Try a deep orange or red. The colors will bring on romance, yet the deeper color will make it masculine.
Either will work but it really depends on your decorating style. I personally think a decorative cornice would be elegant and a valance would be functional and practical.
I always poke my hole first. I make it smaller than the grommet and work the tube portion in first, slightly stretching the hole as needed. Then I put it on the tool with the second half and finish it. I don't have enough hand strength for the plier ...