Create a Warm, Welcoming Living Room with Sheer Valances
Adding sheer valances is an easy way to instantly refresh the look of your living room. With their soft, lightweight fabrics and elegant shapes, valances diffuse light beautifully while providing a decorative accent. Whether you opt for breezy linen, flowing silk, or cozy cotton, sheer valances bring an effortless grace to living spaces of all styles.
Read on to learn more about choosing the perfect sheer valances, from romantic to modern styles, ideal placement and sizing, top fabric options, and creative hanging techniques.
An Introduction to Sheer Valances
Before deciding on the perfect valances, it helps to understand what they are and why they work so well in living rooms.
Sheer valances are decorative window treatments made from lightweight, translucent fabrics. Usually composed of soft, draping materials like linen, cotton, silk, or polyester blends, valances gently filter natural light while adding style to a room.
Valances only cover the upper portion of windows. Many homeowners pair them with blinds, shades, or curtains for full coverage. For shorter windows or spaces where privacy isn't a concern, valances can beautifully stand alone.
With their soft, welcoming textures and ability to keep rooms bright and airy, sheer valances are ideal for living room windows. Available in a wealth of colors, patterns, and styles, they effortlessly complement any decor.
Benefits of Sheer Valances
- Filter and diffuse incoming sunlight
- Provide a decorative focal point
- Add style without blocking outdoor views or natural light
- Layer well with other window treatments
- Come in many fabrics, textures, colors and styles
- Give the illusion of taller windows
- Soften hard edges and add coziness to formal spaces
Popular Types of Sheer Valances
- Rod pocket valances - Contain pockets to insert curtain rods through for hanging
- Ring top valances - Use rings sewn into the top for mounting on a rod
- Board-mounted valances - Attached to a wood board, often pleated
- Corinthian valances - Elaborate, shaped style folded into dramatic swoops
- Balloon valances - Gathered style that 'balloons' out at the bottom
Choosing the Perfect Style for Your Living Room
With so many options, selecting the ideal valances to complement your living room decor may seem daunting. Here are some popular style ideas to consider:
Modern and Minimalist
For contemporary spaces, opt for clean-lined valances in solid neutrals or bold colors. Stay away from ornate details and choose sleek, architectural shapes. Pair with wood blinds or crisp roller shades.
Romantic and Soft
In formal living rooms or spaces with a feminine flair, delicate embroidered or lace valances set the right mood. Go for lighter hues, ruffles, twisted fabric accents, and arched shapes. Mix with curtains in silk or velvet.
Rustic or Cottage Style
In cozy, laidback spaces, homespun fabrics like linen, gauze, or lightweight cotton are ideal. Choose natural, easygoing patterns and casual gathered detailing. Iron curtain rods and wood blinds complete the welcoming look.
Transitional Style
For rooms straddling traditional and contemporary, soft valances with simple lines, muted patterns, and warm neutral hues strike the right balance. Pair with Roman shades or a mix of curtains and wood blinds.
Custom or Tailored
Some homeowners opt for custom valances made-to-measure for their exact window dimensions. While pricier, this allows perfect alignment and a built-in look. For a clean, sophisticated feel, tailored valances are unbeatable.
Size, Placement and Proportion
Achieving the right size and placement for living room valances ensures they enhance your windows beautifully.
Measure Carefully
Knowing the exact width and length needed for each window prevents ordering errors. Take meticulous measurements and note the valance style and mounting method desired. Most retailers provide sizing guides.
Mind the Height
Consider your ceiling height when choosing valance lengths. For average 8 to 9-foot ceilings, valances around 16 to 20 inches long typically work well. Size up for dramatic high ceilings or size down for cozier lower ones.
Inside vs. Outside Mounts
Inside mounted valances nestle neatly within window frames for a clean, integrated look. Outside mounts overlap the frame, providing more flexibility for off-size windows. Each has its perks depending on room architecture and personal taste.
Position with Care
Place living room valances thoughtfully in relation to your window position, height, and existing furnishings. Center on the window, align multiple valances flawlessly, and consider clearances for sofas, drapes, and other items nearby.
Fabric and Material Options for Sheer Valances
From breezy linens to sumptuous silks, the fabric you choose impacts the mood, durability and practicality of living room valances. Consider these popular options:
Airflow-Loving Linen
Made from natural fibers, linen offers laidback wrinkled texture and graceful drape. Available in solids and patterns, linen suits casual to elegant spaces. It resists fading and insulating against heat and cold drafts.
Lightweight 100% Cotton
With its subtly rough-hewn texture and absorbency, cotton provides an approachable look. Tailored voile-style cotton valances complement coastal decor. Options like muslin add relaxed charm to country living rooms.
Silky Smooth Polyester
For affordable softness and lustrous sheen, polyester valances are hard to top. Wrinkle-resistant and easy to care for, polyester mimics the luxury of silk at a fraction of the cost.
Romantic Lace or Embroidered
Delicate lace and embroidered mesh valances infuse rooms with vintage romance. Often made from soft cotton or poly/cotton blends, they filter light beautifully. Choose dainty floral designs or bold geometric patterns.
Consider how much sunlight your space receives when narrowing down fabric options. Delicate silk and polyester won't hold up to harsh direct light. Linen and cotton better tolerate intense brightness. Your valance's ambiance also depends on the fabric translucency.
Hanging Valances Creatively
The hanging method and placement of your living room valances impact their functionality and visual allure. Follow these tips:
Select Mounting Hardware
Look for quality brackets, rings, and rods that match the weight of your valances. For lighter-weight fabrics, standard hardware works well. Heavier materials may need reinforced support.
Layer With Other Window Treatments
Many mix valances with blinds, shades or curtains for layered light control and privacy. Hang valances directly above or behind other treatments, or stagger heights for dimension.
Maximize the Visual Impact in Bays and Large Spaces
Incorporate multiple same-size valances across expansive windows for balanced finesse. Try stacking two valances atop one another for an upscale frame effect.