To install blinds, you will need a drill, pilot bits that are slightly smaller than the screws that came with your blinds, and a ladder. If you’re installing outside mount blinds (which are above the window, not inside of the frame), you’ll need a level. You won’t need to construct your blinds. They’ll arrive preconstructed and ready for installation. This process is identical for cellular shades, roller blinds, shades, mini-blinds, and vertical blinds.
You can either hold the bracket still with one hand while you drill with the other, or use a pencil to mark the location of each pilot hole. If your window is especially wide, you may need to drill pilot holes for a center bracket to support the weight. Use a measuring tape to find the center of the frame before you drill! This is for an inside mount. For an outside mount, drive pilot holes into the drywall above the window frame. Use a level to ensure both brackets are even.
Most blinds come with 2-4 screws for each bracket. Use as many screws as you can for the most secure fit. If you have a bracket for the middle of your blinds and you’re adding it to support the weight of an especially long window blind, install that as well.
How each blind bracket is closed differs from style to style, but there are two general categories of closure. The first is a folding hinge on top of the bracket that slides over the top. The other is a separate piece that usually slides into the bracket to close it.
You may need to slide the wand over a small hook to attach the part of your blinds you rotate to open or close them. Once your valence is attached, you’re all good to go! Continue to install the remainder of your blinds the same way you installed the first one.
Windows—as we’re sure you’re about to find out—are not perfectly even at each point. Unless the home is brand new, the wood frame will have expanded and contracted over the years, leaving it uneven and asymmetrical. For each window you’re measuring, you will take a total of 6 measurements. This process is for inside mounted blinds. For outside mounted blinds, measure the width of the entire window above the trim (on the drywall), down to whatever height you want the blind to go to (normally the bottom of the window frame).
Blind manufacturers automatically remove a little bit of material from whatever measurements you submit to ensure the entire blind fits, so don’t make subtractions!
Some blinds manufacturers will even send you free samples of slat and shade textures if you aren’t sure about what you’re ordering! You can go to your local home improvement store and sort through their in-store stock, but they’re very unlikely to have the specific measurements you need for your windows. You’re almost always better off ordering the blinds.
Expect to spend $15-30 per vinyl blind depending on the size. Faux wood can range anywhere from $30-120, while real wood tends to be slightly pricier than faux wood (but not dramatically so). For a whole home, you may be spending anywhere from $300 to $3,000 depending on how many windows you have and what material you choose.
Cellular shades. Also known as honeycomb shades, these shades are pleated layers of fabric that help insulate the window and absorb sound. They tend to do well in modern spaces. Roller shades. Roller shades are single layers of fabric, cloth, or thick paper which rolls up into a bundle when you pull a chain. These shades are super slick and tend to work in modern spaces. Vertical blinds. These old school blinds have vertical slats instead of horizontal slats. These blinds tend to do well in more vintage spaces. Horizontal/Venetian blinds. This is what most people mean when they say “blinds. ” Horizontal, aka Venetian blinds contain horizontal slats that slide up and down when you raise the window. These blinds will work anywhere.
Bigger 2 in (5. 1 cm) blinds will stand out and make a much larger statement than smaller 1⁄2 in (1. 3 cm) blinds. 1⁄2 in (1. 3 cm) blinds are probably ideal if you want to minimize how noticeable the blinds are or your room is very small. The size of your window may limit you here. If the frame on the inside of your window is only 1 in (2. 5 cm) wide, you have to use 1 in (2. 5 cm) blinds or smaller.
There are more unique colors out there if it’s something you’re really interested in, but it can be tough to make non-neutral blinds work. Blackout blinds and shades are almost always black. They’ll completely block out light to keep the room as dark as possible.
Most blinds can be installed either with an inside or outside mount. However, measuring for each type of blind is slightly different. Inside mounted blinds are exponentially more popular than outside mounted blinds. The reason is that outside mounted blinds “hide” the window entirely, which can be less attractive. They also tend to make the room feel smaller. Still, they’re an interesting choice if you have some beautiful blinds and the room is very large!
