Make A Cornice Window
Treatment Like A
Professional
Just follow the simple window treatments guide below to make a cornice
window treatment like the professionals
Not sure how to make window treatment cornice like a professional ?
You have seen these window treatment styles but don't understand how
they work ?
Do you wont to save a small fortune by making a window topper like this
for yourself ?
If this is "you" then the answer to these questions
and more are all answered here in this guide..
You can use these over curtains as in the image on
the right .
You can also use these over the top of window
treatments roman shades or simply on their own to
dress a window.
The easy step by step instructions with photos start on the next page .
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Tools and materials you will need to make a fabric covered
window cornice
• 1/4 inch thick plywood
• 1 inch thick fiber
wadding
• Large pair of sharp fabric
scissors
• Back tacking strip
• Staple gun and staples.
• Spray adhesive.
• Velcro tape.
• Drapery fabric
• Drapery lining fabric
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Section 1: The drapery fabrics
You will need a drapery fabric of your choice to cover the window
treatment cornice . I strongly recommend you choose a plain fabric if this
is your first time making a fabric covered window treatment cornice.
The reason for this that if your cornice window treatment (including the
sides) is wider than the width of your fabric. Then you can turn the fabric
sideways (railroad the fabric) and use the length rather than the width. This
way you can cover the cornice without having to join 2 widths of fabric.
This obviously means no sewing is required, great if you can't use a
sewing machine.
I do this all the time even if it means the weave of the fabric runs in the
opposite direction to the curtains. An example of this would be silk
drapery fabric where the slub in the fabric would run across the curtain and
down the pelmet. Even so it looks a whole lot better than seeing a fabric
seam on the front of your pelmet.
You will need Curtain lining fabric to cover the back of your cornice
window treatment. This hides the plywood used to stiffen the pelmet. I
again use the fabric lengthways to avoid the need for seams. It's not so
much for the look this time but rather just to make life easier.
Finally to make cornice window treatment you will need either a thick
curtain interlining fabric or a sheet of polyester wadding (my personal
favorite) to give the pelmet a softer padded look.
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Section 2: Covering your cornice window treatment
You will need to use a sheet of 1/4 inch (6mm) plywood to make the front
and sides. Your local timer merchant should cut this to size for you. The
extra cost is well worth the time and effort.
The reason I use this kind of pelmet stiffener is because it is fairly cheap. It
is very strong while also being fairly light. Finally it is also good for
stapling the drapery fabrics to.
When I make fabric covered window cornice I use a piece of scrap fabric
to join the main section of plywood to the end return pieces. This simply
holds everthing together while you work.
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Now I have used a piece of fiber wadding to cover the front and sides as I
make cornice window treatment (you can use heavy curtain interlining). I
placed the plywood body onto the wadding and cut round it to get the
shape. It is usually slightly larger than the plywood.
Then I took the plywood outside and placed it down with the fabric strips
facing down. Then using the spray adhesive I covered the cornice boards
evenly.
I then returned the plywood boards in doors and lay it on the table. Then
taking care I placed the fiber wadding onto the adhesive and pressed it
down to stick in place.
The next step is to cut your drapery fabric ready for stapling onto the
board. I have cut the fabric about 2 inches wider than the cornice board on
all sides.
In the image above you can see the cornice board covered with the fiber
wadding lying on top of the drapery fabric.
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In
the image above you can see that the drapery fabric has been turned
over and stapled down on all sides. You need to apply a little pressure to
the fabric as you staple to keep it taught and flat. However don't pull your
fabric too much as it will distort the look of the finished cornice
Next at the bottom I have started to lay the curtain lining fabric just over
the bottom edge of the pelmet. This will cover all the back of the cornice
facia board hiding the wood and staples making it look more finished.
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In the image above you can see how I have placed the back tacking strip
over the edge of the curtain ling fabric. Then stapled it into place all the
way from one end to the other.
Also I have left some of the curtain lining fabric overlapping at the end.
This was done deliberately so we can make cornice which are neatly
finished at the ends.
Next I have folded over the surplus lining fabric on both ends of the
window treatment cornice. Then I folded the lining fabric up and over
laying it covering all the back of the pelmet board.
Next I used my scissors to cut off the surplus lining fabric. This is anything
lying over the top of the pelmet board. I then stapled the top of the lining
to the top of the board. Smothing the fabric out as I went a long.
You only need to use a few staples widely spaced to hold it in place at this
stage. Also don't worry about the edge of the lining fabric not looking neat
as you will be covering it.
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This image here shows the lining fabric folded over and smoothed down
prior to being trimmed and staples down at the top.
You can see how using the back tacking strip to make cornice window
treatment creates a neat finish to the bottom edge of the lining fabric on the
back of the pelmet board.
Here we have the image of the finished pelmet facia board with a strip of
velcro tape running along the top of the cornice locking in the lining
fabric.
I have also added a few staples down the sides to hold in the ling fabric on
the ends. Don't worry about these as you won't see them when fitted over
your window.
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Section 3: Cornice top boards
While at the timber merchant getting your plywood also get some plained
smooth timber. I usually use a standard 6 inch by 1 inch plank of timber.
This is if I'm going to hang curtains from under the fabric covered cornice.
It gives enough space for the curtain rod or curtain track to fit underneath
I usually paint this board on one side only in white emulsion paint. This is
the side that will end up facing down into the room. It's not strictly
necessary but I think it makes it look more finished.
Don't paint the other side or the edges of the cornice board. The reason
being is you won't see these when fitted. The long edge and ends of the
board are to be covered by stapling on the opposite strip of velcro tape.
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Above you can see how when you make pelmets this way the top of the
cornice facia board wraps around the top board and sticks in place using
the two sides of the velcro tape.
This creates your finished window treatment cornice. I usually fit the top
board over the window using small shelf brackets. Then attach the cornice
facia afterwards.
This makes it easier to hang curtains or shades before you cover it with the
cornice facia. You can also attach a curtain track or shade fittings to the
uderside of the top board rather than to the wall as long as the curtains or
shade are not very heavy.
If you are going to make a cornice to fit over a roman shade or just on their
own. Then you can make the side returns smaller Rather than the 6 inches
above you can make them as little as 4 inches.
This will mean the cornice does not stand as proud from the wall over the
window making it look right. Below are some images of other cornice
window treatments made in the same way.
Discover How Easy It Is To Make Beautiful
Cornice Window Treatments
"Using These, Easy To Follow Videos"
These 5, step by step videos will help you to
measure, make and install fabric covered cornice
you can be proud to show off...
regardless of your previous curtain making ability!
See here for more info>>
Cornice window treatments gallery
So why not have go and make a fabric covered cornice to fit over your
windows following this simple guide. You can't go far wrong just take your
time and make sure you have measured correctly before you start to cut
your boards and fabric.
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