When you think of long voluminous curtains the only picture that comes to your mind is the luxurious curtain arrangement which used yards and yards of fabric, looked stupendous and hid all the small structural faults. Or at the very least your memories are of the pelmets which were at times an eyesore.

The presence of a Valance can give a big and spacious room, or even one of modest proportions, a more elegant appearance. There are as many different types of valances then there are curtains. There are valances with U Shaped indents, with pleated headings, and a tailed valance which is less austere and so on.

Traditionally, textiles were used for curtain valances in Europe but not in the form it is presently used as dressing up a window. Windows were not as well constructed in those days and hence were subject to minor or sometime major flaws. Valences were designed to make the window pretty and look pleasing to the eye.

Valences may be of different styles, colors and textures. The drapes may be pleated, pinched, gathered or simply straight however they add a whole new dimension on the aesthetics of a room. The manner in which a curtain is draped suggests an amount of glamour and sophistication.

Valences do all that and are typically suited to formal settings where their luxuriousness fits right in. Even in the contemporary settings, it is possible to accommodate and mould the Valence as per modern requirements. The result would be a great improvement in the overall ambience and the appearance of the room as such.

As time passed the 20th and now the 21st century have heralded the advent of a new pattern and color. All this heaps of experience has been taken forth. Lots of new materials other than simple textiles have been experimented with successfully.

One of the most successful décor ideas is the use of Indian saris as valences.

Watch this space for detailed explanations and ideas about how to use the versatile Indian sari as a curtain valance.