skip to main content

Home Decorating

Want to create my own low cost rod over window to hang valance

14 years ago

I bought a valance for my bathroom window at a garage sale for $1.00. It has a tab top and I can, of course buy a decorative curtain rod for about $10-$12.00, but it is more fun for me to hang it on something like a branch that is painted or something clever like that. Does anyone have any suggestions for what I can use?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

annzgw
14 years ago
You can buy any size dowel at the hardware store and stain or paint it, add a finial and you're done. You can also use bamboo poles.
User
14 years ago
Well Annz took both my ideas! Lowes even sell unfinished finials. You can either find them in their Millworks department or hung on those clippy things in there Window Coverings department. Millworks is the dept that orders them though. They have a couple style of unfinished brakets too.
Related Discussions
I want to make my own potting soil
Q
Comments (34)
Q. Why can't compost be used indoors? A. Because. There IS actually a very good and well documented reason why compost is not recommended as a major additive to container potting soil, either for indoor plants or outdoor plants. And that is how it affects good drainage, a quality that is pretty much paramount for any sort of container growing. Compost continues to breakdown even as a component of potting soil. The longer it goes, the more frequently wetted and the warmer the container is kept, the faster the material breaks down. And when that happens, the individual particles become tinier and more uniform in size, the pore spaces (the empty cavities between particles) shrink and the whole mix compresses. Compression and lack of pore space has a big negative impact on drainage and soggy soil and rotten roots tend to be a result. That's why most high quality purchased potting soils contain minimal - if any - concentrations of compost. It just doesn't hold up. If you are growing in containers short term, like very seasonal crops, compost can work as an additive (not the base) to potting soil. But for long term success - growing anything longer than 6 months - you want a durable, barky, textural potting medium that is not going to collapse and impact good drainage. The Container Gardening forum has a detailed discussion on this very subject that is the longest running (march '05) thread on GW. More than 2500 posts have entered into the discussion and the knowledge base is pretty high - in fact, the original author is considered an expert on container soils and container gardening in general Here is a link that might be useful: Container Soils - Water Movement and Retention
...See More
Should I put valances in my kitchen and family room windows?
Q
Comments (10)
OK, with two votes from Les and Squirrel, I'm going to go down to Lowes today to get more valances and rods for all windows except the transoms--plus another rod for my bedroom window. DH is going to be busy this Sat. I hope to have some results to post by Monday. I'm really not sure, though, how many panels to use--one or two. The package says for 36" and each window is 42" so if you factor in extending past the trim it will be about 48"W--too much for one panel, perhaps not enough for two, though I could always cut one in half and trim the ends. I like how it is with the dip in the center of the window, though and having more panels will have more dips. Les: We considered the other wall--but it really is not far enough to get the correct viewing distance, plus we need some clearance for the dining chairs. At this point, it would be hard to move it since between the insulation and sheerwall we needed to add to that room, all the walls are closed and I don't want to see any wires along the walls. DH had the electrician pull all kinds of $$ high tech "structured wiring" plus speaker wire so I'm afraid the TV is where it is at this point. I like the idea of having a sofa/console table, though the drop leaf tableis too wide given the dimensions of the room so the only other logical spot for it would be where the ent. center is now and we will have to see how it works once the new console comes in. I do need to do something to the back wall--not quite sure what. Given we are a family of 5 with three kids and this is where we spend the bulk of our time together, this room needs to have a more practical decor as it gets cluttered very easily. My favorite thing is the new ottoman as I can stash all kinds of stuff in there. My kids hate my new plaid cushions and are always throwing them on the floor as they find it more comfortable to sit on the sectional without them. Good thing they are washable! Here's a few other angles the show the wall and area I would like to add a small chair in case you have any other suggestions:
...See More
I want to sew my own................
Q
Comments (28)
So i now have in my possession a sewing machine. here tis. my grandma gave it to me for now. she said she has two old ones in the basement but that she didn't think they worked or were probably rusty. this one seems mostly plastic. She didn't really show me much with it. Said the only time she really used it was on the occasion to hem up my Pap's pants. Sooo... I'm thankful they found the manual! i could see where one could get frustrated very quick. I guess this weekend i'll practice sewing lines and untangling thread. :) found out my one coworker knows how to use one. she did some curtains for her baby's room. Pretty sure my DH's grandma know how and enjoys doing it. May make a trip over there at some point. That's all for now. i'll keep everyone posted on my progress.
...See More
What kind of valance used with panels on decorative rods?
Q
Comments (9)
Thanks for your input, everyone. I can't think of how to make a valance work, unless they are willing to give up the decorative rod. They bought that when we were out shopping for the curtains. We didn't find any curtains on that trip. I think they wanted to come home with SOMETHING for this project. But buying the rod is working backwards, in my mind. I need to figure out the functionality of this first. My problem is this is so far away from my own perspective, that I have a hard time getting into what will work for THEM, and not for ME. To me, if I needed privacy, I would put up opening and closing drapes, end of story. But they have nixed the traverse rods, saying they always break and are a headache to replace. I understand that, mine do too. I've replaced my patio door traverse rods more times than I can count. The one I last bought was over $100 at Loomcraft upholstery and drapery supply, for the heaviest sturdiest one I could find. But now I'm still pulling the drapes by hand, because the cords broke for the third time, and I'll be *&$#ed if I take those down again and replace the cords. Traverse rods for big windows like theirs will cost a fortune.
...See More
artlover13060
14 years ago
Instead of a rod you could screw a series of knobs over the window and hang the tabs on them. Knobs could be finials, door knobs (how cool would a variety of glass knobs look?), coat hooks, etc. The knobs could be screwed into a board if you didn't want to put that many holes in the wall.
huggybear_2008
14 years ago
IF your window is not to wide.. check out a piece of PVC pipe and you can either paint it the color you want and add a covered styroform ball at the end for the finial or just use a curved piece of PVC joint piece. they are smooth and the tabs would flow over it nicely.. you could spray paint it black, gold , white, any color that would go with your bathroom or valance.. I have seen folks use these with bracket hung up side of window and slip pvc piece over it.. or you can go to Big Lots and get a very inexpensive rod.. but sure would not be as much fun.. if you know someone who has a cane..you could use it.. even a piece of straight rebarb and it can be bent to work also.. might be a little harder.. I have seen the door knobs done and that looks really cool.. sometimes.. just have to sit down and think outside the box and use crazy items to do normal things.. lOl baseball bats have been used and so have hockey sticks.. Good luck and besure to take a pic and let us all see what you did.
Huggy
Barbara Kelly
14 years ago
I would use a thin wall copper pipe. They are not to expensive at the HD, and you could add a finial to the ends. Easy to cut to size too..

The copper can be aged too with some paint. Good luck,
User
14 years ago
I used PVC before and by the time you buy all the fittings and spray paint you could have used unfinished wooden dowel, finials and brackets that I mentioned from Lowes. I was rather disappointed with myself since I love wood so much and it was one of the very few times I didn't check out all options first.

Related Stories

KITCHEN DESIGN Create Your Own Checklist for a Well-Stocked Kitchen

By Laura Gaskill

Personalize the kitchen with your own must-haves from our list of top cooking tools, small appliances, pots, pans and more

DIY PROJECTS How to Create Your Own Semicustom Media Wall

By No. 29 Design

Don’t let the price of a custom built-in stop you. Put one together with ready-made pieces and a little finish help

BATHROOM DESIGN 8 Tips for Creating Your Own Wet Room

By Jason Ball Interior Design

Warm up a room full of tile with color, light, texture and wood

WINDOW TREATMENTS How Low Should Your Drapes Go?

By Judith Taylor Designs

Hover, brush the floor or pool like Scarlett O'Hara's tears — we give you the lowdown on curtain length options

WINDOWS Window Valances for Every Style

Save a Little Cash, Add a Bit of Flair by Dressing Just the Top of Your Windows

WINDOW TREATMENTS What’s the Right Way to Hang Roller Shades?

By Mitchell Parker

Over or under? It depends on how you want your shades to look, how much light you want to block and other factors

DECORATING GUIDES Swags and Jabots Hold Sway Over Window Style

By The Inman Company

Elegantly draped, this window treatment adds a soft but stately touch to any room in your manor

DIY PROJECTS Make Your Own Barn-Style Door — in Any Size You Need

By No. 29 Design

Low ceilings or odd-size doorways are no problem when you fashion a barn door from exterior siding and a closet track

DECORATING GUIDES 13 Ways With Window Valances

By The Inman Company

A swoop of fabric above the window hides the hardware and frames the view in style

CEILINGS 13 Ways to Create the Illusion of Room Height

By Affecting Spaces Design Studio

Low ceilings? Here are a baker’s dozen of elements you can alter to give the appearance of a taller space

Sponsored

More Discussions

Help with Studio Apt

60

Need help with this room layout

6

No green thumb. Try live again or faux?

5

Couldn’t resist buying a 50’s ranch

4

10x14 area rug - help!

0