A fabric covered cornice over a window can really dress up a room. Since this window was almost 10’ long, the cornice was made from two pieces of 1/2” thick by 24” wide plywood. Here’s how to go about it.
Build the Cornice Frame
- Rip the plywood for the cornice frame to the desired width with a circular saw or table saw (24″ in our case).
- Cut the plywood to length using a circular saw or table saw (1″ to 2″ longer than the outside of the window facings).
- If the window cornice is over 8′ long, join two pieces of plywood together with metal mending plates to form the frame.
- Use a jigsaw to cut an arched shape in the middle of the cornice.
- Cut ends and a top header for the frame to length and width from plywood, molding, or solid wood to hold the cornice off the wall and give it depth.
- Attach the sides and top header to the plywood frame using glue and nails.
Cover the Cornice Frame with Fabric
- Wrap the front and edges of the frame in upholstery batting, stapling it to the back.
- Cut the fabric oversized to width and length.
- Staple the fabric to the back edge of the top header.
- Fold the fabric over the front of the frame and staple it to the bottom in the back.
- Use multiple cuts with scissors to fit the fabric around the curves in the arch.
- Cover the back of the frame with white fabric to hide the unfinished plywood and fabric edges.
- Use a hot glue gun to attach a decorative fringe to the bottom edge of the cornice.
Hang the Window Cornice
- Screw “L” brackets to the wall studs above the window on each end.
- Rest the cornice header on top of the “L” brackets.
- Attach the “L” brackets to the cornice header with screws.
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