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How to Build a Window Cornice

how to build window cornice

I have the privilege of being a Lowes Creative Ideas blogger and each month we are issued a project idea challenge. This month, I chose to take on the challenge of “window treatments”. Our guest bedroom desperately needed some window help since the previous roman shades hanging in this room were dirty and broken. My first step in upgrading the window treatments was to purchase some natural bamboo Levelor shades. These are great because they can be cut to size right in the store. You simply come prepared with your measurements, hand them to a friendly Lowe’s associate, and the machine cuts the shade right in the box for you!

levolor

The room looked a thousand times better just with the warmth of the bamboo shades. My next step was to build a few pelmet boxes also knows as window cornices. I wanted the cornices to be light in weight so that hanging them would be easy. Inspired by Little Green Notebook, I chose to build these out of foam core board, but you could also use insulation board for this project.

Supplies Needed:

Step 1: Gather your supplies and your helpers. I have two furry little helpers that loved the fact I was working on the floor all afternoon. Pippin carried off my batting a few times and Eowyn was scared of the staple gun so kept trying to climb in my lap as I worked. It slowed the process down for sure :).

how to window cornice

Step 2: Determine your pelmet box design and size and draw it on your board. I measured my window to determine the size for my pelmet box. Next, I found an image of a pelmet box that I loved, and I projected that image from my computer onto my board using my 3M projector and traced around it. My 3M projector is my secret weapon, and I highly recommend getting one if you are doing a lot of projects in your home. If you don’t have a projector you will have to do some math to determine the design for your board.

project image

Step 3: Cut and tape the sides to your cornice. I used an Xacto knife to cut my board but you can also use a utility knife. I used duct tape to tape on the sides of my box.

pelmet box how to

Step 4: Cover your cornice in batting and fabric and staple in place. Going around the corners is the trickiest part of this project. Keep checking the look of the front of your cornice to determine if you need to pull the fabric more or less taut to get a wrinkle-free look. I covered my staples with duct tape for a cleaner look and to ensure that none of them pulled away from the foamboard.

window cornice

Step 5: Glue D-ring picture hangers onto each end and hang your box. I held my finished box up to the window and used a pencil to mark where my nails needed to go above each window. I nailed two brad nails into the wall and hung my cornice in place.

dring hangers

pelmet box how to

I love the way they turned out and love even more how easy they were to make and hang on the wall!

pelmet boxes

You can see more fun DIY ideas at Lowe’s Creative Ideas, follow Lowe’s on Instagram, Pinterest and sign up for the free Creative Ideas magazine and app!

Fall Badge Rectangle

*Disclaimer: As a member of the Lowe’s Creative Ideas Creators and Influencers network, I received a Lowe’s gift card to complete this project; however the tutorial images, instructions and opinions are my own. 

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Comments

  2. I’ve been trying to find templates for cornice styles, to no avail. Read your blog and learned that you used a projector! What a fantastic idea…thank you!!!! I purchased a projector but I’ve encountered a problem I’m hoping you may have an answer for. I found a cornice style I just love for our living room but the photo on the Internet, that I am trying to project, was taken on an angle. Any idea how I may overcome this problem as the projected image will be distorted? I have searched all over and cannot find a better photo.

  3. What color are your walls? I’m looking at paint colors now. I’m not a fan of grays, but this looks grayish and I really like it!

    • Thanks! The walls are Sherwin Williams Knitting Needles but if you’re not a fan of gray I don’t recommend it. It’s definitely a gray. Thanks for stopping by!

      • Thank you for the quick reply!! You space looks so light and airy! But my my space is not that well lit, so I will stick with my creamy white 🙂 but if I ever have an open well lit space I may have to try it 🙂

  4. I was so excited to try this. It is a good option if you can’t use wood, but for me it was much harder than the wood.

    • Edith that is such a good question! I think it depends on how close your window is to the bath/shower and how well your bathroom fan works. If your bathroom is small and the mirrors are completely dripping with condensation after each shower/bath, then I probably wouldn’t recommend this window treatment.

      • Do you think it would hold up in a bathroom if I completely covered it in duct tape or some other product to make it waterproof?

        • I wouldn’t recommend securing the fabric in the back with duct tape if it’s going to be in a very humid environment.

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  10. Great job on this one. I’ve pinned it for future reference. My only question is this: How did you make and maintain the sides? I understand that you can cut the board to form the sides, but what makes them rigid enough to form the right angle after you have cut the foam board? Did you use some sort of bracket? That is the only thing I can’t figure out. Love the ease and weight of the project. Great job!

    • Thanks Susan. I simply reinforced the sides with duct tape. I focused more heavily on the inner angle and used tape vertically and horizontally until it was secure.

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