1. Keep The Space Bright With Floaty Fabric
Kitchen windows can look stark and unfinished without some kind of window treatment, but hanging thick curtains or blinds can sometimes block out too much light. Adding kitchen valance in a thin cotton or voile fabric to the top half of the window is a great way to add softness and interest to the frame and screen harsh midday sun while maintaining a bright and airy feel throughout the space.
2. Bring A Decorative Touch With A Lace Valance
For a playful vintage kitchen idea why not put a twist on the traditional net curtain and add a lace valance to the top of a simple window blind? Here a lace trim picked up from a flea market brings a touch of quirky pattern to deVOL's shaker kitchen design. Brass fittings and wall lights add to the vintage feel.
3. Create A Relaxed Country Look With A Cabinet Valance
For Lisa Mehydene, founder of edit58, combining country kitchen curtain ideas alongside her British Standard cabinetry was the perfect way to create a lived-in and laid-back look. 'My style is traditional with an eclectic twist,' shares Mehydene. 'I like to add a ruffle or an interesting detail to spaces so they feel very much our own.
4. Create A Playful Atmosphere With A Bold Print
Instead of having closed cabinetry, fabric designer Molly Mahon opted for an open kitchen sink idea and added fabric valance on cords in a vibrant pink to create a joyful contrast to the blue frames. 'I use fabrics throughout the home to make it feel cheerful and warm and the kitchen is no exception,' says Molly Mahon. 'Our navy cabinets have my block-printed handmade skirts, why my blind fabric is in my 'Rose' fabric, a daily reminder of my visits to Jaipur and the fabric designs they have inspired.'
5. Bring Personality To A Small Kitchen
Adding a fabric valance alongside kitchen cabinets can be a great way to inject color into small kitchens, as often there's little wall space to hang artwork, and painting the walls in a bold color can be too dominating.
6. Create A Cozy Corner With A Window Valance
Valance ideas don't have to be on the tops of windows or under countertops – they can also be used across the window to create a cozy cottage kitchen feel.
7. Create A Smart Look With Monochrome
Valance ideas for kitchens are a characteristic feature of French country decor, but they can also look great in smarter, contemporary settings, as demonstrated in this stylish black and white kitchen. Here a fabric skirt in a monochrome check has been used along the entire kitchen island for a modern twist on the traditional country look.
8. Bring A Playful Touch To A Pantry
If you love bold colors and fun decorating ideas but are cautious of using them in the main kitchen area then an adjoining pantry can make a great space to do so. As a transient space, a pantry is a perfect room for being a bit more experimental with decor. Here Salvesen Graham created a head-turning space by decorating with yellow on all surfaces and added a homespun charm with a handmade fabric skirt from vintage fabric.
9. Conceal Clutter In A Utility Room
Laundry rooms can often feel cold and clinical with their hard, practical floors and surfaces. Instead of traditional fitted cabinets with doors, here, Vanrenen GW Designs have used a fabric skirt to give the room a softer, more relaxed feel.
10. Use A Valance To Disguise Appliances
Adding a fabric curtain is an easy way to keep white goods out of site in a utility space and is often cheaper than having integrated utilities fitted. For a classic country feel you can't go wrong with a timeless stripe.
11. Use A Fabric Valance To Soften Bold Cabinetry
While a valance idea for a kitchen is commonly used to bring color, it can also be used to do the reverse and dial-down color, too. Here a simple ticking fabric valance helps break up the large expanse of dark green cabinetry helping prevent the scheme from being too dominating yet it also compliments the retro feel of the space.
12. Double Up
If you're a fan of the retro look why not go for full-on chintz and use the same print over kitchen window curtains and cabinet curtain? You could even push the kitsch look one step further by adding a traditional pelmet or valance as done here by House of Hackney.