Installing Horizontal Blinds

Horizontal wood blinds are quite simple to install. Follow these instructions and the job will be done before you know it.

What you need

The following tools will make your job much easier. All can be had at your local hardware store.

  1. Drill (cordless is best)
  2. 1/4" hex-head socket
  3. 1/8" drill bit for wood/metal
  4. Flathead screwdriver
  5. (optional) Quick-change drill bit holder attachment
Tools - the necessities

Preparation and Setup

Unpack the blinds from their boxes. Each blind should be labeled with (among other things) the room and window you assigned it when you placed your order. Place all of the blinds near their assigned windows.

Unpack the box of hardware and take stock. You should have a pair of brackets for each blind, plenty of screws, and valence clips. You may want to take the time right now to place a pair of brackets and four screws (two for each bracket) in each window.

Install the Brackets

The front side of the bracket swings open. Open it by pushing up on the bottom of the bracket and pulling on the front as shown in the photo at right. If the bracket refuses to open you can persuade it with a flathead screwdriver.

Open the bracket

Hold the bracket up to the window with the front edge recessed about a quarter to a half inch into the window. Mark the top left and bottom right holes, and set the bracket aside.

Hold the bracket up in the proper position

Pre-drill the holes you marked, then switch your bit to the 1/4" hex-head socket (or, if you opted not to use a quick-change attachment, you may find it easier to drill all of your holes before switching the bit to the socket). Hold the bracket up to the holes you just drilled and screw the bracket in place.

Note that only two screws are required per bracket. The bracket has four holes for convenience. If you make a mistake, don't panic—you can use the other set of holes.

Special Situations

These situations come up in many (but not all) installations.

Studless Drywall

Watch out for empty space beneath the drywall; this happens frequently in garage windows. You will know if this is the case because your drill will meet with no resistance as it bores through the drywall. You can install blinds in the drywall but you will need drywall anchors to hold the screws in place. Simply screw the anchor into the wall with a phillips-head screwdriver attachment, then screw the bracket into the anchors as you would normally.

Center Supports

Some very wide blinds require a center support. To install the center support, simply screw it to the top of the window frame with two screws placed in diagonally opposite corners. If the blind has a string in the center, mount the center support to the right of center.

Outside Mount

When installing outside mount blinds, you use the holes in the back of the bracket to attach it to the front face of the wall. We recommend you use a level to ensure the headrail is level as this guarantees the best appearance and operation. Note also that drywall anchors are commonly needed for outside mount blinds.

Multiple Blinds

Some very large windows need to have two or three blinds placed in them. To install these blinds, first mount the outermost brackets against the side of the window frame as you normally would. Stick one end of a blind in the bracket you just mounted, then place the other bracket on the blind and mark its position on the top of the window. Put the blind aside for now.

Align the bracket to your mark and mount it to the top of the window frame. You may need to use a phillips-head screwdriver to reach up through the holes in the bottom of the bracket and tighten the screws. Mount the other bracket back-to-back with the one you just installed to complete the installation.

Concrete

If you are installing blinds in a basement window, you may meet concrete beneath the drywall instead of wood. In such situations, you will need to use a specialized drill bit made for masonry and concrete. When shopping for such bits, make sure not to buy those made for hammer drills (unless you happen to have one); such bits have a flat, chisel-like tip and do not work with regular drills.

Hang the Blinds

Your blinds were shipped to you with the control cords inserted into the top of the headrail. Remove them (the cords, not their mechanisms) before proceeding. Now, clip some valence clips to the front side of the headrail. The number to use varies based on the length of the blind.

With the cords removed and the valence clips in place, you are ready to hang your blind. Simply lift the blind by the headrail and insert it into the brackets. Close the front of the brackets and push until they click securely into place. Some brackets are stubborn and require a good whack with the butt end of a screwdriver to click into place.

Once the blind is in the brackets, hang the valences by inserting the top (the thicker part) of the valence into the clips and pushing on the bottom until it clicks into place.

Congratulations, you're done! Enjoy your blinds!