Cassette / Valance

A cassette (or fascia) is a headrail cover that conceals the roller tube and the roll of fabric for a finished, hardware-free look; a valance is the broader term for any decorative top cover, including the fabric-wrapped versions on shades and the metal or wood strips on blinds. Beyond looks, a cassette closes the gap at the top of the shade, trimming the light leak there — a small but real gain for darkening. It adds a little to the headrail depth and to the price. On an inside mount, factor the cassette into your depth check; on an outside mount, it’s a clean way to hide the mechanism.