Once you have decided that roman blinds are the answer to your design requirements, your attention will likely turn to which style and technical installation will be best. Often this is defined by a combination of decorative and architectural factors. In this article we will focus on some of the architecturally relevant constraints. These will commonly be defined by the structural details of the window or door being covered. We will now look at some considerations that will lead to the use of an inside mount, an outside mount, or a hybrid of the two.
1) Inside mount roman blinds are usually, but not always, flat or relaxed style blinds with the hardware installed behind the blind. This creates a very clean look with no visible hardware. Pull cords or controls are accessed by reaching behind the blind. The top rail is simply attached to the top inside of the window using a few screws driven through the top rail at the top of the window frame. This installation is simple, attractive and very effective. To be successful with this installation, it is critical to consider the interior casing and applied trim to determine if anything is physically obstructing the shade. The usable width and height may be limited by these factors. It’s common to miss some of these obstructions and end up with a blind that’s too wide or long, or one whose top rail is too deep to fit in the available area.
Some additional considerations for inside mounting are that the shade will often let in some light at the edges and if it is too narrow it will not provide enough privacy.
2) Outside mount roman blinds are an attractive option. They can be sized to cover an entire window, including trim, and can be extended to any desired width. They can be installed on top of the trim, above the window or door, and even at ceiling level. By installing the blind at a height that allows for stacking over the window or door, the opening can be minimally restricted or not affected at all. Functional hardware is often brought from the back of the screen to the front, and the top rail mounts to the front. This means that a valance of some kind is required. This can be a valance or any other type of valance or top treatment that would be used with other decorative window treatments.
The exterior roman blind is commonly installed with the help of L-brackets which are installed on the trim or wall and to which the top rail is attached. Ceiling mounted exterior blinds can be installed on the ceiling in the same manner as an interior mount.
Exterior-mounted shades provide light, sound, and power control, as well as privacy.
3) Hybrid mounting or inside-outside mountings are another option for some applications. As the term implies, the installation style is a combination of the other styles. The shade is made to the width necessary to cover the area of interest, which will be wider than the inside opening of the window. The top rail is made to fit inside the window just like the inside mount would. The hardware is hidden behind the screen. The top rail is attached in the same way as the inner bracket, but the screen is wider. This may result in the top of the trim being visible requiring a separate top treatment.
This option allows control of light, sound and power, as well as privacy. The blind is typically more than six inches wider than the top rail, so there is less support at the top. This may require the top extensions to be attached to the wall or trim.
Ultimately, the choice is dictated by the space being treated. It’s good to know there are options.