How to Make Curtains Cornice Top Boards as a Professional

How to Make Curtains Cornice Top Boards as a Professional 

When you are at the wood merchant to get your plywood, try also to get some plain smooth wood. I usually use a standard 6 inch by 1 inch plank of timber. This is if I'm going to hang curtains from under the fabric covered cornice. It gives enough space for the curtain rod or curtain track to fit underneath.

I usually paint this board on one side only in white emulsion paint. This is the side that will end up facing down into the room. It's not strictly necessary but I think it makes it look more finished.

Don't paint the other side or the edges of the cornice board. The reason being is you won't see these when fitted. The long edge and ends of the board are to be covered by stapling on the opposite strip of velcro tape.

Above you can see how when you make pelmets this way the top of the cornice facia board wraps around the top board and sticks in place using the two sides of the velcro tape.

This creates your finished window treatment cornice. I usually fit the top board over the window using small shelf brackets. Then attach the cornice facia afterwards.

This makes it easier to hang curtains or shades before you cover it with the cornice facia. You can also attach a curtain track or shade fittings to the underside of the top board rather than to the wall as long as the curtains or shade are not very heavy.

If you are going to make a cornice to fit over a roman shade or just on their own. Then you can make the side returns smaller Rather than the 6 inches above you can make them as little as 4 inches.

This will mean the cornice does not stand as proud from the wall over the window making it look right. Below are some images of other cornice window treatments made in the same way.