Affordable Window Toppers for Your Living Room Makeover
Have you been looking to upgrade the windows in your living room but don't want to spend a fortune? Adding window toppers is an affordable way to make over the look of your living room windows without breaking the bank.
Window toppers like valances, swags, and cornices add instant style and visual interest to tired, basic windows. They also serve practical purposes like insulating, filtering light, and boosting privacy. With some creativity, you can dress up your living room windows with beautiful, budget-friendly window toppers that complement your decor.
Types of Window Toppers to Consider for Living Rooms
There are a variety of stylish window topper options that can dramatically enhance the look of your living room windows.
Valances
Valances are lightweight decorative window treatments that are installed above curtains or shades. Common types of living room valances include:
- Roman shades: Folded fabric that raises and lowers
- Balloon shades:full, puffy fabric thats These gather at the bottom when raised
- Relaxed roman shades: Softer draped roman shades
- Faux shades: Stationary valances styled to look like operable shades
Valances add a decorative focal point and hide curtain rods or existing window treatments. They come in varieties of styles, colors, patterns and materials to match any living room decor.
Cornices
Cornices are decorative coverings that outline the top edges of windows with shaped molding. Typically made of wood or foam, cornices add architectural detail and elegance. They make windows appear larger and more built-in to the living room.
Lambrequins
Lambrequins are short decorative valances with layered ruffles or decorative edging. They are mounted to the wall above a window at an upward angle to create a pretty, elegant focal point over the window. Lambrequins help draw attention upwards and add softness to living room windows.
Soft Window Treatments
Sheer, lightweight curtains made from breezy fabrics like voile or mesh make stunning yet affordable living room window toppers. Pair them with other window treatments or use them alone to filter light and add billowy texture next to windows.
Benefits of Adding Window Toppers
Installing window toppers in your living room offers a variety of perks beyond just looking stylish.
Enhance Living Room Aesthetics
Window toppers instantly boost the visual appeal of boring, basic windows. Valances, swags, cornices and other top treatments add an extra decorative element that dresses up plain windows.
Filter Privacy & Light
Sheer window toppers filter outside light and views without fully blocking them. Light filtering window treatments add privacy while still letting some natural light into the living room.
Insulate Rooms
Window coverings like valances, curtains and shades provide extra insulation. This helps reduce outside noise and keeps heat or air conditioning from escaping out the windows, saving on energy costs.
Showcase Your Style
The wide variety of colors, patterns and textures available in window toppers makes it easy to find options that showcase your unique living room style.
Complete the Look of Space
Adding window toppers ties together your living room decor by complementing existing furnishings and window treatments. It makes the space look professionally decorated and pulled together.
Design Ideas for Affordable DIY Window Toppers
Looking to save even more money? Craft your own custom, budget-friendly DIY window toppers with these easy ideas:
Fabric Valances
Sew simple rod pocket curtain valances out of discounted quilt fabrics or bedsheets. Or wrap batting around dowel curtain rods to make a tufted, textured window valance.
Paper Shades
Make quick no-sew paper shades using wrapping paper, butcher paper or photocopier paper. Add interest by layering patterned papers, stenciling designs, or zigzagging paper strips.
Painted Cornices
Cut foam board to size and paint it a color that matches your living room decor. Nail up the DIY painted cornices for instant window molding.
Removable Wallpaper
Wallpaper flat boards with peel-and-stick wallpaper remnants for custom printed window header panels. Change up the patterned frames as often as you like!
Tips for Selecting Window Toppers
Keep these key tips in mind when shopping for the perfect affordable living room window topper:
Colors & Patterns
Look for window toppers in colors, prints and designs that coordinate with your existing living room decor. Valances, swags and cornices come in a rainbow of hues and endless unique patterns.
Window Shape & Size
Consider the shapes and sizes of your living room windows when selecting window toppers. Look for corner valances, extended width curtains, and other variations suited to the unique contours of your windows.
Budget
Prices can vary drastically for custom window treatments. Save money with discounted ready-made valances, swags and tier curtains sized close enough to fit your windows.
Energy Efficiency
Look for window toppers made of insulating materials like layered fabrics or thermal backings. Energy efficient toppers help reduce heating and cooling costs.
Where to Buy Discount Window Toppers
You don't have to overspend to give your living room windows a makeover. Here are some places to shop majorly marked down window toppers on a budget:
Home Improvement Stores
Big box home improvement retailers like Menards, Home Depot and Lowe's sell affordable ready-made swags, valances, curtains and cornices for every style. Their sales and clearance sections offer steep discounts.
Online Retailers
Score bargains on window toppers by browsing Wayfair, Amazon, Overstock and discount home decor sites like LNT.com. Online shopping makes comparing prices and finding deals easy.
Use Coupon Codes & Rewards Programs
Sign up for email lists from online window treatment retailers to get alerts about site-wide sales, percentage-off promo codes and cash back rewards that lower prices.
Check Resale Shops
Give secondhand window valances, swags and cornices new life by repurposing bargain finds from Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill, thrift stores and garage sales.
Display Tips for Fabulous Window Toppers
Proper display transforms your thrifty window toppers into dazzling living room focal points. Use these expert style tips:
Hang at Optimal Height
Mount window toppers so the bottom edges hang approximately 5-8 inches above the window frame for best visibility and proportion.
Layer Treatments
Pair valances over pretty curtains and shades - mixing multiple window layers amps up dimension, texture and style.
Showcase Cornices
Paint cornices a contrasting accent shade or add trim molding. Underlighting also highlights ornate cornice details.
Install an overhead spotlight or position adjustable table and floor lamps nearby. Strategic lighting draws attention to beautiful window toppers when natural light fades.