Ready to accommodate new roller blinds but unsure where – inside or outside a recess – and how to fix them for better look and function? Follow our instructional guide with quick tips to make installation easier, simpler, more effortless!
Want to upgrade window treatments of your living space or workplace with affordable and easy roll-up window treatments? Customize and shop a wide selection of roller blinds from AffordableBlinds.com at incredibly lower prices.
These blinds come with lots of design choices and functional capacities – from sheers to light filtering to total blackout – to precisely fit the visual and functional needs of any room. For example, homeowners often prefer a blackout roller for:
- Bedroom windows
- Indoor windows
- Kitchen windows
- Nursery rooms
- Living rooms
- Offices
- Study rooms
- Bathrooms
- Basement windows
Mount Options for Roll-up Blinds
Why Choose Rollers for Your Home?
If you are looking to install functional window treatments that offer a blend of simplicity and sophistication, hanging roll-up blinds and shades are an ideal choice. These unassuming home decor essentials are a smart choice for those seeking a harmonious blend of practicality and visual interest.
These unsung heroes of home decor offer constant refuse from prying eyes and give you a private space to enjoy intimate moments with your family.
With their sleeker look and unobstructive design, they have become a popular, go-to choice for homeowners.
Last, but not least, they are super easy to accommodate at a desired location on your window. Things will be even easier and quicker if you follow our straightforward, step-by-step tutorial to install roller blinds in your home.
And it will take less than 20 minutes! Just roll up your sleeves and get ready for a perfect installation of your favorite rollers.
- Installing roller blinds in your home can elevate your space with clean lines and contemporary design.
- Choose between minimalist ambiance or a bold statement.
- Available with battery-powered motorized operating mechanism to effortlessly adjust light and privacy level in your room.
- Require minimal maintenance for more living and less cleaning.
- Made from humidity- and moisture-resistant materials.
- Choose solar roller shades with various openness percentages, such as 1%, 3%, 5%, 7%, 10%, and 14%.
- Highly budget-friendly – enjoy style on a budget!
3 Pre-Installation Steps
Step 1: Choose between Inside and Outside Mount
Your choice of a mounting style will depend on how you want your roller blinds to look and function on windows.
Inside Recess: For a sleeker, cleaner, uncluttered, and more integrated look, position your roller-up window covers inside the window frame. It’s an ideal choice for showcasing decorative window trim.
Before you go with inside-recess blinds, ensure sufficient window frame depth and accommodate obstructions like cranks and handles.
Outside Recess; If you are looking for more coverage for better light blockage and privacy, flexibility, and easier installation, place your blinds outside the window recess.
With outside recess blinds, you can conceal uneven or unattractive window frames.
Considerations for this mount option include accurate measurement of space to avoid light gaps and ensure adequate clearance for the rollers to open and close smoothly.
Step 2: Gather Tool You’ll Need
To simplify your window frame measurement and roller blind installation process and minimize any potential frustrations, gather the following essential tools.
- Pencil
- A piece of paper
- A steel measuring tape
- Drill with bits
- Level tool
- Screws and a screwdriver
- Pliers
- Stool or step ladder (if needed)
- Manufacturer’s instruction manual (for reference)
Step 3: Accurately Measure Your Window Frame
Follow these quick measurement steps to ensure precision:
Width
- Place pencil marks on the top, middle, and bottom of the window frame.
- Measure width at 3 points and record the narrowest value.
Height
- Measure height from windowsill to the top mark at 3 points (left side, middle, & right side).
- Take the shortest measurement when ordering new blinds.
Depth
- Measure the depth of recess from outer to inner edge at each of the 4 corners of your regular window frame.
- Again record the narrowest value and match it with product specifications to decide if you can go with an inside mount option.
Note: Measure all three dimensions (width, height, & depth) with care and precision to avoid ill-fitting blinds.
7 Steps to Accommodate Roller Blinds Inside the Window Recess
Homeowners choose an inside recess mount to create a more polished, integrated look with a touch of modern elegance to their window space.
Here are straightforward steps to ensure a perfect fit.
- Step 1: Place brackets inside the frame recess to achieve tucked-away appearance.
- Step 2: Use screws and a screwdriver to fix blind brackets inside the left and right corners of the frame in such a way that they are flush with the frame’s edge.
- Step 3: Use a level tool to ensure the inside-mount brackets are level.
- Step 4: Make sure mounting brackets are snug but they aren’t overly tight to avoid damaging the window frame.
- Step 5: Gently insert your new, fresh roller blind into the brackets and secure them in place.
- Step 6: Pull your blinds down and roll it up a few times to test its operation.
- Step 7: Make adjustments, if needed, to ensure smooth operation.
All done! Your rollers are not expertly installed for an obstruction-free operation.
4 Steps to Accommodate Roller Blinds Outside the Window Recess
Ready to embrace the versatility of roller blinds?
Step 1: Affix the outside mount brackets either on the wall or molding surrounding the window.
Step 2: Use a level tool to perfectly align the brackets for a smoother operation.
Step 3: Hand roller fabric on the brackets, which is 3 to 4 inches wider and longer than the window frame.
Step 4: Install cordless or motorized control system, if your blinds come with this child-safe option.
FAQs
Should roller blinds be fitted inside or outside recess?
Want better light control and privacy? We recommend fitting your roller blinds outside of the recess. For a sleeker look, go with inside-recess roller blinds. The mounting brackets located at the top of the window will restrict light. For better regulation of external light, you can add a blackout liner.
How should roller blinds be fitted?
Roller blinds should be fitted in such a practical way that they block out maximum daylight (and prying eyes!), complement your room’s color and texture, and make a bold design statement to your window’s space.
How do you fit roller blinds inside recess?
To fit roller blinds inside recess, make sure your window frame is at least 3 ¼” deep and install brackets to the side, back, or top of your recess. Then follow these 4 easy steps.
- Fix the inside mount brackets at the outer edge of the window recess.
- When hanging roll-up blinds, ensure two lines on the top of the chain control are facing to the ceiling, for the chain to work correctly.
- Correctly insert both ends (chain end and pin end) of the roll-up blinds into the brackets that have already been fixed into the recess.
- Make sure the blinds aren’t too tight into the brackets, as it may make them too stiff to raise and lower.
How much smaller should blinds be than the window for inside mount?
When ordering new inside-mount blinds, make sure they are about ¼” to ⅜” smaller than your narrowest width measurement of the window frame. This deduction is made to ensure perfect fit and obstruction-free operation. Length is a bit different. If you don’t want your roller blinds to rest on your window sill, make a deduction of ¼” along the length of the fabric.
Need More Help?
Need expert advice on how to measure and accommodate roller blinds inside or outside a recess as a DIYer? Contact our professionals using 24/7 live chat or give us a ring at (800) 863-6109. They’ll also help you choose the right color, texture, and fabric function.