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How to Build a Wood Window Cornice

A wood window cornice is easy to build and takes less than two hours to put together. It’s a great way to hide window hardware and to give a fresh new look to an old window.

DIY Wood Window Cornice

We have a big window in our kitchen that we have always found difficult to put window treatments.

Since the window is so close to the stove, we can not put long curtains.

At one point, we had put a lace valance. The lace valance just didn’t fit with us, so we eventually took it down and never replaced it with anything.

DIY Wood Window Cornice built under 2 hours

Our window treatment solution for our window was a DIY wood window cornice.

A wood cornice would add a nice fresh look to our old window.

It’s also the perfect project for this month’s At Home DIY Challenge: 2-Hour DIY Challenge

I’m participating in a year long DIY challenge with fabulous DIY bloggers. Every month we have a new challenge. Last month’s challenge was Build It Cheaper Than Buying It Furniture, my project was how to build a nightstand (which also took less than 2 hours to build!) At the bottom of this post you’ll find a bunch of 2-Hour DIY projects.

Thank you to Fusion Mineral Paint for providing us with stain for this project. We are extremely grateful for their support.

This post also contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

How to build a wood window cornice. It takes less than 2 hours to build this DIY wood window cornice. Fast and easy way to give a window a new look. Pair the wooden window cornice with a macrame valance for an even more stunning look.

How to build a wood window cornice

Supplies:

  • Wood board (We used one 1×8 at 8 feet long.)
  • Screws
  • Stain or paint
  • Drywall plugs

Tools:

Instructions

Step 1: We started off by measuring our window and its frame.

They measure 77 inches. We added 2 inches (to have a little extra overhang), which gave us 79 inches in total.

Window before window treatment
Measure window and window frame to determine the length.

Step 2: We made straight lines on the board, where we wanted to make the cuts, using a square.

It’s important to measure and cut one piece at a time. Measure, cut, measure next piece, cut, etc…

Mark board to make a line.
Use a square to make a straight line.
Pine board with cut line.

Step 3: Using a miter saw, we cut three pieces of wood from the 1×8.

We cut one piece 79 inches long and 2 pieces 3 inches long. The 3 inches pieces are the side pieces.

Please note: We wanted our wood cornice to be tight around our window and frame because we have no intention of putting curtains. However, if you want to put curtains, the main board and sides need to be longer in order to have enough space for the curtain rod and curtains to clear and to tuck away on the sides.

Use a miter saw to cut board.
Main board to make project.
Side pieces for the project.

Step 4: We brought in the 3 pieces of wood and dry fitted it around the top of the window.

I quite enjoyed watching my hubby and daughter balance the entire thing. hehe

Dry fit window cornice.

Step 5: Time to use the Kreg Jig!

We added 2 pocket holes on the inside of the 2 small pieces of wood.

Use Kreg Jig to make pocket holes to attach pieces of wood together.
Pocket hole to attach wood pieces together.
Make pocket holes with Kreg Jig.
Side pieces with pocket holes.

Step 6: We lightly sanded the wood with 120 grit sandpaper and stained.

We used Fusion Mineral Paint’s Stain & Finishing Oil All in One in the color cappuccino.

To stain we followed the same process as we did when we stained our tabletop minus wetting the surface, it’s a soft wood so no need to bring up the grain.

We did not stain the back of the main piece, nor the back edge of the small pieces.

Once stained, we had to wait until the next day to continue working on the project so that the stain had time to dry.

Sand with 120 grit sandpaper before staining.
Fusion Mineral Paint All in One Stain and Finishing Oil in cappuccino.
Apply stain to wood with a foam brush.
Wipe away stain.
Wood pieces needed to build a wood window cornice.

How to assemble a window cornice

Step 7: In order to hang the wood window cornice, we added 2 keyhole slots in the back of the two small pieces.

We made a little T on the top part of the pieces of wood in order to remember where the top was.

We put a little dot where we wanted to start the keyhole slot.

We put the keyhole bit in the router table. We made a dent on the wood, where the dot was, with the keyhole bit.

We moved to the drill press and drilled a pocket where the dent was.

We could have skipped this step and only use the keyhole bit, but we figured by doing it this way we will extend the life of the keyhole bit.

We went back to the router table and inserted the hole inside the bit and made a keyhole slot.

We repeated until both pieces had 2 keyhole slots, making sure the keyhole slots were positioned in the same location on both pieces.

How to make keyhole slots using a keyhole bit.

FYI in case you are not familiar with a keyhole slot. The big hole is where you insert the screw head and the long part is where you slide the screw head to prevent the screw head from slipping out of the keyhole.

Please note: Instead of keyhole slots, you could also put D Ring Hangers. However we opted for keyhole slots because we wanted the window cornice to be as tight as possible to the wall. Or you can use a Kreg Jig to make slots like we did for our wood wall sconces.

Step 8: We assembled the cornice by placing the small pieces of wood on each side of the back side of the long board with the pockets pointing inwards.

We used clamps to keep them secured in place.

We drilled screws inside each pocket hole.

Attach pieces of wood together with screws inside pocket holes.
Assembling a window cornice.

How to install a wood window cornice

Step 9: We measured where to install it, making sure to mark where the screws would go.

It’s important that the screws line up with the keyhole slots.

We also used a level to make sure it was straight by positioning it on top of the wood window cornice where it was going to be installed.

Tip: Measure and re-measure to make sure everything lines up perfectly.

The screws go at the top part of the keyhole slot, the opposite end of the big part of the keyhole slot.

Measure the back of the wooden window cornice to determine where to install it.
Measure and measure again to make sure to install the window cornice in the correct location.

Step 10: Using a drill, we drilled where the screws would go.

We inserted drywall plugs into the holes and hammered them in.

How to install drywall plugs.

Step 11: We drilled screws inside the drywall plugs.

We made sure to leave them partly out so they would slip into the keyhole slots.

Insert screws into drywall plugs.
Drywall plugs with screws.

Step 12: Time to hang the window cornice!

Insert the screws into the keyhole slots and slide the wood window cornice down until it’s locked into place.

How to install a wood window cornice.

Voilà! Finished!

DIY wooden window cornice.

Doesn’t it look great?! I just ADORE IT! I love that it took less than 2 hours to build!

DIY Window Macrame Valance

As we worked on the wooden window cornice, our 10 year old daughter was working on her own project, a macrame valance!

She followed a macrame kitchen curtain tutorial. The tutorial is really worth checking out! It really helped make our window beautiful.

My husband made wood blocks and screwed them into the window frame.

We then placed a 6 foot ¾’’ wood dowel.

We bought 4 packages of 100 feet 100% cotton rope (for a total of 400 feet) and let Emanuelle get to work.

Just to give you a reference point based on the calculations suggested by Little Vintage Cottage. Our window is 6 feet wide and 35.5 inches high, Ema used 34x 8 feet lengths of rope to complete the project.

How to make a macrame valance.
DIY Macrame Valance using 100% cotton rope.
Easy DIY macrame window valance made by a 10 year old.

Isn’t she amazing? I did not help her at all, she did it all on her own!

DIY Window Wood Cornice with a DIY Macrame Valance.
DIY Macrame Window Valance with a wood cornice.

The macrame valance turned out PERFECT! It looks so good on it’s own and paired with the wood window cornice we made.

Wooden window cornice with macrame valance.

We may add a hook in the middle of the window frame to give the wood dowel a little more support. It’s a little droopy in the middle from the weight of the macrame valance.

Both the cornice and valance turned out so beautiful that I want us to do the same thing with the window above the sink. Emanuelle agreed to do another macrame valance for me, YAY!

UPDATE: Emanuelle made another macrame valance for the window above the sink! You can see it in my updated kitchen makeover where I share how to paint tile backsplash.

With the left over cotton rope I have made rope bowls! They are so fun to make!

Emanuelle made a super cute yarn wall hanging to hang in the kitchen too!

DIY Wood Window Cornice

How to build a wood window cornice. It takes less than 2 hours to build this DIY wood window cornice. Fast and easy way to give a window a new look. Pair the wooden window cornice with a macrame valance for an even more stunning look.

I really hope you like the wood window cornice we built and that you love the macrame valance my daughter made.

We had so much fun putting it all together.

Have a GREAT day!

DIY Macrame Window Valance with a wood cornice.

How to build a Wood Window Cornice

Yield: 1 wood window cornice
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Active Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Additional Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Difficulty: Moderate
Estimated Cost: Less than $40

Learn how to build a wood window cornice under 2 hours. A great way to update a window with DIY window treatments.

Materials

  • Wood board
  • Screws
  • Stain
  • Drywall plugs

Tools

Instructions

  1. Measure length of window and frame. Measure window and window frame to determine the size of the window cornice.
  2. Mark the board where you would like to cut it. 1 piece the length of the window and frame plus 2 inches. (If the window and frame measure 77 inches cut the board 79 inches.) Plus 2 pieces 3 inches wide. Use a square to make a straight line.
  3. Cut board into three pieces using a miter saw. Use a miter saw to cut board.
  4. Dry fit the pieces around the window and frame. Dry fit wood cornice around the window.
  5. Add 2 pocket holes on the inside of the 2 small pieces of wood. Make pocket holes with Kreg Jig.
  6. Lightly sand wood with 120 grit sandpaper and stain the pieces. Apply stain to wood with a foam brush.
  7. Once dry, add 2 keyhole pockets in the back edge of the two small pieces using a keyhole bit. Keyhole slots back of the window cornice.
  8. Assemble wood window cornice by attaching the two small pieces of wood on each side of the long board with screws inside the pocket holes. Insert screws in pocket holes to assemble window cornice.
  9. Measure carefully where to install it. Measure and measure again to make sure to install the window cornice in the correct location.
  10. Drill holes in the wall and insert drywall plugs. Drywall plugs
  11. Insert screws inside drywall plugs.
  12. Hang wood window cornice. How to install a wood window cornice.

Notes

Dimensions are custom. Measure your window and frame to calculate the correct size for the window cornice. If you intend on adding curtains, please keep that in mind when determining size of the window cornice. Calculate enough space for the curtains and curtain rod to clear.

Our Hopeful Home

Sunday 29th of March 2020

Love it! And your daughter is so talented! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm. xo Kathleen

Allyson

Tuesday 25th of February 2020

Your cornice looks great and I love the macrame valance! Pinning. Visiting from Creative Muster.

Ann

Sunday 12th of January 2020

Great tutorial and the finished product looks fantastic! Thank you for sharing at Party In Your PJ's.

Amy

Thursday 7th of November 2019

Awesome! Your daughter did amazing on the macrame!

Julie Briones

Thursday 24th of October 2019

Congrats on your feature at TFT! I'm wanting to add a cornice box or two to My Wee Abode, as well, so definitely wanting to pin this (I don't see a pin button activated for your pin, though... so I scheduled it.) We would love you to join us at Tuesday Turn About via myweeabode.com! Hope to see you there!

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