Add beauty to your home by adding a window cornice box. They can be used to hide drapery rods that are less than desirable or add custom detailing to an ordinary room. You can even use the top of the cornice as a display for art or collectibles. You can create a beautiful living room or den when you build a cornice box with the many choices available for cornice box crown molding. For other window topics, please check out installing window weather stripping.

How to Choose the Best Material for your Cornice Box

• For cornices that are upholstered, choose ½ inch plywood for the face with top and sides and ¾ inch thick shelf board.
• For a cornice box that will be painted, choose wood that is able to be sanded, such as fir, alder, oak or birch for the face and sides. For the top, use shelving board.
• For a cornice box that will be stained, choose stain grade clear #1 oak, birch, alder, maple or any wood that fits your décor.
• For a cornice box that will remain as the wood they are, fence board cedar or redwood looks nice as they are or stained.

How to Make a Window Cornice Box

Materials and Tools:

• Wood of your choice depending on the finish you want
• Miter saw
• Wood glue
• One inch brads
• Stain or paint (optional)
• Wood putty
• Primer (optional)

Steps on how to Build a Cornice Box

1. Find the length, width and depth you need by measuring the curtain and curtain rod. Measure the area with the curtains open to get an accurate number for thickness when they are bunched together. Add an inch to the depth of the area and to the width of the curtain rod to be sure the cornice box will cover everything properly.
2. A cornice box consists of a face board, top board and two legs, called returns. Build the cornice box by squaring up the board and then tilting the miter saw to cut a 45 degree bevel that is needed for the first piece. Then square up the second end to be cut. Miter the ends and front pieces of the box.
3. The mitered corners should be glued and nailed together using one inch brads. Measure carefully to determine the proper length for the top.
4. For mitering the trim, start by cutting and mounting an end piece first. Then cut the long front trim and finishing with the other end. Make sure the pieces fit and miter the corners. Each miter should be fit. Scribe the length of each piece.
5. Cutting cornice box crown molding can be difficult. The trick is to cut the cornice box crown molding perfectly to rest the molding upside down, while cutting the 45 degree angles.
6. While finishing the box after the wood has been mitered, fill any nail holes with wood putty and prime the area before painting. If the cornice box has elaborate detailing, such as blocking, use several light coats of spray paint instead of painting with a brush. For stain or natural wood finish, use shellac, polyurethane stain or spray lacquer. Pre-paint the cornice ledger to match the wall before putting in place.

Add elegance and charm to your home when you build a window cornice box.

• Add New
• Search

Comments (0)

Write comment

Your Contact Details:

Name:

Email: do not notifynotify

Website:

Comment:

Title:

UBBCode:         -color-aquablackbluefuchsiagraygreenlimemaroonnavyolivepurpleredsilvertealwhiteyellow -size-tinysmallmediumlargehuge

Message:

Security

Please input the anti-spam code that you can read in the image.

Do it yourself - Home