Roman shades are some of the most commonly used window treatments in America, and for good reason.
Along with being elegant, they are also very reasonably priced and can take a boring and bland room to a beautiful room in just a few short minutes.
This guide will show you the easy and quick way to install Roman shades in your home all by yourself by using just a few simple tools.
The first step you should take before you even purchase your Roman shade is to measure the window you are installing the shade in.
Now, depending on whether you are installing an inside mount shade or an outside mount shade, you may need two different sets of measurements.
For inside mount Roman shades, you'll need to measure from inside corner to inside corner, both going across the top of the window and also across the bottom of the window.
Be sure to write down both measurements for later use.
When purchasing your shades, you will want to be sure to use the narrower of the two measurements to ensure proper fit.
For outside mount Roman shades, you have a little more leeway in your shade's measurement.
To get the proper measurement, measure from the outside top corner of one end of your window frame and measure to the opposite outside corner of the other end.
This measurement will be your maximum shade width.
For your second measurement, measure from inside corner to inside corner along the top of your window frame.
This measurement will be your minimum shade width.
Ideally, the shade's width you purchase will fall somewhere between the two measurements you took and will give you ideal fit for your new Roman shade.
After you've decided on inside mount or outside mount Roman shades, and you've purchased the correct sized shade for your window, now it's time to install your shade.
The first thing you will need to do is to remove any existing window treatment hardware that is left over from your old blinds or shades.
This will ensure that your new Roman shades will be able to operate correctly after you install them.
If you do not have existing hardware, you can skip this step.
Next, you'll want to remove your new shade and hardware from its packaging and lay it out on a clean workspace.
To familiarize yourself completely with your shade's installation process, be sure to read any printed installation materials that may have been provided to you by the manufacturer.
Now before you continue, you will need some small tools to install your new shade.
You will need a tape measure and a screw driver (or cordless drill, if you have one); now's a great time to make those tools readily available.
Now to the installation: The first step is to take your shade and hold it up to your window frame and position it where you would like it to be installed.
Next, with a pencil, make a mark about 2 ½" to 3" in from each edge of your blind - this is where your mounting hardware will be installed.
Now, with your screwdriver or cordless drill, line your mounting hardware up with the pencil lines you just made and use the provided screws to anchor down the mounting hardware tight to your window frame.
When that is complete, simply lift your Roman shade up to the mounting hardware and slide the mounting brackets into the correct slots on the shade - you may hear a click on some shades if done correctly.
The final step is to test your shades.
Simply grab the raising and lowering cord on your shade and gently lower your shade until it reaches the bottom of your window.
If it looks good and is properly aligned - congratulations, you're finished! If it is not properly aligned, or looks crooked, remove the shade from the mounting hardware and readjust until your shade is in correct alignment.
Installing Roman shades in your home can sound like a daunting task, but don't stress, it is a lot easier than it seems.
With just a few simple tools and some patience, you can have beautiful Roman shades adorning any room in your home today!