STRAIGHT WINDOWS:
Measuring for a Recess Fitting Blind
If you’d prefer your new blind to fit snugly inside the window opening – or the window recess – you should measure for recess fit blinds.
Before you start, make sure you have a metal tape measure to hand.
- First, take three width measurements across the top, middle and bottom of the recess. The smallest of the measurements will be the width of your blind.
- If the bottom part of your recess is tiled (which is often the case in bathrooms and kitchens) take your width measurement from the tiled part of the recess, as this will be the narrowest part.
- Next, take three height measurements from the top of your recess to the bottom. Start from the left, take another height measurement from the middle, and finish on the right side. The smallest of the measurements will be the drop of your blind. Remember that the head rail is included in the drop.
Note: Width measurements are NOT for the fabric of your new blind – they are for the frame. The width of the fabric will be about 4cm narrower than this for totally, 2cm for each side.
Measuring for an Exact Fitting Blind
If you’d prefer your new blind to fit outside of the window recess and overlap on all sides, you should opt for an exact fitting blind.
Before you start, make sure you have a metal tape measure to hand.
- First, measure outside the window recess horizontally, starting and finishing where you would like the edges of your blind to be. The head rail will be included in the drop.
- Next, measure outside the window recess from top to bottom, starting where you’d like the rail to be and finishing where you’d like the bottom of your blind to be. Remember that the head rail is included in the drop.
Note: To minimise light leakage, we recommend that the blind overlaps the window recess by at least 100mm at the bottom and 100mm on each side. It all comes down to personal choice, but make sure you take into account any obstacles like radiators.
Note: Width measurements are NOT for the fabric of your new blind – they are for the frame. The width of the fabric will be about 4cm narrower than this for totally, 2cm for each side.
BAY WINDOWS:
Measuring for an Angled Bay Window
Blinds are a great way of adding a pop of colour or stylish functionality to any angled bay window – but make sure you have decided on a frame type (open, covered or pelmeted) before you measure up.
To measure up for your angled bay window, you will need:
- 2 x pieces of A4 paper
- A pencil
- A metal tape measure
- Scissors
1. Firstly, using your scissors, cut each sheet of paper:
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- 7cm wide for open frame
- 10cm wide for covered frame
- 9cm wide for pelmeted frame
Don’t forget to account for anything that may be protruding from the window, like handles. In these instances, you can make your paper 2cm wider and tell us when you order.
2. Put your paper’s width at the same level where your blind will be fitted. Slide the two pieces of paper towards each other along the sill of the bay window until the two marks that you made meet up.
3. Then, make a small mark on the windowsill where the paper meets. Repeat these steps for each corner of your bay window.
4. Measure between each of the marks you have made. This will establish the correct width of your chosen blinds.
5. Finally, to establish the correct drop of your blind, measure from where the top of the blind will sit, down to where you’d like the blind to stop (usually the windowsill). Don’t forget that the head rail is included in the drop.
Measuring for a Boxed (Rectangular) Bay Window
Before you start, make sure you have a metal tape measure to hand.
To measure up for a boxed bay window, you first need to decide how do you want your blinds to be fitted. You have two options.
Option 1: For the first option, the front blind fits from corner to corner of the boxed bay window, with the side blinds installed up against the front blind.
For your front blinds, measure the full width of the bay window and make a note.
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- Then, measure the width of each side blind separately in the same way and deduct 7cm for open frame, 10cm for covered frame, or 9cm for pelmeted frame.
- If you have any obstructions like a handle protruding from the front window, measure how far they protrude past the window.
Option 2: With the second option, the side blinds continue into the corners and the front blind sits between them.
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- First, measure the sides into the corner.
- Then, measure across the front, and deduct double the rail depth as 7cm for open frame, 10cm for covered frame, or 9cm for pelmetted frame.
- Obstructions like a handle on the side windows will reduce the width of the front blind, so measure how far the obstruction protrudes past the side window frame, and deduct that from the front blind’s measurements.
Note: Always measure the widths in three places as you would for a regular recessed window. Because bay windows are prone to movement, you might find that the width varies, even if at first glance the windows look square. You should always use the smallest of the three measurements.
Drop
The drop will be the same for both options. It will measure from the point where the blind is mounted to the windowsill. Remember that the head rail is included in the drop.