15 Stylish Cornice Ideas for Windows

Typically made of wood upholstered in fabric, a window cornice is a hard-top treatment that serves as the crown of your curtains and instantly elevates any space. A cornice board encases the top of your window to hide pesky hardware from sight and lend your window a polished, tidy look.

From ornate and embellished cornice boards with cascading drapery to streamlined modern cornices sans curtain panels, we’re sharing 15 dreamy designer cornice ideas to copy for your windows at home. Check out our favorite cornice designs for your bedroom, dining room, den and beyond.

Add interest to your window treatments by installing cornices and drapes in contrasting colors. Here, creamy ivory cornices pair with gold silk drapes to bring warmth and a tailored look to this contemporary living room. Interior banding in the same gold finish as the drapes creates a tidy border on the cornice boards and ties the competing hues together for one cohesive, polished result.

Unlike the sleek and streamlined contemporary cornices, traditional cornices offer room to play with ornate fabrics and shapely silhouettes. This chinoiserie-inspired dining room leans into the elaborate styling with custom cornices cut in a silhouette reminiscent of a pagoda. Follow suit in your own space and design custom cornices with curved, scalloped and sloped lines that suit your interior aesthetic.

Don’t be afraid to wrap your window cornice around two walls. A wraparound cornice tops this contemporary bedroom’s perpendicular floor-to-ceiling windows, lending a polished, luxurious look to the space. This technique creates a unified appearance between the windows on each wall and visually expands the room for grander appeal.