How to Make a Wooden Valance Box

A decorative valance box would add culture to this room.

A valance box can dress up a room. Essentially a valance box is nothing more than a 6-inch piece of wood covering the top of the curtains, the curtain rod and or hangers. A valance box gives the appearance that care has been taken to finish a room properly. The valance can be used aesthetically with the application of crown moldings or can be scalloped into a series of French curves. For a 36-inch window, the valance is a simple box 6 inches longer than the opening of the window.

Things You'll Need

• 1 Piece red oak 42 x 6 x 3/4 inches---valance
• 1 Piece red oak 40 1/2 x 2 x 3/4 inches---stretcher
• 2 Pieces red oak 3 1/4 x 6 x 3/4 inches---sides
• 2 Pieces red oak 3 1/4 x 4 x 3/4 inches---inside brace/jamb
• 16 Finish nails 1 1/4 inch
• Cordless drill
• 4 wood screws, 1 1/4 inch
• Glue
• Hammer
• Putty knife
• Putty

Instructions

1. Lay out the sides on their edges 42 inches apart. Run a bead of glue on the edge facing up. Lay the valance down flat on its back on top and flush with the end of the sides, and the top and bottom. Nail the valance sides on using four finish nails in each end.

2. Pre-drill, glue and screw the inside brace to the bottom of the sides using three 1/14 inch screws, flushing it with the bottom and back. It should appear from the bottom that the brace/side jamb is 1 1/2 thick. Do both ends.

3. Stand up the valance box. Put glue on top of the inside brace, and lay the stretcher on top of the inside brace in the back. Nail the stretcher on through the sides of the valance box. The stretcher is what will screw to the wall.

4. Locate the studs above the window and mark them on the stretcher. Pre-drill the stretcher with a 1/8-inch bit at the locations of the studs.

5. Set all the nail holes with the nail set, then putty. Sand the valance box by hand with 100 grit sandpaper, then stain and lacquer before hanging.

Tips & Warnings

• Before building the valance, draw a pattern for a scallop design or download one from the Internet. Transfer and cut the scallop onto the bottom of the valance. For a more ornate valance, add crown molding to the top, and bead molding to the bottom.

References

• "Weekend Projects: Construct a Homemade Window Valance"

Resources

• "I Can Do That! Woodworking Projects";David Thiel;2007