Never underestimate the power of a valance

When it comes to a perfectly styled bed, there are so many layers to consider, from mattress protectors to plush blankets, crisp fitted sheets and fluffy doonas. But today we want to shine the spotlight — or at least the bedside lamp — on an unsung hero of the bedroom: the valance.

While Heatherly have always produced custom-made, tailored valances to complement our bed heads and add the finishing touches to our bespoke bedroom designs, even we have been amazed by the demand during the past twelve months, proving we should never underestimate the power of the bed skirt.

But if the term “bed skirt” has you conjuring images of your nana’s frilly old “dust ruffles”, think again. To give you a better understanding of the benefits of a valance, we asked our Sydney Showroom interior designer, Vanessa, to answer some of our most frequently asked questions.

Why do I need a valance? If you already own an ensemble base, a valance is a beautiful, tailored option to help you achieve the look of a full bed. The idea of having a matching bed head and valance is often something our clients haven’t considered but are happily surprised and excited to have a solution in bringing their new custom bed head and base together in perfect harmony.

What is the aesthetic benefit of investing in a valance? A valance not only completes your bedding set with a clean, sharp silhouette but it also seamlessly hides your ensemble fabric, wheels and anything else that you don’t want noticed that may be stored underneath your bed.

If you already own an ensemble base, a tailored valance is the next best thing to our upholstered bed base. Because our valances are expertly handcrafted, in most instances it is undetectable that they are a valance and not an upholstered bed base.

Can a valance be custom made to fit any bed? No. A valance is suitable for ensemble bases only. They can’t be used to disguise old timber frames or other slat designs.

What are the benefits of a custom valance over a store-bought valance?

Unlike a mass-produced valance, our Heatherly valance is a tailored item; handcrafted with premium upholstery fabrics, the utmost attention to detail and an emphasis on quality and function. After more than thirteen years in business, we have perfected our design to not only achieve the most luxurious look, but also the best fit to minimise movement.

Can I customise the measurements? Each valance is made from standard measurements in width and length, but we always ask you for the drop measurement from the top of the base to the floor as this detail varies considerably, and we want to achieve a flawless finish.

Because our valances are custom made, we can also add side openings to allow for trundle bases and bases with storage drawers on request.

How much do they cost? Our custom valance prices start at $575 – $850. Our valance pricing applies for a finished drop up to 350mm. When the drop is deeper than this, we do require additional fabric thus the price will be a little extra to cover this.

Which fabric should I choose? Whether you choose a linen or velvet bedhead, we recommend the same fabric for the valance. Linen achieves a really clean, contemporary look and finish and also allows for crisp pleating at the corners on request, while our buttery soft velvets create a really sumptuous valance.

When choosing a block colour bead head, we encourage the same fabric for both bed head and valance, just as we do when you purchase a bedhead and upholstered bed base. That said, this season, we are also loving the warmer, earthy tones (such as taupe and beige), paired back with a crisp white valance for a look that is both timeless and beautifully understated, but still anything but boring.

For a patterned bedhead, using a block colour for the valance allows the bedhead to be the hero, with the valance creating a beautiful foundation.

To create a more interesting and energised aesthetic, we suggest choosing a secondary colour from the patterned bed head, rather than the primary shade. This allows the secondary colour to be drawn out of the bed head, while still creating a sense of balance.

If you prefer to be more daring with your bedroom style, two co-ordinating patterned fabrics can also create a striking effect.