How to Dress Up Your Existing Windows

If you’re looking to give your space a face lift, your windows might be a good place to start. With a relatively small time and money investment, here are a few tricks to help boost the wow factor in your home. Break out your toolbox and a bucket of paint to tackle these fun weekend projects.

Create a Faux Transom Window

Use pine boards, decorative moulding and crown molding to turn your existing windows into vintage statement pieces. Your windows can go from drab to fab in a weekend with a miter saw and a few coats of paint. The resulting faux transom window won’t let extra light into your room, but it will add height and enhance the architecture of your space.

Play Tricks on Your Eyes

If you have relatively small windows, you can make them appear larger with a simple illusion. Hang your curtains several inches above your actual window and closer to the ceiling. You can also purchase a curtain rod that is much wider than your window so that curtains actually hang in front of the wall and don’t block any of the natural light.

Down on the Farm

Farmhouse windows are growing in popularity. If you love the look, you can create your own. Use pine boards to create a wide windowsill perfect to set plants and other knickknacks on. Boards can also be stacked and nailed together to create a nice, thick header. Thick side casings are also a must. A fresh coat of white paint will tie it all together. And mullions — window grids — can be created from pieces of white vinyl siding.

Add a Valance

You can make a decorative wooden window valance for around the same price you’ll pay for one curtain panel. Use crown moulding and decorative trim to create a three-sided box, leaving the top, bottom and back open. Attach the front board to the two side boards using L-brackets. Paint. Attach the valance to the wall above your window with two more L-brackets to cover the top of your window and hide an unsightly curtain rod.

Image: Michael S.