Nautical Flags
Valance & Window Treatments

Signal Flags for Curtains

Although we don't sell boating fabric, signal flags fabric, or other types of curtain fabric, we do make our signal flags so they can be used as a curtain valance or home decoration. The casings on our window treatment flags are wider than those we use for a regular rope banner, so be sure to place your order for "Window Treatment Flags." Our order form includes this option, and remember to enter the overall total number of flags to be used as valance flags.

With a valance shipment, we don't include a rope or ladder, just the flags. They're designed to slide over a typical curtain rod, as you see at the far right. The pictured example happens to be a Mainstays curtain rod, but you can find something similar in any hardware or department store. They vary in length from 28" to 150" or more, with a standard 3/4" thickness, and our flags will slide over them easily.

If you use a round, dowel- or tube-type rod, it must be 1/2" or less in diameter. These types of rods also come in varying lengths. We can customize your casings, if you really need something with a wider rod sleeve, but the existing dimensions have a nice, proportionate look. Casings could go as wide as 2" or more, if needed, just let us know.

Feel free to email us with any questions you might have about all these numbers – they can be a little confusing to read. We want to accommodate your needs, not make things complicated.

How Many Flags per Window?

Lots of our customers decorate a child's room, a den, or a room in a bed and breakfast. You may want to give your room a nautical theme or set it up as captain's room. We've seen some pretty cool "boat" beds, and a signal flag banner or valance would fit right in with the theme. In some instances, people don't use a window, but hang the curtain rod directly on a wall.

Each flag is 8" wide. Standard windows have a 2" frame around them, and tend to use a curtain rod that extends past the sides a little bit. You'll want to have some space between each flag, to make your message more easily readable. On 44" windows, about half an inch between flags looks good. On wider, 72" windows, about an inch looks good. To help you calculate the number of flags:

• 5 flags on a 44" window curtain rod look nice, with about half an inch between each flag.
• 9 flags are about the limit for a 72" window (like a patio door or living room window), with an inch or so between them. The window is 72", plus four inches for the frame (equals 76"), plus about two inches on either end (another four inches equals 80" wide).

If you want to make a longer valence, that's not a problem. We can supply as many flags as you'd like. You supply the hanging rod.

By the way, you aren't required to order a message that makes sense! We get orders from interior decorators looking for nautical flags based only on their colors and patterns. Feel free to play around with the signal flag translator and make a valance that fits your personal style.

Please keep in mind that our minimum order is $38, providing you with up to 4 flags of your choice. For narrow windows, perhaps like in a bathroom, you can easily order three flags (even just one flag), but your item subtotal will still be our minimum order charge.

Example Flag Valance Images

Here you can see five actual flags hanging on a rod that's extended to 44 inches. Note the amount of space between the flags. You won't want too much space, but there should be around half an inch for separation. (We do a lot of Paint Shop Pro graphics modification for fun, so this below picture is "real," with no touching up at all. Your flags will arrive ironed and not all wrinkled.)

You also can see, at the right, how a typical curtain rod slides through the casings at the top of the signal flags. Click on any image to view it larger, in a separate window.

Special Note for Valances with an Odd Number of Flags

We found this virtual room with vertical blinds painted to look like a wind-surfing regatta. It's just too cool to pass up, so we touched it up with one of our signal flag valances that spells "Nautical." As you can see, 8 flags also work nicely for a typical patio door, with a little more space between the flags and at the ends.

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Horizontal Rope Banner • Vertical Ladder