Today Janet writes:

Could you walk me through the process of measuring and installing new window treatments myself? I’ve done several other projects around the house and I think I’m finally ready to tackle this one! Thank you so much for your help!

Janet, your first step will be to measure your windows for the new blinds. Make sure you have a metal tape measure, pen and paper, and a step-ladder or folding ladder to stand on depending on how tall your windows are. It is very important that you use a metal tape measure and not a seamstresses measuring tape. The reason being that unlike a metal tape measure, a seamstresses measuring tape can be inaccurate based on how tight you hold its ends. This is why it is important to always use a metal tape measure for any home improvement project, as it will give you a true unbiased measurement. Once you’ve got all the needed tools assembled, decide where the blinds will be hung from. Are you going to hang them inside the window frame or mount them on the wall around the window?

For inside the window frame, place the end of your tape measure inside the window frame itself, then measure from inside edge to inside edge. Do this in three spots for the width, and three spots for the height. This way, you’ll know whether you need to compensate for your windows being out of square. Do this regardless of how old the house is, older homes are usually the worst at being out of square, but newer homes aren’t perfect either. If your window is out of square, you’ll want to take the largest of all three measurements. This could potentially let in more light around the window blind, but it is better than the alternative – which is your window treatment not fitting inside the window frame!

For outside the window frame mounts, measure from at least 1-1/2 inches outside the window frame on either side. You may need to make adjustments to this number based on any obstacles or molding. A few tips to keep in mind: Try to avoid mounting your blinds into the moulding or trim work, because this will be noticeable if the blinds are taken down and not replaced. Be extra careful to check the area you are going to mount the blinds for electrical wires and adequate space. If your window butts up next to a cabinet, make sure you are checking your measurements next to that cabinet or another obstacle.

Once you’ve written down the measurements for both the width and the height of your window, it’s time to purchase your new blinds.  Make sure you write down the dimensions in width x height format (side to side, then top to bottom), and make sure the number is in inches, not feet.  Once you’ve got this important number, you can go pick out your new window treatments!

One of the biggest mistakes novices make when purchasing new window treatments, is not being ultimately clear with the salesperson on how the window treatments were measured. This is why it is important to stress to the salesperson that your measurements are your actual window dimensions and to make sure they know whether you are planning on installing them as an inside mount or an outside mount.  The reason being that an inside mount typically has a 1/2 inch taken off the total width measurement, so that the blind will fit inside the window frame. While an outside mount is made to the exact measurements requested. It might seem redundant, but I always have the salesperson read back my measurements and the type of mount so that I can make sure we are communicating effectively and so my blinds will be made correctly.

Once you bring your new blinds home, you are then ready to hang them. Make sure you’ve got a power drill and it’s charged, your measuring tape, a pencil and step ladder. You’ll want to remove the old blind and it’s hardware first. (Unless you purchased the exact same kind of blind and the hardware is in good condition.)

Make sure you follow the manufacturers instructions when installing the new hardware. Most instructions will tell you how many inches in from the edge of the window the hardware needs to be installed. Then using your tape measure and pencil mark where the new hardware will go. Hold the hardware in that place and make a mark where each screw will be placed. This way, you can start the hole of the screw without having to hold the bracket firmly in place. Giving you two hands to hold the drill and keep it steady. Don’t tighten the first screw firmly in place, you want to wait to tighten it completely until the final screw is in as well. No matter what project you are working on, it’s always a good idea to slowly tighten the screws as this will help you avoid stripping them. Repeat this for the remainder of the brackets.

For an inside mount, you’ll also want to make sure that the hardware is spaced evenly in the depth of the window sill as well. Otherwise your blind will sit crookedly in the window and potentially scrape against the window frame as it’s opened and closed.

Now that the brackets are installed, you are ready to hang the blind. Remember to read the instructions prior to hanging so you understand how the blind fits into the brackets. Some brackets are flimsier than others and could be damaged if you try to put the blind in the wrong way.  If your blind is over 60 inches, you may need another set of hands to hang it. The wider the blind the harder it is to hold by yourself. Plus some brackets are tricky, and require you to hold the blind just so to connect the two. Additionally, the wider the blind the heavier it can be become. This is especially true for wood and faux wood blinds. They can get downright heavy and it’ll be nice to have someone else to share the weight with.

Jiggle the blind around slightly to make sure you’ve got it firmly in the brackets. Otherwise it might fall down on you. Some brackets make a definite snap noise when the blind is securely in place. Once the blind is successfully in the window you are done! Open and close the blind, making sure all parts work smoothly. If  you have a problem, alert the company immediately so it can be fixed. You have a limited amount of time, before any problems are your sole responsibility.

Do you have questions about the selecting or the installation of: tile, carpet or wall treatments (window blinds, etc)? Then email me your tale of woe (diva(at)homemakeoverdiva.com) and perhaps I will be able to answer your questions right here at the Home Makeover Diva Blog!

Today Rhea writes:

Dear Diva, I need to replace all the window blinds in my house but I don’t want to spend a small fortune. Where can I find cheap window blinds, and how do I know if what I’m getting is going to last.

Rhea, unfortunately when it comes to home improvement items the old adage ‘you get what you pay for’ applies to window treatments. Fortunately for you however, I’ve learned a few tips that will help your window blind budget stretch a little further. I’m positive that not all of these tips will apply to every situation, but I’m confident that at least one of these tips will help you lower the price of new blinds for your home. First thing you need to do before shopping for window blinds is to measure your windows. This way you’ll know what size blinds you’re shopping for before you begin. If you are unsure how to measure for new blinds, then check out this how-to article on measuring and installing window blinds. Once you’ve taken and written down your window measurements, you’re ready to shop around for the best deal!

1- Check what’s in-stock. Big box home improvement stores usually a keep a variety of different blind types in stock. Often times these in-stock blinds are also available to be custom cut to fit your window opening. While these blinds aren’t top quality, I’d say they are worth what you pay for them. Typically speaking you’ll find 2″ faux wood and real wood blinds, as well as 1″ aluminum and/or vinyl mini blinds in stock and ready to customized to fit your windows.

2- Think outside the window frame. If you’ve found a blind type that isn’t customizable and your window sizes aren’t standard, consider mounting them as an outside mount. Meaning that you hang them outside the window frame instead of inside it. This can actually save you big bucks. Keep in mind before going this route that you will need to measure differently for outside mount blinds than you do for those that go inside the window frame. This is because you’ll have to make sure you don’t have any extra obstacles, such as cabinets, walls, switches, and more. You’ll need a minimum of 3″ extra on either side to maintain optimal privacy. So if your window is 48″ wide, you’d want a blind that was 54″ wide. The image below shows how an inside mount looks inside the window frame, as well as how an outside mount would look on the same window.

3- Look for sales. Most of the big window treatment companies (Hunter Douglas, Bali, & Levolor) offer specials monthly or bi-monthly. Check with big box, as well as any local window treatment retailers to see what’s currently on sale. If the blind type you are looking for isn’t on sale now, give it a few months and see if that changes. Some companies alternate sales between a specific blind type being on sale and offering their entire line at a discount. If you are patient odds are, that what you want will go on sale with in a few months time. Not only will you find that custom window blind companies run specials almost monthly, but every once in a while in-stock blinds also go on sale at the local big box stores. And it never hurts to ask, if they have any group pricing if you purchase all of your window blinds at once. The worst that could happen is they say no!

4- Compare prices. As with any other major purchase, shopping around will help you find the best price for cheap window blinds. If you are looking at a custom option, don’t just expect that you will be getting the best price based on percentage off. Get a quote from each place you are considering instead. The base price of a blind could be more expensive at one place over another. So even though they are offering a higher percentage, the price could be the same or even more expensive. I encountered this a few years ago with Home Depot and JCPenney. Home Depot’s sale of Bali blinds was 20% off, while JC Penney was a whopping 70%! When I got a price quote from both places, I realized that they were almost identical in price. JCPenney wasn’t pulling a fast one, it’s because Home Depot, Costco and Lowe’s have what is commonly thought of as ‘wholesale prices’ on custom window treatments because of their volume. JCPenney, as well as local blind companies have retail prices. Now, this doesn’t mean that the prices can’t be similar. It just means you should shop both to find the best deal!

5- More for less. If you have some very long windows, consider multiple blinds instead of ordering one large custom one. The longer the window the more expensive the blind could be. Depending on the size of your window, you may want to break it down into 2 or 3 individual blinds instead of 1 large one. Visually, I would base this decision on what type of window you have you. If your large window consists of a bigger center section and 2 smaller sliders on either end, then I would install 3 window blinds. And, I would measure for the blinds so that the gap between them lines up with the sections of the window. That way you could still maintain privacy, despite separating the window into 3 blinds. See the above image for an example of what this looks like. Additionally, if the window was solid glass or separated into 2 sections, I would instead opt for only 2 blinds. Because visually 2 is less ‘busy’ than 3, when the window is in 1 solid or 2 separated sections.

As you can see, there’s no real secret to finding the cheapest prices on window blinds. But if you’re prepared, spend the time doing a little leg work and have patience, you’ll be sure to find a great deal on new window blinds for your entire home. It just comes down to how much work you are willing to do and whether or not you are willing to compromise. If you don’t mind shopping around and thinking outside the box, then you are sure to find the cheapest options in your area!

Do you have questions about the selecting or the installation of: tile, carpet or wall treatments (window blinds, etc)? Then email me your tale of woe (diva(at)homemakeoverdiva.com) and perhaps I will be able to answer your questions right here at the Home Makeover Diva Blog!