How To Make A Window Cornice

With plenty of options available for interior decorations, why keep the look of your house plain and elementary! Add up a beautifully made cornice to your room window and give your house an improved new look. A window cornice proves to be a beautiful addition to a window, both at home and office. You can get a cornice made in different designs with upholstery or an actually painted one, depending on your home environment and decor. You can even make a cornice at home with required tools and basic knowledge. Once you master the basic guidelines for constructing a window cornice, the ideas to accentuate it further are just endless. This article provides you with steps for building a window cornice to make your window look tall and grand.

Building A Window Cornice

Decide the window where you want the window cornice to be and measure it. Measure the actual width of the window and determine the portion of the top window that you would like to cover, or how high you want the window cornice to be. While planning window cornice, always leave about 2 inches to the width of each side. This will provide enough room for the sides of the cornice to be attached to the walls on each side of the window.
It is always better to be accurate than to go in for adjustments later on. Hence, it is advisable to make a paper pattern of the design and the size of the cornice you would like to see on your window. Hold the paper drawing against the window and visualize your window with the cornice. If there are any changes to be made, make it before cutting the actual board.
Once all the measurements and visualization is over, miter the ends and the front pieces of the box. One of the easiest ways to build the box is to square up the board and tilt the miter saw in order to cut at a 45 degree level for the first end of the square. The board can then be squared up to cut the second end.
Glue the mitered ends together and then nail them with one inch brads. Measure the assembly carefully in order to determine the proper length for the top.
Make sure that you start up by cutting and mounting the end piece first. Start off to miter with the end part, followed by the long front trim and finish off with the other end. This will give you an opportunity to check in the fits and get good miters for each corner.
Once the wood has been mitered, it is better to fill in any nail holes and prime the area before you start with the painting work. If the cornice is been made for a specific purpose like blocking, it is always better to use several light coats of spray paint, rather than painting with a brush. Shellac, or a polyurethane stain or a spray lacquer can be used to get a highly detailed stained or natural wood finish. The cornice ledger can be re-painted before placing it in place to match the wall color.
Many people find the cutting crown molding a bit tricky. The trick, to cut the crown molding perfectly, is to rest it upside down and cut it at 45-degree angle.
A cornice should be designed keeping in mind the home decor. The type of wood, molding and finish chosen should complement the home decor. Select the best combination of the design so that there is no need of reframing or cutting the edges of the cornice later on.

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