In summary. In summary, for Venetian, roller and vertical blinds, we would recommend they be hung from within the recess. However, Roman blinds would be better suited outside the recess, as they are able to let more light enter into the room.
Roller blinds look better in the recess if your goal is to pick a blind that takes up minimal space and leaves the surrounding wall itself clear, which many people feel looks neater or more polished than placing blinds over the recess.
A blind that is fitted within the window recess means it is the same size as the window and will fill that area. This is known as recess fitting. Whereas a blind that is fitted outside of the recessed area is commonly referred to as an exact fitting.
Inside mount blinds are typically flush with the window's opening and don't cover the window trim. On the other hand, outside mount blinds and shades get installed outside the window frame.
So, you can use outside mount blinds and shades on nearly any window, including shallow windows with a small frame that won't fit inside mount window treatments. Outside mount blinds and shades can also be used on doors, as they can be installed above the door or directly onto the door panel.
May allow more light leakage and be less effective at blocking light. For light sleepers inside mount blinds may not be the best choice for room darkening. Since they don't cover any of the window frame or trim, there is more potential for light leakage than with outside mounts.
If there are any handles or cranks on the inside window casing, mounting your shades on the outside will help clear those obstacles. Your window frame helps protect your window treatments, so mounting on the outside of the frame is discouraged in high-traffic areas.
Most people tend to prefer the appearance of blinds inside of the window recess, as they fit snugly and look neater and tidier; they blend more seamlessly and don't take up as large a footprint as blinds that lie flat on a wall.
In general, we suggest leaving around 10cm above the window recess and at least 7cm on each side. Then decide on the best place for the blind to end – on or just below the window sill often works well, but it may look better longer.
If you've chosen to inside-mount your blinds, measure the width of the window space. Select a blind with a width that will fit inside the space. Don't go too narrow or you'll have gaps that reduce privacy and let in too much light.
"Fully recessed" is where your product fits neatly within your window opening, without it protruding into your room. The depth of your window opening may be sufficient to mount a blind as an Inside Mount, but NOT quite enough to mount it such that the headrail is fully inside the window opening.
Recess fitted is where the blind sits neatly inside the window frame recess. This is typically done to reduce the overall impact of the blind's presence in the space, especially so for smaller rooms, or just because it can look neater and more contained.
However, due to their bulky frame, we tend to use them only in limited situations. A drawback to these fitted framed are they cover parts of the glass and essentially make the window smaller. Similarly, they do not offer a solution for glazing that has aluminium or timber framing, only UPVC.
Yes, for your blinds to work to greatest effect and to achieve the right visual finish, window blinds should rest on the windowsill. The only exception to this is vertical blinds which require a small amount of clearance to prevent the louvres from dragging on the windowsill when operated.
Recess is when you want your blind to be fitted on the inside the window recess, you do not have to make any adjustments to allow for the fittings - this will happen automatically when you order a recess blind.
Blinds can be lighter or darker than your walls, but there are a few things to keep in mind before choosing a color. To ensure that everything blends well together, the blinds and walls should be at least one shade lighter or darker than each other, but most importantly, they should also be a similar tone.
Thankfully there's no right or wrong way to turn your blinds. But one way may be more suitable than the other, depending on your needs. The choice really boils down to your lighting and privacy requirements at different times of the day and, of course, personal preference.
Turned Up: Rounded Side Facing Out
Pros: More privacy: by turning the blinds up, you limit the amount of visibility space directed towards the room. People won't be able to see inside when passing by. Better light control: limiting visibility also means limiting lighting.
If the window is on the ground floor, the blind should be closed slats up. Otherwise, people can see in from the floors above. If, however, you are on an upper floor and the slats are up, anyone can see in from the ground floor. For that reason blinds on an upper floor should close slats down.
Light colors, on the other hand, are perfect for making the most of your room's square footage. In fact, for the best results, consider choosing shades with white or off-white fabric to maximize this effect.
Yes, blinds are good insulation for windows, regardless of the type of blind you use. This is because the closed blind forms a barrier (that is permeable to various extents depending on the blind), which helps to keep heat in, cold out, and to take the edge off draughts from rattly windows.
Consider adding an extra 3 inches to the width and height for optimum light control and privacy. Extending the blinds outside the window will also provide the space needed for the mounts and help the window appear larger than it actually is.
The short answer is: it depends! We recommend sticking to a common element in terms of color, fabric, or style. For example, if you want some blinds and some shutters, you could use the same color wood. For homes with varying styles in each room, you may want to focus on cohesion on a room-by-room basis instead.