Learn how to make your own wood valance for a rustic look that costs $15! This quick and affordable project will help you cover up your window shade hardware and add some style at the same time.
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Once I wrapped up my daughter’s girl bedroom makeover, it was time the boys shared bedroom got some attention! Here’s to hoping my bedroom makes it onto the list soon. 😊
The boys share the largest bedroom in the house but it’s a little awkward since it’s on the second floor of our 1940’s cape cod home. Think slanted ceilings and a dormer window – that sort of thing. It’s actually a nice space for a shared boys bedroom, however the room is lacking in natural light.
(It’s even worse when we bust out the window AC unit in the summer!) 🙁
When it came time to replace our broken window blinds (kids tugged on the cord too hard!), I decided to trade them out for a simple white shade. I know, so fancy, right?
I came to realize that the blinds blocked a good amount of the little bit of natural light we had. Raising the blinds each day wasn’t practical either since they were pretty heavy. I figured a shade route was the best option.
I looked into bamboo shades, but they were too pricey for our budget. We needed something really affordable since much of our budget had already been spent on larger ticket items like bedding. I went with a no frills white vinyl window shade. Yes, the kind that cost about $10 at Lowes or Home Depot. 😉
I was really pleased with the change. I had no idea just how much light was being blocked by having blinds, even when the slats in the blinds were opened!
The window still needed something though. I wanted to cover the hardware and to add some character to the window as well. I decided to solve that problem and build my own wood valance!
HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN WOOD VALANCE
Here are the supplies that I used:
- 1×12 board (cut to the width of your window + 4 inches)*
- two 1×4 pieces (cut to 11-1/4”)
- four L brackets (similar)
- two D-rings (similar)
- wood stain (my color is dark walnut)
We don’t have many power tools, so I had all the wood cut at our local Home Depot. They were so great and had it done in no time.
This is a personal preference, but I’d recommend you cut the 1×12 board to the width of your window + 4 inches. This will give you 2 inches on each side so that the wood valance can fit around the window trim nicely and be mounted to the wall.
*Because of my specific situation (neither of my windows had wall space on both sides so I had to mount my wood valance directly to the window trim), I measured the width of my window and just used those dimensions for my 1×12 board.
Putting the pieces together was very simple. I used some really short screws for the L-brackets, so I don’t believe I even pre-drilled. The last thing I wanted to do was have my screws poking through the other side of the wood because they were too long!
I added the D-rings last and my wood valance was ready for some stain. I wish I had stained the wood first, but forgot and stained everything after it was all put together. Two coats were needed to get the darkness I wanted.
After everything was dry and I let it sit overnight, I mounted it!
I love how the wood valance turned out. The shade is completely covered unless it’s pulled down, hiding all the ugly hardware. And I love that it adds so much to the window without being fussy. I think it’s the perfect touch to a little boys shared bedroom!
This project cost me about $15 for each wood valance, but could very likely be less if you have some scrap wood or other supplies already on hand. This project was definitely budget-friendly and anyone can do it. No carpentry skills required!
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I hope to share the final results of the boys shared bedroom makeover soon!
Do you make your own window treatments if you can’t find what you love at a retailer?
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