Cornices Made Easy

Cornices aren’t difficult to make but they are expensive – if you can find them at all. Forget traditional cornices that are heavy and costly; make cornices yourself from styrofoam. If you have trouble finding styrofoam slabs at your local department store or craft store go online to find a retailer that sells them. The slabs should be, obviously, as long as your window is wide. The slabs should also be at least a half-inch thick.

To start making the cornices measure how long the window is from the outsides of the curtain rod. Draw this measurement onto the styrofoam slab. Take another measurement from the wall to a couple inches in front of the curtain. Draw this measurement on the slab. This will form the top piece of the cornice.

For the front piece of the cornice draw on the slab, the measurement of the width of the window, outside of the curtain rod. Now take a measurement from the top of the curtains to the length you want the cornice to be when finished. Eight to ten inches is an average measurement. Use a serrated knife and pass it through candle wax before cutting the styrofoam and it’ll make it easier to cut. When it gets difficult to pass it through the styrofoam just cut the candle wax again and proceed.

When you have the top and front pieces cut it’s time to make the side pieces. The easiest way is to just cut them in a rectangular form then work with them to give them sculpted edges. You can also sculpt the edge of the front piece of the cornice, if desired. In order to judge how big to make the side pieces fasten the top and front pieces together. There are several ways to do so but the cheapest method is to dip toothpicks or long craft sticks in white glue and pass them from the front piece into the top piece. Make sure you cut them off even with the styrofoam. You can also use spray adhesive to glue the pieces together quicker.

After the front and top pieces are connected measure the width and length of the side opening, between the front and top piece. Cut a rectangle to fit. Use a razor blade or very sharp knife to sculpt the bottom edge or just leave it straight.

To upholster the cornice you will need quarter-inch foam. Cut the foam to the length of the front piece and side pieces together. Glue the foam onto the front piece. Normally the top piece is not padded so you won’t need foam for it.

Cut fabric piece large enough to cover the top piece, front piece, and have enough left over to tuck under and glue. Upholster the top piece first by wrapping the fabric around it and using spray adhesive to secure it quickly. Bring the fabric on around to the front piece, gluing the underside edge to secure.

To make the front piece more distinctive cut cloth exceptionally larger than the styrofoam pieces and glue the fabric underneath on one long side of the top piece. Now use a putty knife to make a deep indentation in the styrofoam, all the way across the front piece, before putting the foam in place. Squirt white glue into the gully then lay the foam on the front. Use the putty knife to push the foam into the gully. Squirt white glue into the foam indentation then cover with fabric. Use the putty knife to push the fabric into the foam gully. Leave like that or cover the indentation with fabric-covered welt or cord.

Upholster the side pieces separately, with foam, then fit them into the side areas and secure with spray adhesive. Hold tightly in place until glue is dry. Hang cornices by simply installing a set of curtain rod holders and setting the cornice on them or place nails in the wall and hang cornice.