Installing Window Blinds

All window blinds should come with factory instructions. We recommend you follow those instructions to avoid any blind installation tragedies. But if you picked your window blinds up on the black market or there was a packing error and you don't speak Hungarian, then welcome to our horizontal window blinds installation guide.

Mounting Methods
We'll begin under the assumption that you were able to get the blinds out of the box all by yourself. You've probably also determined whether you're going to use an outside mount or an inside mount. In either case, we begin with the headrail.

For outside mounts, place the headrail where you wish to mount it and be sure it's level and centered. Then use a pencil to make reference marks just below the headrail on each end and about 1/4-inch beside each end.

For inside mounts, make sure the headrail is level, even if the window is out of square. Use your pencil to make reference marks below each end.

You Bought It, You Bracket
Now it's time to mount the brackets. Make sure you use proper screws (we thought this meant well-mannered British screws but apparently it means properly sized screws). Some people prefer to pre-drill their mounting holes. Some people also eat foie gras. We're not here to pass judgment.

Brackets should already be marked "left" and "right" or "L" and "R." Use two screws per bracket. Position the brackets using your pencil marks (for outside mounts it's the marks a 1/4-inch out from each end). You'll have a choice of four holes when mounting. We recommend going top left/bottom right or top right/bottom left for maximum stability.

If center support brackets are provided, space them evenly along the headrail and be sure they're level with the end brackets.

An act of Valance

Before you install your blinds, attach the valance clip/s to the front lip of the headrail. We have no idea what that means either. Just kidding. The valance clip is the little accessory that looks like a seahorse skeleton and holds the valance in place. You've probably been referring to the valance as "that cover thingy."

Once the valance clips are attached, you're ready to insert the headrail into the end brackets. Obviously the hinged swivel plates on the brackets need to be open for this to work. After the headrail is in place, press the bracket cover plates down until they snap (snap as in click, not go berserk).

The job should be done. If the blind is fitting too tightly or too loosely, try pulling the headrail back out and tinkering with the tabs on its ends. Press them in or pull them out a bit as necessary.