Do roller blinds look smarter or uglier from outside? They cover unsightly mounting hardware and give your entire room a cleaner and more attractive look. Outside mount roller blinds hide imperfections, make your windows and room look taller and more elegant, and offer better light control and privacy.
Read on to discover some practical tips to help guide you through the decision-making process when installing outside mount roll-up window treatments.
Hanging affordable rollers outside the window recess is the matter of both style (appearance) and function. Besides concealing uneven molding and unattractive hardware, they provide better insulation, energy efficiency, and blackout. For a better look and functionality, make sure to extend the fabric above, below or beyond the sides of your window by 3 to 4 inches.
What are Roller Blinds?
Roller blinds, also referred to as roll-up shades, are window coverings consisting of a single piece of fabric that can be rolled-up or down for the desired amount of light regulation, light filtration, privacy, and other benefits. They can be installed inside or outside the window frame to give a decorative touch to your home’s interior or exterior.
Various Mount Options
- Inside mount: Inside mount blinds are fixed inside the window recess to give it a neater and sleeker look from outside. They do not take up any external space and don’t interfere with the window trim, allowing full access to window sills and frames. Use an inside mount option to enhance the visual appeal of your modern or minimalist interior design.
- Outside Mount: When viewed from outside, outside mount window treatment styles give a gorgeous look to your windows. In addition to hiding imperfections and gaps, they extend depth, keep tilt-in function, and minimize leakage of light and privacy. Outside mount rollers are a great choice for casement windows, French doors, and patio doors.
- Interior Mount: When mounted interiorly, roller blinds complement your interior furnishings and color schemes. Plus they boost the exterior design when viewed from outside. They remain less exposed to the sun’s UV rays, which adds to their lifespan.
- Exterior Rollers: Exterior or outdoor roller blinds provide better protection against sun damage, but prolonged exposure to direct sunlight will cause fading and reduce the freshness and longevity of the shades. When it comes to appearance, exterior shades increase the visual interest of your home design with sharp colors and intricate decorative patterns.
- Standard/regular roll: You can install your rollers either standard roll or reverse roll. In the case of standard roll, the fabric lays flat and closer to the window for better light coverage. However, it causes the fabric roll to stick out further from your window, which is a negative point when it comes to appearance.
- Reverse roll: In reverse roll, the fabric material rolls off the front of the tube, concealing it for a cleaner, more minimalist look. When fully extended, it will clean the window sill for plants and other decorative elements to put on. One drawback of this installation style is that it may cause light leakage.
Where to Install Outside Mount Shades
- Window with insufficient depth or recess (less than 2 ¼”)
- Motorhome windows (typically, there isn’t enough depth)
- Doors (rollers mounted on the face of the door)
Aesthetic & Functional Benefits of Outside Mount Rollers
Cover Window Trim
While inside mount roller shades don’t cover the window trim and might leave light gaps, outside options fully cover the window frame whether you hang them on the top of the window trim or on the wall above, to the side of the window frame. They will give an uncluttered look to the window from the outside.
Conceal Uneven Molding
The roller blinds mounted to the outside of the window frame conceal the uneven molding and unsightly hardware components, adding visual interest to your window treatments.
Add to Window Depth
To give more depth to your windows with outside mount shades, you can use extension brackets or spacer blocks. In addition to adding space between the blinds and the window or wall, they will facilitate smooth lifting and lowering of the blinds in the presence of protruding cranks.
Make Shorter Window Look Taller
Want to create the illusion of more height for your room and window, we recommend the outside option. It will make your room and window look taller. You can layer them with curtains or sheers for better results.
Unobstructed View
On fully raising your rollers, they will fully stack on the top of the window trim, completely clearing the window for an unobstructed view.
Dress Odd-Shaped Windows
Want to give an even, symmetrical look to your odd-shaped windows? You can creatively dress irregularly-shaped windows, hiding unattractive trims, handles, and cranks.
Pleasing Light Dispersion
While inside mount options create a harsh effect by leaving light gaps on each side of the window frame, outside mount rollers provide better light distribution. They can block intense beams of light and create a soft halo effect in your room. When cutting fabric, several inches are added to both width and height for full or extra coverage.
Pair for a Layered Look
By pairing your outside mount roller shades with other window treatments like blackout fabrics or Roman shades, you can give them a layered look and boost their light regulation function. They will work great in areas like media rooms, nurseries, and bedrooms.
Kid Safety
Outside mount shades come with cordless and motorized options, which fully comply with CPSC’s New Federal Safety Standards for Custom Window Coverings. No cords, no strangulation hazards! So, they are safe for living spaces with young children and pets. Cordless options also give them a purer, more modern look.
Requirements for Outside Mount Installation
You need at least 2” of level surface above the window trim to attach outside mounting brackets on the window frame or the wall. Use projection brackets to accommodate heavy molding. Make sure there are no cupboards, doors, or other obstacles in the way that could interrupt opening, closing, or adjustment of the outside mount roller shades.
Where Not to Install Them
Installation of roller curtains outside the window frame is discouraged in high-traffic areas, such as the windows facing roads or busy streets.
Are roller blinds better inside or outside?
Roller blinds installed outside the window frame are a better option, as they are slower to fade, conceal unattractive hardware, and offer better privacy and light dispersion.
Do blinds look better inside or outside recess?
If you want a neater, tidier, and snugglier look, inside recess mount blinds are a better, space-saving option. They take up a smaller footprint than outside mount blinds that lie flat on the wall and blend seamlessly with your decor.
What shades look best from outside?
Reverse roll shades with a cord-free option look best from outside with a sleeker, cleaner, and more streamlined appearance and a better match with the home design.
Why do people put blinds on the outside of their windows?
People put blinds on the outside of their windows to make smaller windows look taller and wider, and offer better energy efficiency and privacy without a liner.
Need More Help?
If you need expert tips on how to improve the look of roller blinds from outside, contact our professionals using 24/7 live chat or give us a ring at (800) 863-6109.