How to Re-Cover RV Window Valances

Visit trekwithus.com/how-to-re-cover... for complete project details, resources, and tools required
Follow along and I'll show you how I re-covered the ugly geometric window valances in my RV.

[@michelepiselli7785]

Love this! We just bought a 30 year old camper. This will be a nice winter project. 👍

[@charlenemay1004]

Thank you so much. The video was just what I needed. I live in a 18 year old motor home. I want to redo all the very dirty and out-of-date window valences and eventually cushions. I love the wood I have and your suggestions of using silk surprised me. I will look at more types of material now. Great video.

[@Trekwithus]

Hi Charlene - I'm glad you found it useful! The silk we used was from some old curtains, and I'm not sure how well it will hold up long term, as I know sunlight breaks down silk over time. That said, we've had them up for 2 years and they still look great! Good luck.

[@judichristopher4604]

Yes, I am redoing my Valances too... My RV is 34 years old...

[@ssilverleaf]

Thank you for posting your video, I almost took my valances to an upholstery shop!, you gave me the confidence to do it myself!! Thanks again!

[@Trekwithus]

+Silver Leaf You're welcome, and I'm so glad you found this useful and saved some cash! :-)

[@ceceb.2932]

Awesome video! I just bought my first small travel trailer (it's 20 years old) and the first thing I want to do is change out the valances and curtains. Thank you for taking the time to post the video. It is exactly what I was looking for!

[@Trekwithus]

I'm glad you found it helpful!

[@carlsatton8317]

I see Isagenix in the background! Thats our go to for over 4 years now! Great decoration idea and instruction! Thank you.

[@Trekwithus]

Hi Joanna - I'm glad you found it useful. Good luck re-upholstering and I hope they work out well for you!

[@jenlynned]

I really appreciate your posting this. Thank you!

[@Trekwithus]

Thanks - I did my best. I'll write a post about it too this week and include links to supplies. The most important thing is to take your time and pull the fabric tight before stapling. Most RVs have slightly simpler valences so they should be easier. Usually they have just one layer of fabric vs. ours with the 2 separate pieces. Good luck!

[@guardemdog]

Couldn't quite figure out what was what, but the important thing is it can be done by just following how the thing was originally put together. And making a template. Very nice end result you have there. Thanks for sharing.

[@gamingfor-lifetime6244]

Thanks so much for a thorough, well-paced 'how to' video! I'm a bit spacially challenged when it comes to figuring out what goes where and how, so will be replaying this as I go. Your choice of linen really blends well ... no more "eyebrows" !

[@Trekwithus]

Exactly - no more eyebrows! Good luck - I'm sure it will turn out great!

[@stagghorn22]

Wow! It looks nicer than the manufacturer's! Thanks for all the tips. Going to do this in the Spring.

[@Trekwithus]

Me too! I think Airstream is the only maker that doesn't use geometric shaped fabric. Even the really expensive RVs have geometric fabric everywhere. All I can figure is it's like carpets in Casinos - they figure it hides dirt and oh well if it's ugly.

[@sandramartin8999]

We are going to purchase an RV and live/travel in it full-time in the near future and this is something I most definitely will be doing. Every single RV I've looked at has some hideous patterns on the window valences. I don't know who picks them out, but.....just no.

[@Trekwithus]

Exactly - some of the new RVs we've seen at least use neutral colors and patterns, but most of them are still pretty crazy. Good luck!

[@briansommers3883]

Tre

[@dyndor]

Thank you for sharing! We were contemplating throwing out the valances in our Winnebago but I think we are going to keep them, after seeing this!

[@everevey8697]

Great job! Looks much more modern ;)

[@Trekwithus]

Thanks Jewel! I pulled the borders off and it wasn't too bad. Go slow - and you can remove most of the sticky stuff pretty easily as most RV walls are vinyl. Good luck!

[@wherervtv8439]

Looks great, thank you I will definitely use this method

[@RV-there-Yet]

Really excellent job! We are in the middle of doing ours right now so this is timely. The valances were off of the windows when we bought the RV and we have been trying to figure out how to mount them after recovering~guess we will be building some brackets to connect them to! So odd that they are missing.....thanks for all the information, great video!

[@Trekwithus]

+RV thereyet? Glad you found this helpful - good luck!

[@Kitchguy]

This is exactly what I want to do as well. Thanks for this, it looks great

[@Trekwithus]

Glad you found it useful - thanks for your comment!

[@sablan.family.adventures3524]

This is awesome! Thank you for sharing this!

[@linneaadam9182]

Thank you for your great video I have three to do in my trailer

[@Trekwithus]

Hi Star - Yes, the valance does cover something. In our RV, the valance covers day/night MCD roller blinds. In most RVs they cover the standard RV day/night shade mechanism. Trust me when I say that the shades/blinds are an essential part of an RV so I wouldn't replace them with a shelf. At the very least they provide privacy (important in most RV parks). They also help provide a layer of insulation and block bright lights or sunshine, etc...

[@anniesellick]

Amen Rich. I am surprised at the widespread acceptance of geometric shapes in rvs

[@JS-es5ep]

I've actually always been surprised that the RV companies just assume that people LIKE these fabrics. Have they ever done a focus group? I especially hate when they put up ugly borders and window fabrics in the bedroom, then match the bedspread fabric as well. When it's time for a new bedspread, you either get something that doesn't match well, pick a colour you don't necessarily like so that you can "sort of" match it up, or keep the old ratty bedspread till you make up your mind what to do next. Neutral would be nice through the structure of the rv, then you are free to go with whatever style suits you in bedding etc.

[@kawaiikawaiianimegirl4144]

Thank you for sharing this.

[@TheBearsButt]

Very nice and extremely simple! Thanks!

[@jessicajeffery4084]

thanks and very nice. my wife and I are fixing up a 87 5th wheel and this is what she want to do first while I hit the mechanical equipment

[@dtlyme]

Looks great!! After 4 years with the ugly in ours I am going to attempt to recover ours now! Mine unfortunately have a little more ugly wood trim detail. sigh. And they are not just at the top on some windows but come down the side as well. Might just yank them and go with bamboo/wood blinds with a valance look instead. Would be a heck of a lot easier! Thanks for the tutorial :-)

[@Trekwithus]

+Dana Evans You can always paint wood - but we also yanked the side valances and replaced them with curtains. Good luck!

[@rbsamar]

Great job I enjoy it very much thank you

[@4hisglory365]

Awesome, I plan on doing this too

[@maryhoward4709]

Thanks so much, just talking about doing our motorhome (we live in our's also) the ones up are not my style, want to have a plain but colour change. Thanks again and happy travels

[@Trekwithus]

Thanks Mary - happy travels to you as well!

[@beckylacroix653]

Awesome vid thank you

[@reebertJunkman]

Fantastic video thank so much

[@hometeaching3]

great video!

[@ahaaahaa5661]

Iron and starch fabric before you secure it to the board for a finished look.

[@gmjones7537]

Ironing ...uggggh. i know you are right, but...uggggggggggh!

[@dollred912]

Smart upgrade!

[@shirleyvinson3894]

So helpful. Thanks

[@abuck2844]

nice work. clean look

[@Trekwithus]

Thanks!

[@cosmiccowboy1]

nice job!

[@karunald]

Looks so much better

[@Trekwithus]

Thanks! We think so too.

[@maxmansmom]

Fantastic !!!!!

[@GypsyTheGoatOnTube]

Thank you very much😁

[@StarFlower99654]

Does that valance cover anything or just for decoration? Was thinking maybe turning it into a shelf and put a potted plant or even for additional storage, is that possible??

[@sarahlynn5119]

Great vid! Thanks so much! I was wondering if most trailer/RV valences are the same, as far as how they're attached to the wall, constructed, etc.? I have a 2003 Sunnybrook 5th wheel - and I'm wanting to attempt to redo the valences..... My biggest fear is trying to remove something from the wall only to find it's attached or put together differently. Thanks again!

[@Trekwithus]

Hi Sarah - thanks! From what I've seen most RV valances are set up in a similar way. I have seen some that are one piece - the sides and top are all connected - but I think they're still attached to the wall with a bracket on the inside, and can be unscrewed, removed, and re-covered essentially the same way. Good luck!

[@bettefraser3715]

Thanks for posting. I have to replace a valance because our parrot ate it...and the wood.

[@dososos]

Sharp!

[@1flashlite1]

Could you avoid disassembly by just putting the new fabric over the old?

[@Trekwithus]

Hi Rich - You could try it, but I don't think it will look as good or last as long that way. It's also easier to use the existing fabric as a pattern for the new fabric. Good luck!

[@grateful1929]

Help! I hope you'll answer. We bought a 2005 Newman Dutchstar. In the bedroom slides. They cut out two grooves in the wood on each slide(there are two slides). The grooves have this hideous material plaid design. I took one out and there is some kind of paper with tacks. This was behind the plaid covered material thing😵 Apparently they tacked this ugly material design onto that paper. WHAT is under that paper? Could it be wood again?

[@Trekwithus]

Sorry, but without seeing it I have no idea. Different manufacturers use different materials. Can you peel off a corner of the paper and look?

[@GypsyTheGoatOnTube]

How did you figure out where the original screw holes were that you needed to put back on wall? Can you feel it. I'm going to recover mine, they have a wavy, scappoped sort of design. Not just simple angles, should be interesting. Thank you, very helpful

[@Trekwithus]

Hi Cynthia - You can feel the screw holes and even see the slight indentations in the fabric. Good luck!

[@getcraig55]

Nice

[@larryhaugen5448]

How do I make theses boxes from scratch thank you

[@froukje14]

What were they thinking with their geometric shapes? Nice choice of fabric!

[@Trekwithus]

Froukje Brouwer Thanks Froukje! I need to post a video of the final product. We had my mother make side curtains that look fantastic and match the new valances. So much better! :-)

[@HoneyandMe]

Trek With Us Were the side curtains instead of the side valances? I've been wondering if leaving the top valance and replacing the side ones with curtains would work. It needs to cover the blind string guides, I guess. And I agree...what are they thinking when they use such ugly fabric for RV interiors??

[@Trekwithus]

***** Hi Sue - the original sides were made of covered and shaped wood. We replaced the sides with soft/formed curtains. I need to make a video to show what we did - it's on my list. (and they look great!).

[@starwish2463]

If you can not find short staples, could you use light dots of fabric glue, instead?

[@Trekwithus]

Unfortunately that wouldn't work. Re-covering valances is similar to doing upholstery. You need to 'stretch' the fabric over the valance or else it will be loose and not look great and/or fall off entirely. The glue won't hold it if it's properly stretched. It will just fall off. Staples are the best way by far. You can always order the short staples on Amazon. Good luck!

[@starwish2463]

Thank You sooooo much for pointing this out. It makes sense.

[@dianalong4283]

💜😇💜

[@okellis1]

So glad to find your video! I've been thinking about redoing mine for a while now. Too much dark brown and gold in here. Reminds me of a 70's decor LOL. The couch and a wide strip of noisy wallpaper are on my list to do something with as well

[@Trekwithus]

+Kelli Hulin Stone Glad you found this useful! We couldn't stand all the dark and busy fabrics. Very jarring. We like it so much better now. Good luck!

[@aliceshaff1300]

It was a very good video except you did not show how you did your corners

[@Trekwithus]

Thanks Alice. Most of the corners pull across diagonally then tuck under and get stapled where they can't be seen. I find its easiest to copy the way the original fabric was done if possible.

[@windymcgee6833]

Joann's is closing 😟

[@ChandraCCross]

The staples they use to put these RVs together is ridiculous! It took longer to remove all the staples then any of the other steps in the project!

[@mitcheldoucette8268]

Looked better before....

[@hafzamacie8858]

I prefer to build with Woodglut plans.

[@waitersluvhjy66]

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