Replacing your windows is one of the smartest home improvement investments you can make. When you choose quality, energy-efficient windows, they add value to your home as well as save you money on heating and cooling bills. Your rooms are more comfortable in winter, and your home’s exterior is more attractive. When it comes to home improvements that deliver a great return on investment, windows make the list of one of the best. And with federal income tax credits currently available for installation of energy-efficient items such as windows, this could be one of the best times to do it.
Whether you’ve got new windows or you’re happy with the old ones, here’s an easy DIY project to give them a distinctive, classy finishing touch on the inside. Window cornices used to be very popular. In fact, if you tour old homes such as Victorians or historic homes which have been preserved in their original style, you will probably find window cornices in many of them. They’re a beautiful alternative to valances, and they expand your decorating possibilities because you end up with a shelf above the window to work with. That same shelf will keep the tops of your curtains or draperies less dusty, and they can also create the illusion of a taller window.
When it comes to difficulty, they are one of the easier projects to take on. This Old House has an easy instructional post, complete with diagrams and a material list. In about four hours and with simple tools you can add an elegant touch to any room in your house. If build-it-yourself projects aren’t up your alley, some home stores sell ready-to-finish cornices that just require some stain or paint and a mounting. Either way, your windows will take on a whole new look.
If your windows are in such a state that even cornices won’t rescue them, perhaps it’s time to consider replacing them. Iron River installs replacement windows as a part of its package of interior and exterior home remodeling services.
