Installing a Window Shade

Installing a window shade is usually pretty easy. Not only that window shades are quite fashionable and decorative nowadays and come in a large array of patterns, textures, fabrics and styles. Another great thing about the window shade is that they offer a simple way for you to quickly and efficiently control the amount of light and privacy in a room. If they are heavier window shades they may even be able to help you save on heat or air conditioning bills by providing you with a little bit of insulation.

No matter what style your window shade is the procedure for measuring and installing them is practically the same in every case. Just make sure you have a good measuring tape and if you are installing the mount for the first time then a level may come in handy to keep the mounts for the window shade even on either side of the window.

Your first step is to decide how you are going to mount them to the wall. There are basically two ways to do this – the inside mount and the outside mount. The inside mount is a little harder to do but it is more finished and complete looking then the outside window shade mount.

To measure for this installation you need to first determine the width of the window by measuring the distance between the two side jambs. Measure at the top, bottom, and middle, and use the smallest of the measurements to determine the width For the length, measure from the bottom of the head jamb to the top of the sill) on both sides and at the center of the window; again, use the smallest measurement. Then, double-check the measurements one more time before ordering, since all sales on custom-cut shades are final. If you instead opt to use an outside mount to fix your window shade to the wall then you will need to measure the outside distance between the two side jambs instead.

When affixing the shades to the wall you need to only be concerned that it looks level. Sometimes the rolled up shade can trick the eye into making the shade look a bit uneven. Pulling on the cords and adjusting the roll or fall of the paper usually remedies this. Sometimes if your window shade still looks uneven it might be that you have put up the mount correctly but that the house is crooked. This is a very common problem in much older houses with sloping ceilings and homes. If you live in this type of an older dwelling then a window shade might not be the most practical solution for you. Drapes and other falling fabrics make it much easier to disguise the lines of a room with sloping or crooked architectural lines.

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