valance
VAL-uhns
/ˈvæləns/
A short decorative drapery or fabric border hung across the top of a window to conceal hardware.
A valance is always soft and made of fabric, distinguishing it from rigid top treatments like cornices.
The story behind the word. The valance likely gets its name from Valence, a town in southeastern France that was a major center for textile manufacturing in the late Middle Ages. It originally referred to the hanging fabric borders around beds before moving to windows.
Word relationships
- border: A border is any edge, whereas a valance is specifically a hanging fabric strip at the top of a window or bed.
Commonly confused with
- cornice: A cornice is a rigid, wooden or plaster box, while a valance is a soft, flowing fabric treatment.
Collocations
- window valance
- ruffled valance
- tailored valance
Example sentences
- "She hung a simple ruffled valance across the top of the kitchen window to hide the plastic curtain rod." Home improvement instructions.
Memory hook
A valance hangs at the top, acting like a 'veil' over the 'balance' of the window hardware. The short fabric skirt at the top of a window.
When not to use
Do not use if the top treatment is made of wood, plaster, or other hard, structured materials.
Fun facts
- Valances were originally used on four-poster beds in medieval castles to keep out drafts and dust before they became popular window decorations.
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