Custom cornice window treatments can be extremely expensive. In this tutorial we show you how to make a diy window cornice for about $20 dollars each. A window cornices are the square window covers at the top of windows that provide a very nice looking alternative to full drapes.
With a little creativity and a sense of diy style, you can make these window covers for much less than a professional company would charge you. You really only need a few types of common tools that most people already have.
To make your own diy Cornice Window Treatment you will need:
Builder’s Insulation Foam – 1/2 inch foam insulation, only $8 per sheet from Home Depot.
Duct Tape – To hold the builders foam together.
Batting – To go between the foam and the fabric.
Fabric – To drape over the builders foam.
Staple Gun – To staple the fabric and batting to the foam sheets.
Scissors – To cut the fabric and the batting material.
Here are the windows before the cornice window treatment was installed.
Here is the 1/2 inch foam insulation sheets we purchased. These work way better than wood! Lighter too!
The foam boards have been cut to size and we have secured it together with simple duct tape.
We then added the batting and fabric and used our staple gun to secure it to the foam boards.
For under $20 bucks we added these to our new homes windows. Cheap, easy and anyone can do it!
Written by Keith Schneerer
Certified Appliance Tech · Founder, RemoveAndReplace.com
Keith has spent 30+ years repairing machines, starting as a military mechanic and later maintaining food processing equipment before moving into appliance repair. He founded RemoveAndReplace.com to share field-tested repair advice.
More about Keith →
That’s a really cute idea! I recently moved into a new apartment, and the windows are pretty bare. I’ve been thinking of getting curtains, but I’m really liking the cornice a lot more. I’ll have to make a stop at the craft store and get a fabric that will match the interior of my home, thanks for the tips :)
Karen,
If you use many of them, then yes we believe it would be just fine. Just make sure you are using the lightest materials possible for the Cornice.
-RR
do you think these can be hung using Velcro command strips?
Did either of you try this and did you get them hung? Thanks
I’m confused as to how to hang them? I don’t see a top header to the cornice, which I’m sure you’d need to hang them.
Heather,
Using drywall anchors will work if you determine the correct size. Also, using a stud finder can help to locate the wood beams in your wall and attaching with wood screws is a second option.
-RR
I’m wondering how you fasten it to the wall?