Roman shades bring warmth and structure to a space, but the right fit is what makes them feel truly custom. Whether you’re drawn to the tailored look of an inside mount or prefer the added coverage and flexibility of an outside mount, understanding how each option works will help ensure a polished, custom-fit result. Below, we break down the key differences between inside and outside mounts and walk you step-by-step through how to measure accurately, so your roman shades look beautiful and function perfectly from day one.
Determine Mount Style
Inside Mount:
Choose an Inside Mount for a clean, streamlined look that highlights your window molding and preserves sill space on deeper windows. Keep in mind that inside mounts have a few limitations: when fully raised, the shade will partially obstruct the view, and small light gaps will occur. They also aren’t suitable for windows with obtrusive handles or cranks. Adequate depth is required for the cordless mechanism—1.5" for shades up to 60", and 2.5" for any shade over 60" in width or height.
Outside Mount:
Choose an Outside Mount for greater privacy and light control, ideal coverage for non-square windows, and a less obstructed view when the shade is fully raised. This option can clear obtrusive window handles or cranks, enlarge the look of a smaller window, and even conceal existing window molding. For outside mount installation, you must have at least 2-4” above the window molding to install brackets and install shade easily.
Measuring for Inside Mount
Step 01. Measure Depth
For an inside mount, begin by measuring the depth of the window. The minimum depth required for an inside mount is 1.5”. If your shade will be larger than 60” in height or width, the minimum depth required is 2.5”. If your window does not meet this criteria, consider trying an outside mount.
Step 02. Measure Width
Measure the width of the window at 3 points inside the window casing – top, middle, bottom; use the narrowest measurement. Round up to the nearest ⅛”. The factory will make an automatic deduction of ½”. The minimum width of the shade needs to be 18” and maximum width is 96”.
Step 03: Measure Height
Measure height of the window at 3 points inside the window casing – left, center, right; use the longest measurement to the nearest ¼”. The minimum height is 24” and maximum height is 108”.
Measuring for Outside Mount
Step 01: Determine Mounting Location
First you want to determine the mounting location–on molding or above. Take into account molding style/shape.
Step 02: Measure Width
Measure width of the window at 3 points–top, middle, bottom. Use the widest measurement including the molding. Use exact measurement rounding up to the nearest ⅛”. Add a minimum of 2” (1” to each side) based on available space and desired light control. The minimum width of the shade needs to be 18” and maximum width is 96”.
Step 03: Measure Height
Measure the height of the area you want to cover from the top of the window (including molding) or window opening down to the sill–or lower if you prefer extra overlap for added light control and privacy. If you plan to mount the shade above the window molding, include both the molding height and an additional 2–4" to allow space for mounting hardware. You need at least 2" above the molding to install the shade. For thicker molding that protrudes from the wall, we suggest 3-4”. Record exact measurement to the nearest ¼”. The minimum height is 24” and maximum height is 108”.
Step 04: Measure Depth
Now you’re going to determine the shade depth. Shades up to 60” will have the standard headrail depth of 1.5”. Any shade over 60” (width or height) will have a headrail depth of 2.5”. Larger outside mount shades will have more light leakage unless extra width is added. If ordering several shades with different sizes for the same room, make sure you are consistent with the shade depth.
View our installation instructions here!
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Always use a steel tape measure. Cloth ones can stretch.
- Double-check measurements. Measure twice, order once!
- Record width x height (W x H) in that order to prevent confusion.
- If you need assistance, contact customer service! We're here to help.
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