How to measure for roman blinds
To start, decide whether you are fitting your blind inside or outside the window recess.
With large or medium windows, many customers choose to fit their blinds inside the window recess. If your window is smaller, you may prefer to fit your blind outside the recess to retain more light.
When deciding whether to fit the blind inside or outside the recess, consider the following points. A blind would need to be fitted outside the recess if:
The recess is less than 7.5cm deep
The window opens inwards
The window itself isn’t straight (variance in width or height is more than 2cm)
The brackets supplied with our roman blinds are suitable for fixing inside and outside the recess.
Before you start, we would recommend making sure you have a metal tape to hand to measure sizes as cloth tape measures may stretch.
Standard windows
Measuring for a roman blind to fit inside a recess
Ensure that your window recess is at least 7.5cm deep.
Measure the width of your window in 3 positions, noting any protrusions such as dado rails and tiles. Make a note of the smallest measurement.
Measure the drop in 3 positions, noting any protrusions such as dado rails and tiles. Make a note of the smallest measurement.
You will then have two measurements; the width and drop of the blind. Please provide these measurements when placing an order.
Measuring for a roman blind to fit outside a recess
Measure the width of the top of the window, adding on approximately 5-10cm either side for the blind to overlap the window.
Measure the drop from where you want the blind to sit above the window to where you want it to finish below. We would again recommend ensuring the blind extends approximately 5-10cm above and below the window.
You will then have two measurements; the width and drop of the blind. Please provide these measurements when placing an order.
Fixing height
This is the measurement, to the nearest centimetre, from where the top of the blind will be positioned to the floor. We use this measurement to understand the approximate chain length required.
Bay windows
Roman blinds in bay windows are usually fitted within the recess. Please follow the instructions below for angled and square (box) bay windows.
Measuring for a roman blind to fit inside a bay window recess
Measure the drop of each side of the bay window in at least two positions and note down the smallest measurement. This will give you the drop for each blind. If you would prefer for the blinds to be level when lowered, please use the shortest measurement for all blinds.
Cut rectangular sections of card measuring 10cm x 4.5cm and place these on your windowsill in the positions shown on the diagrams below. The positions of the cards replicate the ends of the headrail. If there are any protrusions, for example window handles, move the cards further away from the window to allow for clearance. Check that you have sufficient room at the top of the recess to hang the blinds. Once the cards are in the correct position, look up to the top of the recess and ensure that the blind could be hung from the equivalent position.
Use a pencil to make a small mark on the windowsill at the point where the paper meets the window frame. Do this for each corner of your bay, e.g. at A,B,C,D,E & F. Note: check that you can remove any marks that you make on your sill!
Measure as follows to determine the width of each blind.
Angled bay or square bay (point to point)
Left hand blind - measure from A to B
Centre blind - measure from C to D
Right hand blind - measure from E to F
Square bay (overlapping)
Centre blind - measure from A to B
Left hand blind - measure from C to D and deduct 2cm
Right hand blind - measure from E to F and deduct 2 cm
(The deduction for the side blinds is to allow extra space for the centre blind to stack when raised).
Provide all width and drop measurements when placing an order and ensure that you choose ‘INSIDE RECESS’ for your blind type.
When you have ordered your blinds and are ready to hang them, don't forget to take a look at our guide to fitting your roman blinds.
