How do I fit a blind?
Measuring for inside or outside the recess, marking accurately, and fixing into the right material.
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Time
- 1 hr
- Read
- 2 min
Short answer
Decide first whether it goes inside the recess or outside it, because that changes every measurement. Measure in three places and use the smallest for an inside fit, the largest for outside.
Most blind problems are measurement problems. Window recesses are rarely square, so a single measurement produces a blind that binds at one end. Measuring three times and choosing correctly is the whole job.
What you'll need
- Tape measure
- Drill
- Screwdriver
- Spirit level (optional)
- Pencil (optional)
Step by step
- Decide inside or outside the recess.Inside looks neater and shows the window frame; outside blocks more light and makes the window look larger. It changes every measurement, so decide first.
- Measure the width in three places.Top, middle and bottom. Recesses are rarely square. For an inside fit use the smallest measurement; for outside, add an overlap each side.
- Measure the drop.Inside: from the top of the recess to the sill. Outside: from where the bracket will sit to below the sill, usually adding 10cm or so.
- Check what you are fixing into.Timber frame, plasterboard, brick or concrete lintel. Each needs a different fixing, and a lintel needs a masonry drill bit.
- Mark the bracket positions and check they are level.Hold the brackets up, mark through the holes with a pencil, and check with a spirit level. Blinds show any error immediately.
- Check for cables and pipes before drilling.Especially above a window, where cables often run horizontally to a light switch.
- Fit the brackets, then clip the blind in.Most blinds clip into brackets rather than screwing directly. Fit both brackets before offering the blind up.
- Test the operation and adjust the drop.Most blinds have adjustable cord or chain length. Check it operates freely and that any safety device for the cord is fitted.
Tips
- Blind cords are a strangulation risk for young children. Safety devices to secure the cord out of reach are supplied and should always be fitted.
- Order blinds slightly narrower than the recess for an inside fit — most suppliers deduct a small amount automatically, so check whether they expect the exact recess measurement.
- For a wide window, two narrower blinds often operate better and look neater than one very wide one.
Common mistakes
- Measuring the recess in only one place — Recesses are rarely square. A blind sized to the widest point will not fit at the narrowest.
- Not checking whether the supplier deducts for clearance — Some expect the exact recess size and deduct themselves; others expect you to. Getting it wrong gives a blind that does not fit.
- Not fitting the cord safety device — Looped blind cords are a genuine strangulation hazard for young children, and the device is supplied for that reason.
Questions people ask
How do I measure for a blind?
Decide inside or outside the recess first. Measure the width in three places — use the smallest for an inside fit, or add overlap for outside — and measure the drop from the bracket position.
Should a blind go inside or outside the window recess?
Inside looks neater and shows the frame; outside blocks more light and makes the window appear larger. Outside fit is also more forgiving of an out-of-square recess.