Blog / Cornice Boards

Cornice Boards 101: The Finishing Touch That Elevates Any Room

cornice board installation for your home
One way to add a refined finish to your windows is with cornice boards, and many homeowners here in Georgetown, TX find these structured pieces ideal for elevating their everyday spaces.

Cornice Boards for Homes in Georgetown, TX

A cornice board is a structured window topper that begins as a solid box of wood or a similar rigid material that sits above the window frame. Once you cover it with batting and fabric pulled tight across the face, the result is a clean architectural edge rather than a soft drape. A valance hangs loosely from a rod and moves with the air currents, but this hard form lets you shape the lower edge into a straight line, a gentle curve, or a series of scallops.

The idea is to position the finished piece so it completely covers the top of the opening and every bit of hardware behind it. Rods, rings, headrails, and even the battery packs of motorized shades can all simply disappear from view behind the boards. At the same time, the solid cover also stops light that would otherwise leak around the upper edge, and this gives you deeper darkness in a bedroom or media room if you need it.

Tips and Tricks

Mounting

When you mount the topper a few inches above the window casing, the eye will naturally travel upward, and the entire opening will seem to be taller. Ceilings feel higher as a result. And if you apply the same profile and fabric across every window in a space, the whole wall will suddenly read as a deliberate composition.

Fabric

A quiet, solid weave keeps the attention on the clean geometry, and this approach works especially well in rooms where you already have patterned furniture or busy walls. A bold pattern can, in contrast, draw color from an upholstered chair or rug and turn the topper into a focal point.

Layers

You can leave the topper as a standalone architectural statement, of course. But you can also layer it over draperies and shades, and the rigid upper edge will give you a fixed line that balances the movement of the soft panels below. Drapes can still open and close freely, but the top treatment will stay put and create a constant, finished outline.

Natural Surfaces

If you prefer a natural surface instead of fabric, that works, too, and the same wood frame can accept all kinds of paint or stain. Painted finishes can match existing trim, while stained wood can tie the cornice into your furniture or flooring. Fabric versions, by contrast, introduce texture and pattern that paint alone cannot supply.

Call Us to See Options

To find out more about your options and get advice for what will work in your space, contact Fabric Bin in Georgetown today for a free estimate and in-home consultation. We have more than thirty years of local textile experience and always build each piece to the exact size and style you need. We serve all of Central Texas and the Hill Country.
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