Hidden cornice: guides for curtains on the ceiling, built-in ceiling, how to hide a cornice, niche

In addition to the traditional fastening of curtain rods to a wall or ceiling, another original option is available with a suspended ceiling - a hidden curtain. This arrangement opens up new design possibilities and makes the room appear higher since the bar is not visible. To do this, you will need to make a suspended ceiling with a niche in which the cornice will be hidden. This way, the curtain mount will be invisible, since the crossbar is recessed into the interceiling space. In this article we will look at how to choose the right cornice and calculate the dimensions of the structure. We will also examine in detail five ways to create a hidden niche in a suspended ceiling.

Using hidden cornices in interior design

The popularity of these products when developing room design is explained by several reasons:

Functional need to be used to create a harmonious environment. Often the need to install a hidden cornice is explained by the presence of a suspended ceiling structure in the room. This is due to the fact that it is prohibited to install any protruding rigid elements on the surface of such a ceiling, since they can damage the PVC film. Naturally, in this case you cannot use ordinary ceiling cornices. In addition, the wall fixation method must be safe for the film panel of the tension system. From this we can conclude that the cornice parts cannot come into contact with the material of the ceiling surface of the tension structure. The best solution in this case would be to install a hidden cornice.
Commitment to adhere to the fundamental principles of modern design solutions. Nowadays, decorating window openings with curtains that seem to flow from the ceiling surface is considered a relevant and elegant technique for interior design. As a complement to such a non-standard design solution, they are decorated with lighting. To implement this idea, plasterboard structures are installed. If you choose to build a hidden cornice, it can be made straight, curved or semicircular. To do this, a special niche is made of plasterboard in the ceiling structure. Use it to hide the cornice.

There is another method for creating hidden cornices. This is the use of baguette structures, which are a type of standard wall mounts for curtains. Their peculiarity lies in the camouflage of all the elements of the hidden cornice under beautiful overlays, for the manufacture of which wood, metal or plastic is used.

The highlight of the design idea

Interior designers are very fond of hidden ceiling cornices. However, there are a few basic details that should be used to get excellent results:

Position across the entire width of the wall

Advantages of hidden curtain rods

Among the positive qualities of such products it should be noted:

Aesthetic appearance and practicality of the fastening structure. A hidden ceiling cornice is the most preferred method of attaching canvases in rooms with low ceilings. The fact is that in such rooms, installing conventional crossbars further reduces the height. In contrast, hidden fastening structures allow you to more effectively arrange a room, making it taller and more spacious.
Availability of additional functionality. A niche for placing a cornice will become another place for hiding electrical wiring, laying an Internet line, installing a ventilation system and lighting. As a result of the construction of a niche, there will be no need to install special structures to mask utility lines.
Arranging a common interior space while simultaneously focusing on the cut of curtains, decor and nuances in the design of window openings. The absence of visible fastening elements allows you not to be distracted from the special atmosphere created by the flowing fabric. By installing additional lighting in a niche of a suspended ceiling system, it is possible to highlight the composition of the curtains without being distracted by the light source.
The hidden method of attaching curtain rods and false ceilings is an ideal choice for various design ideas. There will be no need to match the fastener to the color of interior items, door handles, or be distracted by searching for original cornice caps. Using a hidden option will allow you not to be distracted from choosing a design for curtains.
There is an opportunity to save on the purchase of cornices. The fact is that an aluminum product, which is usually installed in a ceiling niche, has a lower price since it serves only a functional purpose. The cornice, which also has a decorative function, is decorated with carvings, forging, and elements made of expensive metals, which increases the cost.
Use in non-standard situations. Sometimes the room where the suspended ceiling is installed has wide window sills and then a standard cornice may not be suitable for them. If you use a hidden option, then you will be able to hang any curtains, regardless of the width of the window sill.

One of the advantages of baguette cornices is their decorative design, which is striking in its diversity. The range of these products is represented by a wide choice, ranging from laser engraving applied to a metal surface and wood carvings, to airy acrylic products and heavy structures made of bronze alloys.

The disadvantages of hidden cornices include the need to perform additional installation work, and this increases financial costs. In addition, if it is necessary to replace these products, difficulties arise.

How to choose

Curtains usually not only decorate our room, but also protect us at different times of the year from scorching sun rays or cold winter winds. It is for these last reasons that it is best to buy two types of curtains for warm and cold weather. For hot periods, thin light curtains are suitable if you need to protect yourself from the sun, preferably dark colors. In winter, it is better to hang thick, draft-proof curtains that let in sunlight, because in winter there is already little of it.

When choosing, as a rule, pay attention to the colors of the interior, types of fabrics, window sizes, window shapes and the side of the window relative to the direction of the world. If you live on the ground floor and there are other houses nearby, then to maintain a comfortable life, you can hang short curtains

They are called “breeze-biz” and their length is 60-70 cm. As a rule, thin translucent lace fabrics are used to make such curtains

If you live on the ground floor and there are other houses nearby, then to maintain comfortable living, you can hang short curtains. They are called “breeze-biz” and their length is 60-70 cm. As a rule, thin translucent lace fabrics are used to make such curtains.

The largest room in the house is usually the living room. It is customary to hang light curtains together with curtains. They look beautiful if they have vertical folds, and the compositions can be decorated with various details and elements in the form of tiebacks or lambrequins. Typically, such curtains are attached to traditional metal or wooden curtain rods.

Bedrooms are characterized by warm and calm tones in fabrics, combining patterns with other fabrics in the room. It will look good if the bedspread matches the curtains. The functional feature of bedroom curtains is maximum light and sound insulation.

For children's bedrooms, the best solution would be to buy cotton curtains. They are more wear-resistant and easy to wash.

Features of choosing hidden cornices for the ceiling

When purchasing this product, you should take into account certain nuances, without which it is impossible to avoid troubles in the future:

If a decision has been made on how to hide the cornice, experts advise thinking in advance about its structural features and the design of the curtains decorating the window openings. If this is not done, then when decorating the room you will have to focus on the installation of the fastening crossbar.
When installing a hidden cornice, you need to focus on such parameters as the width of the window sill and the dimensions of the heating devices located under it. This is because the curtain material should not touch the radiators. Therefore, when installing the cornice, its crossbar must be moved 1-2 centimeters away from the window sill.

If the room has a small area and there is a desire to visually expand its space, when purchasing a cornice you need to not only take into account the width of the window sill, but also the length of the wall, which should correspond to the length of the crossbar. Hanging curtains this wide can result in a unified space, making the room appear larger.
When preference is given to a baguette cornice, when installing this product, all measurements should be made based on the width of its decorative part, which should fit freely into the wall space, not fall into the window opening and not rest against the ceiling surface.
When choosing a cornice, special attention should be paid to the functional elements for it, or rather to the runners and hinges. If they are of high quality, then they will move silently and freely, and when moving they will not cling to the rails of the crossbar.

How to decide on sizes

If you want the curtains to be from wall to wall, then the cornice should be almost the same length. It can be 10 cm shorter, but it can be close. If you are only going to close the window, then the length of the cornice should be at least 50 cm greater than the width of the window opening. More is possible, but less is not advisable.

In general, everyone determines the length for themselves. You can proceed from the following considerations:

If the window is large and there is more than enough light in the room, you can take a cornice of minimum length: the width of the window opening + 40 cm (20 cm on each side). In this case, open curtains will slightly block the window.
If the window is already small and faces north, then it is better to leave at least 30 cm on the sides. In this case, even thick curtains in the assembled state will fit on the side of the window.
Two windows on one wall with a small partition. It is best to make one long curtain holder. It will look much more modern.

There is one note that should be taken into account when choosing the length of the ceiling cornice. It must be secured so that the farthest row of curtains (tulle) does not touch the heating radiators. This is worth considering, because not all of our rooms have ideal geometry.

Installation of a hidden cornice in a suspended ceiling

A hidden curtain rod is one way to install a curtain rail. This is a kind of tire that is fixed to the ceiling. It is placed in a special niche for the ceiling cornice, formed between the wall and the tension material. The resulting depression is hardly noticeable, even if you stand directly under it.

Due to the design features of hidden cornices, a non-standard design solution can be implemented. As a result, it seems that the curtain material seems to “float” in space. This technique is especially relevant for low rooms, since the canvases on the cornices visually increase the height of the ceilings.

Technology for installing curtain rails in a suspended ceiling:

At a distance of 20 centimeters from the wall where the window opening is located, a furniture corner is attached to the base of the concrete floor, and a wooden block is installed to it along its entire length;
After finding the middle of the wooden element, a wall molding is attached to this place - this is necessary so that the PVC film covers and, as a result, hides the unattractive structure of the corner and beam;
In order to place hidden cornices under a suspended ceiling, determine the center of the resulting recess and install a hidden crossbar in this place.

By the way, the decorative component of the crossbar for curtains in the design of a suspended ceiling structure does not matter, since it will not be visible. The main requirement for this element is the reliability of fastening of the curtain material, smoothness, mobility and ease of movement of hooks and rings on the crossbar.

If you want to diversify the interior or to perform competent zoning of the surrounding space of the room, you can additionally install LED lighting in the ceiling niche. The task of dividing a room according to functionality is best handled by a diode strip, which provides bright lighting and at the same time consumes electricity in an economical mode.

Kuliska

Drawstring curtains are a type of straight curtains. A drawstring is a “sleeve” into which the ceiling holder pipe is threaded, and this method does not require additional hooks and fastenings or tightening of the curtain tape. If you are wondering how to hang tulle, then tailoring experts say that the drawstring can be used both on tulle and on curtains. The decoration is a “comb”, which is released from the top when sewing.

Features of arranging a niche for a cornice

Drywall is a modern material that has undeniable advantages and is used in the implementation of various design solutions, including the installation of a special cornice.

However, the design using gypsum plasterboard has little strength and is unable to withstand heavy weight loads in the form of heavy window curtains. The solution to this problem is to create sheathing for ceiling niches to attach hidden cornices.

Preparation of materials and tools

When arranging niches for hidden cornices, experts who constantly work with plasterboard advise using Volma products, which have a number of advantages that are not available even in expensive finishing materials.

Since plasterboard sheets are light in weight, they can be used in the construction of various ceiling structures, including niches designed to accommodate a built-in cornice.

But the main advantage of this material is its environmental safety, since the raw materials for its production do not contain substances harmful to health. This allows the use of plasterboard sheets for interior finishing work. They need to be cut into strips 15 centimeters wide.

To work with drywall, you should have at your disposal a set of tools that includes:

tape measure at least three meters long;
a long metal tape measure, but if you don’t have one, you can use a metal profile;
stationery or utility knife with replaceable double-sided blades;
a hacksaw, but in this situation, a poorly sharpened saw for woodwork, which must be narrow, or a hacksaw used for cutting knots is suitable;
A roughing plane is the only professional tool that you will need to purchase, since with its help you can perform high-quality processing of the edges of the cut area.

There are several options for cutting drywall, among which the most popular are the following:

uneven cut;
straight cut;
double-sided cutout;
round holes.

To make a niche from gypsum plasterboard, you should master the direct cut method, which is not difficult. To do this, mark the required size on both sides - in this case it is 15 centimeters. Apply a metal ruler to the applied markings and, using a knife, cut through the very top layer of the plasterboard sheet.

When performing this stage, experts advise not to use a pencil when drawing a preliminary line, since the result is an uneven cut. If you deepen the cut several times, the drywall will break along the drawn line, and not in another place.

The sheet of material is then placed on the rib and gently tapped with the knee in the area where the cut is missing. After applying 2-3 blows, you can break the gypsum core strictly along the intended line. Finally, the cardboard that holds the halves of the sheet is cut with a knife. To cut strips that have a large width, use a hacksaw.

Installing a plasterboard box

To install such a structure you must purchase:

metal ceiling profile measuring 27x60x3000 centimeters;
guide profiles for curtains on the ceiling, preferably made of aluminum, but you can also use wooden products measuring 28x27x3000 centimeters;
plasterboard sheets;
screwdriver or drill;
screws or staples.

The sequence of actions when creating a niche for a hidden cornice is as follows:

First, measure the distance from the wall in which the window opening is located to the edge of the window sill or heating radiator in the case where the battery protrudes beyond the window sill. Next, 10 centimeters are added to the resulting value, which is the size of the allowance that is necessary for the curtains to move freely in the niche space. Most often, you need this distance to be at least 15 centimeters, since this will make it easier to install the cornice in the future, but it should not exceed 20 centimeters.
Then, using a paint cord, mark a line and draw it parallel to the wall, which will become the edge of the niche.
Using a screwdriver or drill, guide profiles are attached according to the drawn line so that the gap between the dowels is at least 60 centimeters.
To assemble the side parts of the box, pre-cut plasterboard strips are screwed to the guide profiles. In this case, the fixation step must be at least 15 centimeters.
The perimeter is marked on the end sides of the future box and the structure is similarly secured with self-tapping screws. The profile must be placed in the direction of the walls.
Using a hacksaw, strips of drywall are cut relative to the profile, which simultaneously become the sides of the niche.
Perform end processing using a plane.
Using the ceiling profile, they begin to assemble the sheathing at intervals of at least 40 centimeters.

Drywall is cut according to the width of the niche and the bottom of the box is sewn with this material. The side walls can be made of transparent plastic or glass. Designers suggest making the edges of the box not only smooth, but also curly, looking like waves or all kinds of geometric shapes. As for such a parameter as the width of the box, it can be different, depending on the height and size of the room.

The best ceiling cornices

These cornices cannot be called decorative, since most often they are simply not visible behind the fabric. They come in string and bus types, but regardless of the type, they always increase the height of the room. The structure is attached in several places, which guarantees proper load distribution and makes it possible to hang heavy curtains.

Olexdeco Single-row ceiling cornice for curtains “Quadro”

★★★★★ editorial assessment

97% of buyers recommend this product

A high-quality metal cornice with a square profile can withstand curtains of absolutely any weight. The user can independently adjust the distance from the wall to the curtain, which makes it possible to adjust the product to their requirements.

Advantages:

Designed for heavy loads;
High rigidity;
Does not fade or fade over time;
Interesting design;
Fasteners included.

Flaws:

Very expensive.

This option is good for an interior in high-tech or modern style. It is not recommended to install this model on a suspended ceiling yourself.

Double-row cornice Liedecor Universal (380 cm)

4.9

★★★★★ editorial assessment

95% of buyers recommend this product

The model comes with ceiling mounts, but can also be mounted to the wall - for this you need to buy suitable brackets. The kit includes hooks, runners, plugs and a hook stopper. If necessary, the manufacturer can supply the buyer with joined profiles, the total length of which will be 8 meters.

Advantages:

Versatility;
Long length with possibility of extension;
Quiet movement of hooks;
Thin but strong profile;
Easy installation.

Flaws:

Few hooks included;
High price.

The model is designed for classic curtains and fairly wide window openings.

Toso flexible ceiling cornice (reinforced), 3 m

4.8

★★★★★ editorial assessment

90% of buyers recommend this product

The Japanese universal flexible cornice can be used anywhere: in an arch, when zoning a space, in a door or window opening, in a bay window. The curtains move smoothly and quietly along the curtain rod thanks to roller runners.

The base can be cut into pieces and a multi-row cornice can be made, and the number of rows is not limited. The kit includes plugs, 10 holders, screws and dowels, 30 sliders and two magnetic guides.

Advantages:

Reinforced design;
Preservation of shape;
Self-pruning with a hacksaw is possible;
Reliable brackets and high-quality sliders included in the set.

Flaws:

It is difficult to buy the same runners as those included in the kit.

This is a universal option that can be hung anywhere - ideal for implementing non-standard solutions and zoning space.

Covering a plasterboard niche

When covering a niche, the screws should be sunk into the drywall so that their heads do not protrude. Next, the holes from the fasteners and the joints of the sheets of finishing material are puttied. Sometimes it becomes necessary to apply the putty mixture to the entire surface of the box. In order to putty the internal corners, it is better to use a rubber spatula.

To simplify the process of final finishing of a plasterboard box, experts advise placing corners made of plastic or metal on its inner corners. When performing putty work, you need to press the corner into the mixture. After completing the finishing activities, it will be clear that the angle of the box is ideal.

If you do not want to use corners, you need to carefully sand the edges of the drywall sections with sandpaper. After the putty has completely dried, the box must be treated with fine-grained sandpaper. After the above-described types of work are completed, all that remains is to remove dust from the finished structure and paint the niche.

To bring original elements into the interior of the room, you can install lighting for a niche made of gypsum plasterboard. Before hiding the ceiling cornice, halogen lamps are installed in the box on the back side, which provide diffuse lighting, or neon tubes.

This additional light source will add coziness to the room's decor. The result is a decorative element that can decorate the interior of any room. LED strips will help highlight the design features of the ceiling surface and highlight the curtains, as if “floating” in the air.