Learn The Art Of Installing Window Blinds

Window blinds are a staple in nearly every home and building in the US, so much so that we don’t really think much of them. But did you know that the US Department of Energy says blinds are among the most energy-efficient window treatments available today?

Window blinds can reduce heat gain in your home during summer by as much as 45%.And when positioned to direct sunlight toward a light-colored ceiling, they even helpmanagelight and heat distribution within your living spaces. They also come in usefulduring the colder months, as the following graphic shows:

Image credit : www.freepik.com/

The unfortunate fact, however, is that many homeowners miss out on these advantages because of improper installation. On top of the lost energy savings, there’salso general discomfort and the occasional glare. If you want to avoid these things, correctly measuring and installing your window blinds is a must. Follow these guidelines to ensure successful results.

Proper Measurement

Before anything else, you need to know how you want your blinds mounted. As a general rule, inside-mount blinds look cleaner and make your windows appear slimmer, while outside-mount blinds make them look bigger and provide better light coverage and privacy. Here’s what you need to measure:

• For inside-mountblinds.For the width, measure the top, middle, and bottom of the windowopeningand take down the narrowest measurement. For the height, measure left, right, and center and take down the tallest measurement. Remember to measure to the nearest 1/8”for reference when you order your blinds.
• For outside-mountblinds.Measure the width of the window opening andadd 3” or more (if your space allows it) to each side.Next, measure the height of the window opening and add at least 2 ½” on top and as much overlap as you want below.

When writing down your measurements, remember to put the width first (i.e., W x H).

Proper Installation

1. Mark the position of the head rail, or the top part of the blinds.

• For inside-mountblinds.Hold the head rail against the window pane and mark the spot below both ends.
• For outside-mount blinds.Level the head rail against the casings and mark the spot below both ends. Make another mark ¼”outside each end.
• Hold the brackets against the marked spots. Make sure that the bracket doorsare facing toward the inside of the room.Forinside-mountblinds. The brackets should be placed up against the top two corners of the window.
• For outside-mountblinds. The brackets should go outside each window casing.

2. Mark holes for drilling. For wood walls, use a 1/16-inch drill bit to make pilot holes.Screw the brackets into place

3. Attach the valance clips onto the head rail. (The valance is the covering of the head rail.)

4.Open the bracket doors and slip the head rail onto the brackets. Snap the doors shut.

5. Adjust the valance.

6. Attach the wand. If the blind wand did not come pre-attached, secure it by sliding it into its hook.

If you want the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your blinds are properly installed,contact a windowtreatment specialist near you.They’ll be able to give you excellent maintenance tips as well, ensuring that your window blinds will stay in service much longer.

Author Bio:

Charlie founded Beltway Blinds to fill the needs of homeowners in Washington, Baltimore and northern Virginia for a specialty window treatment company that could provide the highest quality products, professional design consultation, and exceptional customer service. You can visit and like his Facebook page for more information.