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Last weekend I decided to try and liven up the very boring laundry room with a valance. The entire space is done in a fabulous hospital white (eek!) and seeing that it sits right off the master bedroom, all that sterile white can be a bit of an eyesore. The only issue was that I don’t own a sewing machine or know enough to even borrow one, and a lot of the valances out there you can buy are just ugly. We’re talking brown pouffy things. Ew. That’s when it hit me. I could use the Heat’n Bond adhesive to make a valance that required no sewing machine. I love that stuff! In the end I think it worked out just fine and has a really strong hold. The plan is to paint this room a soft grey and I think once that happens it will look even better! Oh and please go easy on me with the photos. I gave my photoshopping hubby the day off. Clearly I have much to learn!
Before: The Very Boring Laundry Room
We bought just a basic metal hanging rod at Home Depot for $1.67.
Then I measured out how long I needed to cut the fabric, making sure to leave an inch on all three sides for the hem and three inches on the top to fold over the metal rod.
I found it easier to first iron the hem down so I had a crease to work with. I then cut the Heat’n Bond to fit and ironed it in place.
And Voila! About 45 minutes and $20 later, I was doing laundry in style! I am not kidding when I say this was SO easy and I love walking by to see that punch of color. Clearly Heat’n Bond is my new BFF!
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{ 45 comments… read them below or add one }
sooo cute, megan! doesn’t color and pattern make you smile? i love it, too! been seeing so much easy diy that i might, just might have to do something myself! hmmm. thanks for sharing, and as a non-photoshopper, i think your pics are pretty awesome!
xo– alyson
http://www.theaveragegirlsguide.com
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That fabric is great looking. The handyman is not too shabby either
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I love it! You have inspired me. There are quite a few windows in my house that are in need of an upgrade and this is how I will do it! No sewing required. I’m in! Thanks for sharing this and makin’ it look so flippin’ easy!
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Ohmigosh it is perfect, Megan! And I love how simple it was to create, as well!
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Really?! I bought … well never mind. I HAVE fabric I bought to make window treatments when I bought my house some 15 years ago. I gave up on finding time for sewing lessons/classes and purchased window treatments, but that fabric in my guest room closet haunts me.
I’m going to buy some heat ‘n bond and put the ghosts to rest.
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Well done!!! Have a great day!
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looks great!!!! A valance cas really change the look of a room. (I lucked out and my godmother did all the window treatments for my house)
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That’s AWESOME!
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Just cool!
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
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Wow! It looks great!
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Love your fabric choice! That is so cute. And the idea of such a cute valance with no sewing is awesome. Great work!
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It’s so convenient to have the laundry room off the master bedroom. Over the years, I’ve lived in several houses where the master bedroom was upstairs and the laundry room was downstairs on the other side of the house or in the garage, which meant lots of trips up and down with laundry baskets. Congrats on your spiffy new valance!
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I love that pattern! Looks easy and perks up your room.
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Wow that turned out fabulous, Megan! I love the fabric, too!
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Oooh it came out great!!!
Luckily my mom makes all the valances and curtains in our house, haha…and I’m sure I can get her to help me when I have my own place. But this will definitely come in handy eventually 
http://www.closet-fashionista.com
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That’s really cool! Looks like fun too.
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I love this idea! I really want to try it. Thanks so much for your idea.
Susan
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what a great blog! you are so inspirational! if you get the chance i would love for you to check out my blog and give me some of your opinions on it! i would really appreciate it!
follow me?
http://www.so–hi.blogspot.com
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I love DIY projects like this! So cute and easy!
By the way–have you heard that my 1st novel is being released on Amazon.com tomorrow?! Check it out on my blog! Have a wonderful Cinco De Mayo honey! Kori xoxo
http://www.blondeepisodes.com
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What a fab idea! Looks great, loving that fabric.
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I love that fabric pattern! I might be trying this DIY next time I feel like sprucing up a room!
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oh my goodness! I love it!
And the bold graphic fabric? PERFECT! This is definitely not the “classic” valence of ugliness!
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This is SO pretty! I love it. You did an amazing job, Megan!
xo Josie
http://www.winksmilestyle.com
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So awesome! We just tore down our old window treatments and are looking for new ones. Thanks for the tutorial!
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Love the fabric!! That iron-on stuff is so easy. I hemmed IKEA curtains with it and am now contemplating making a new-sew bedskirt with it. However, I do own a sewing machine, so perhaps that’s cheating?
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Cute Idea!! I’ve been looking to do something like this in my bathroom.
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very cute idea! I would never come up with stuff like this on my own, thank goodness for blogs like this one
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Oooh, that’s cute! Laundry rooms always need a little something–my interior designer mother painted ours yellow and framed a vintage poster, in addition to a floral valence.
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bravo!! looks relatively easy and i love the pattern you chose!
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I love love love this!!! I can’t sew for my life, so I’m definitely going to try out the Heat N’ Bond. It looks really good! Make sure to take some pictures when you paint the room to show how it pops!
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What a great idea!! I love this, and I love that it looks easy to do!
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These look super cute and (even more importantly) super easy!!!
yes, please.
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wow this is really a great idea..I should try to consider doing this on our old and boring window…trying to convert everything to be just perfect!!!
Kisses
Sweet
PensandLens
@mistytewest
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lovely!
xoxo
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how crazy!!! i just found this fabric today at joanns and absolutely fell in love. i plan on redoing my room around this patter and the colors. lol i started to google diy valences. and THIS CAME UP… =]
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Just wanted to say thanks for giving me a great place to start on my own DIY valances. I used a sewing machine on mine, but I’m not very good at it and do not know how to follow patterns. So many sites out there have complicated tutorials but yours was simple. Feel free to check out my finished product over on my blog!
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super cute! i’m looking for an easy way to do this in my living room and your no sew idea is perfect
question-how did you attach the fabric to the rod?
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Thank you for posting i too had just bought fabric at JoAnn’s similar print different colors. You saved me from a weekend sure to be full of frustration as I attempted to sew my kitchen valances. I am so HAPPY I found your post. Yay! Hope mine turns out as good as yours. My windows are 79″w so we’ll see.
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LOVE that fabric!! What is the name of the pattern? anyone know?
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I love this! I am going to try this out and tweak it just a little. I am going to add a link to this on my blog. Come check it out if you have a chance.
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Is that a Waverly fabric? Where did you get it? I love it! The colors match my home office perfectly. Thanks for this awesome DIY project.
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I already had the heat n bond and the metal rod, and I bought the fabric at Walmart for $3… What an awesome money saving idea. Thank you!
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I saw that EXACT fabric at Joann’s this week and wanted it sooo bad, except that there wasn’t enough to make my curtains. But now I know how terrific they will look when I can a) convince my husband that it must be ours and b) special-order it! Well done!
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How did u attach window valance to the rod?
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Great idea, love that you don’t have to use all the wood.
How did you keep the bottom sides from flaring out?
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