The architectural finish above the window.

Cornices are architectural trim at the top of a window that hides the hardware, adds structure, and gives the window a finished frame. They make the treatment look built-in rather than hung. A well-designed cornice changes the proportion of the window, can make it look taller or wider, and ties the covering into the room's millwork and molding. Upholstered cornices soften the line. Wood cornices add weight and formality.

The cornice decides whether the window reads as part of the architecture or as something added later. It hides the mechanism, cleans up the top edge, and gives drapery or shades a polished starting point. Motorized shades behind a cornice look like the room was designed that way from the start.