So if I had once pet peeve as a designer, it would be window valances. Truthfully, I am not sure if I actually hate the draperies themselves or rather the fact that they must be the most commonly misused window treatment in existence. I have never seen a valance in a home used properly. Most often they are hung too low, block the room's light, and make the ceiling feel shorter. All these things add up to a room just not feeling right. Every time we have instructed a homeowner to remove their valances prior to listing their home for sale the feedback afterwards has been surprise at how much brighter the room is. I hope that the following images will make you understand why they make us so unhappy.