Measuring Your Window for a Roman Shade

One of my father’s favorite sayings is “measure twice, cut once”. And on several occasions I have learned a valuable lesson from not heeding his advice. The first part of Dad’s saying is also an important step when ordering a custom roman shade. Dad’s advice and these guidelines will help you accurately measure for a custom roman shade (no cutting required) and avoid costly mistakes.

There are two styles of roman shades: Inside Mount and Outside Mount. These beautiful photos show an example of each.

Inside mount shades like the ones shown above are installed “inside” the window molding or casing. They fit close to the glass and are flush with your wall or trim. These shades provide the “cleanest” look and allow for decorative panels to be added on the side if a layered look is desired. Keep in mind that inside mount shades will block out less light coming through the window, so you may want to consider outside mount if you like a darker room.

                               

These outside mount shades are installed “outside” and above the window frame. An outside mount shade will allow less light through and can even give the illusion of taller ceilings and larger windows in the room. With outside mount you will have more installation options.

Once you have decided on a mounting style, the next step is to get the measurements right. This diagram and guideline will help you do that. We (and Dad) recommend you go through this exercise a few times, making sure the width and height are to the closest 1/8 inch.

Measuring for Inside Mount

1. Measure inside the window casing from left to right at the top, middle and bottom. Use the smallest of the three measurements and record this as your width – #2. (We will deduct 1/4 inch from your width measurement to ensure fit).
2. Measure inside the window casing top to bottom at the left, middle and right side of the casing. Use the longest of the three measurements and record as your height – #6.
3. Measure the depth. We do not need this measurement, but you’ll need at least a 1 1/2-inch depth for a good fit on inside mounted shades.

Measuring for Outside Mount

1. Measure the width of the window, side to side, including any molding – #3. To control privacy and light gaps we will add 3 inches to your width measurement so the shade will extend 1 1/2 inches on each side.
2. Measure the height of the window top to bottom, again  including any molding – #7. Take a good look at your window and determine where you want the roman shades to be installed. If you plan to mount the shade several inches “above” the window frame, you will need to add these extra inches to your height measurement.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking all your window measurements are the same, just because they “look” the same. My parents live in an older home and the windows are not the same width across or the same height up and down m even though they are side by side. This is quite common and is another reason measuring is so important!

Roman shades are constructed on a solid piece of wood that will not give at all. So if you were to order your shade with a 36 inch width and the top of your window is actually 35 ¾, it is not going to fit. If you have multiple windows next to each other in a room, measure each one!

When placing an order for roman shades, always indicate the width first and the length next. For example, your description and measurements should look like this:  One inside mount shade 30W x 63L. (You will also want to specify flat or relaxed style, but we will talk about that later).

Custom roman shades  will dress up your window and add interest to your home decor. Knowing how to measure the window for your shades will ensure they fit properly, help avoid expensive mistakes and guarantee you will be pleased with the final project.