Looking to add a pop to your window? Here’s how to build a cornice board to give your old windows new life. Follow these simple instructions.

This stunning cornice board adds drama to your window and is easy to do.

I shop at Wal-Mart.

A lot.

When you live in the country without stop lights and rush hour and drive-through diet cokes….Wal-Mart is considered to be one of the finest retail establishments around.

You can buy pink ball trim for your new curtains to go with your cornice boards and spray paint and material and yarn to make pom-poms and a spare tire for your car….

….all in one place.

But I never realized how attached I had become to Wal-Mart until the other day when I called my friend Laura.

I was talking a mile a minute.

I told her about the cutest earrings I just bought and how I was almost finished with the gatehouse and how white leather chairs look amazing next to an old wood table and why in the world did Kim Kardashian dye her hair blonde…..

…..and that I needed to go to Wal-Mart.

“On….you mean the Wal-Mart?” she said. “That’s what you always call it.”

Seriously?

I was so all about Wal-Mart that I totally gave it a “the” without even realizing it.

Its very own “the”.

You can buy everything else there…..

….maybe I picked it up an “extra article” over on aisle seven. 🙂

How to build your own cornice board

How to Build a Cornice Board

Supplies:

plywood

sandpaper

jigsaw

crown molding

screw gun

nail gun

dry wall screws

Cut out pieces of plywood to make the cornice board

Step 1:  Cut out pieces of plywood

These measurements are for a 36” window (you can adjust for your own window).

Cut two pieces 22” x 2 3/4” (these are the side pieces for the cornice board).

Cut one piece 22” x 42” (this is the front).

Create a template for your board

Step 2:  Create a template

Here’s the template I used for the cornice board.

You can adjust the measurements for your window and enlarge to use for your template.

Cut out the template for your cornice board

Cut out and trace onto the large piece of plywood.

Cut out with a jigsaw.

Sand rough edges.

Attach the side pieces to the wall for your cornice board

Step 3:  Attach side pieces to the wall

Drill three holes at an angle into the side pieces.

Countersink holes so that screw head will be flush with board.

Attach side pieces to a stud in the wall with dry wall screws.

Nail the front pieces to the side pieces affixed to the wall

Step 4:  Attach front piece

Nail front piece to side pieces with nail gun.

Attach the crown molding to the frame

Step 5:  Attach crown molding

Attach crown molding to top of front and sides of the cornice board with nail gun.

Caulk and paint.

This stunning cornice board adds drama to your window and is easy to do.

Repeat for the rest of the curtains in the gatehouse and go look at those white leather chairs one more time.

I attached the curtains inside with a tension rod.

The curtains came from IKEA.

I sewed on the pink ball trim.

If you need some….just go to Tennessee….turn left….

…..and follow all the cars to the Wal-Mart. 🙂

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Comments

  1. Image for andrea cammarata andrea cammarata

    WOW!!!! I LOVE IT!!!! I also think that I can do it!!!! : ) When I start on my kitchen (not sure when) these are going to be at the top of the list! Awesome my friend...but everything you do is awesome! Sending hugs...

    1. Image for Connie Connie

      I love THE Walmart, old wood tables and white leather chairs.... and...wait! Kim Kardashian' s hair is blonde???? :-)

  2. Image for Regina Regina

    Have I mentioned how much I love that ball trim? Sweet. VERY sweet! Cool cornice board, too! Don't feel bad about the extra article. Back when the Southside WalMart shopping center was the "Paducah Mall," in the 70's, the one anchor store was a distinctly K-Mart-like "Woolco." Did people say, "We're going to Woolco?" Of course not, it was "Woolco's." And "Kroger's." but then there was also, "the Piggly Wiggly . . . " LOL

  3. Image for Shirl' Anderson Shirl' Anderson

    Love your post today! Thank you for always upping Walmart. It warms my heart as an associate to hear positive things from people instead of negative all the time. I love the cornice and the curtains so cute! I still call Kroger...Krogers it's a family thing passed down from my Grandma. Have a great day friend!

  4. Image for Beverly Beverly

    They look gorgeous, KariAnne. I had padded cornices in my living room and dining room in Fort Lauderdale. I always loved them, and I never got tired of them. Would you be shocked that I haven't been in a Walmart in years? But, you do constantly tempt me. I'll report in when I make a visit.

  5. Image for Cindy Cindy

    Love the trim! I am so glad to know I'm not the only one who can't settle for simple curtains. Have to say, I had a fond memory of the days I used to watch Christopher Lowell make cornice boards and tell us, "You can do it! Where there is fear, there is no creativity!"

  6. Image for Abby Abby

    The trim just makes those curtains...so cute! Love the cornice board too...it might be just the answer I was looking for some very awkwardly placed windows I need to pretty up

  7. Image for Mary Feguson Mary Feguson

    Wow, love the drapes with your little balls on them and the cornice looks terrific. I go to Wal-mart all the time. They have everything there in one store and the prices are better than most stores. 'I hate to go to 3 or 4 stores to get items. I live in So CA and we do have many many stores but once a week I go to Walmart. Have a great week. Mary

  8. Image for Rochelle Rochelle

    In our small town, we have 'Fred Meyer's' for Fred Meyer and 'the Walmart.' Frequently, people here also use 'the' with major street names too: 'the Deggler Road,' 'the Rush Road.' Hubby, a non-native laughs and says its a backwoods thing. ; )

  9. Image for Nana Diana Nana Diana

    Great job. Love that you have THE Walmart. lol We have one, too. It is great when you have a bunch of stuff you need and can get it all in one spot. Great tutorial on the valance, too. Happy Monday - xo Diana

  10. Image for Christa Christa

    I am so going to the Walmart this week for the pink ball trim! I am doing my daughters room and have already bought the white Ikea curtains. Where did you get the super cool (daughter approved) chair?

  11. Image for Tori Tori

    Love that cornice! How fab would a big monogram be right in the middle? :) Can't wait to see the rest of the gatehouse.

  12. Image for gina gina

    Looks so professional. Kari, I live in a bedroom community near a big town. There are three Walmarts and three Targets within 10 minutes and more of them if you drive a bit further! Not good on the budget!

  13. Image for susan susan

    I really like the cornice board, but I just CAN"T agree with you about "the" Walmart. My hometown has both a distribution center and a super store and it breaks my heart to see the small family owned businesses close due to some of WalMarts retailing practices. Please find some small locally owned businesses to patronize :)

  14. Image for Lisa Lisa

    We use to call Walmart, Wally World when we lived in VA. The rest of this comment has nothing to do with your post but I just watched your video on Creatively Made Home for the Holidays, Love ya even more. I am so excited about this class. Thanks.

  15. Image for Kathy Kathy

    Hello KariAnne! This looks amazing. We live within 30 minutes of a walmart - in 3 directions. And we're sooo excited!!! There's a Hobby Lobby that just opened - 30 minutes away. I was spoiled when I lived in the Atlanta area...I could walk to a Kroger - several Walmarts! But, I wouldn't trade anything for the bliss of living in the country! Have a Delightsome week! Kathy

  16. Image for Tardevil Tardevil

    Go to TN and take a left? Bahahhaha! As we say in the south, you are a mess! Your cornices & blinged up IKEA curtains look great.

  17. Image for Cheryl Cheryl

    I go to "the" Walmart as well, for so many things! At least once a week.... And I just LOVE your blog, and your home, and your great ideas!

  18. Image for Kathleen Kathleen

    I loathe Walmart! It might be great for small towns, but it's a nightmare in a big city. I'd totally rather have a root canal than shop at Walmart. It takes 500 forevers to shop there; first you have to park 40 acres away, then try to find a cart, then dodge humanity. Plus you have to shop the entire store to find everything you need - this takes so much TIME. My time is worth lots to me, so I shop at Walgreen's for last-minute stuff and pick up the rest at Kroger and the local Ace Hardware (it is fabulous). Much less stressful for me and believe me, my life is the epitome of stress! Love your use of color, your rooms are total eye candy.

  19. Image for karin from Birmingham karin from Birmingham

    I made large cornice boards for my mom's living room using sheets of foam wall insulation as the base in lieu of plywood. Lighter, easier to make and hang, exactly the same look, much less labor-intensive. She gets many complements on them. I would never make cornices any other way. (Note: I upholstered her cornice "boards" with batting and a fabric that coordinated with her newly-redecorated living room. Painted cornice boards would require wood.)

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