give of course make your window appear wider than it really is, which many people like to do. A standard 50” wide rod pocket panel when dressed in at about 2-2 ½ times fullness will take up 20-24” of wall space for each panel.

Keep in mind you will want to start the panel at the windows edge (not the molding edge). So if your molding is 3” in width and panel will take up let’s say 22” less 3” (molding) = 19” additional width on each side in order to stack the panel off your window.

When hanging drapes under a board mounted treatment you should order a 5 ½” projection so that you have enough clearance to mount the valance over the drapes. If no drapes are to be hung, then a standard 3 ½” projection will suffice.

Adding Warmth by Layering

Okay – You want to give your room some character, warmth and depth.  Here are some quick inexpensive ways to accomplish your goal.

Layering will add warmth to a room. If a room appears cold and boring adding layers of fabric can turn up the “heat” and give the room some needed textures.  For example, add a rug, add cloths to the tops of tables, add custom made decorative throw pillows of different shapes and sizes to that boring couch and add accessories that have texture. Your room will gain instant warmth.

Hint: You can use beautiful placements under lamps. Try placing a smaller square table cloth on your table (on the diagonal) so that the corners are on each side of the table as opposed to the corners of the table – leaving the corners of the table exposed. Or try crisscrossing two table runners for a different effect. If you have a favorite table cloth now, try getting some bold colored fabric napkins to coordinate with your table cloth. If you have curtain panels up now that you love – try adding a valance that compliments the room or add custom length drapery panels to the window that currently has only a valance to spice up the décor you already have!

Texture will add depth to what might otherwise be considered a rather flat fabric or element.  Many of today’s fabrics are beautifully accented with texture. A certain amount of texture should be introduced in every décor.  It will visually stimulate the eye, and help produce a beautiful room.

Texture can be added with materials that have a “character” of their own such as wood, wicker, tile, marble, glass, fabric and metal. It can be added with decorative embellishments such as tassels, bows, cording, and other decorative trims. You can add warmth with faux painting techniques, wallpaper and window treatments to name a few.
The most important part of decorating is obviously creating an atmosphere that makes you feel good and comfortable.  Many times we try to copy a decor we see in a decorating magazine because it looks stylish and later realize that the room wasn’t created so much to be lived in as it was to be looked at.  As long as you stick to what appeals to you and colors you enjoy, it’s hard to go wrong.