Inside or outside blind mounts: plan the fit before you order

Minimum depth does not mean a flush fit

Find the measuring guide for the exact product and configuration, including its control system and valance. Minimum mounting depth and fully recessed depth describe different things: a blind may have enough room for its brackets while its headrail or decorative valance still projects beyond the opening.

LEVOLOR’s custom real-wood and faux-wood technical guide distinguishes these positions and lists different dimensions for different slat sizes. Use the applicable specification rather than a depth number borrowed from another blind. Measure usable space with locks, tracks and other projections accounted for.

Check the opening in more than one place

Record each window separately, even when a row of windows looks identical. Check width at the top, middle and bottom, and height at the left, center and right. Keep the individual readings in your notes; the selected product’s instructions determine which ones become the order dimensions.

Diagonal measurements help reveal an opening that is out of square. If readings vary, have the supplier or installer assess the fit before ordering. An outside mount can accommodate an uneven opening more readily, but it still needs suitable mounting space and a planned coverage area.

Allow room for the window and blind to move

A depth measurement alone does not describe everything that moves. Note where handles, cranks and locks project, including their operating positions. Flag windows that swing or tilt inward so the proposed blind position can be checked against that movement.

For slatted blinds, also confirm clearance when the slats tilt, not just when they hang closed. Include the lift control and the raised blind in the fit discussion. Photos of the full window, its hardware and nearby trim give the supplier useful context alongside your measurements.

Decide how much edge light is acceptable

Inside-mounted coverings need operating clearance, so light can remain visible around their edges. If darkness is a priority, ask about the complete product and its edge treatment; a mount choice alone does not establish the room’s final light level.

An outside mount can provide more overlap around the opening. Plan that overlap using the selected product’s guide, then check nearby doors, cabinets and adjacent windows. Choose the intended top and bottom positions too, especially where you want the raised blind to sit above the view.

Keep opening size and ordered size separate

Manufacturers may adjust an inside-mount order to create operating clearance. For example, Bali’s wood and faux-wood guide tells customers to submit measurements without making their own clearance deductions. Subtracting an allowance yourself could duplicate the factory adjustment.

Outside-mount ordering also deserves a check. The ordered width, headrail width, blind width and valance width are not necessarily identical; LEVOLOR’s custom wood-blind guide lists separate adjustments for these components. Confirm exactly what the order field represents.

Before purchasing, keep one record per window with the model, mount type, measured opening, intended coverage and final order dimensions. If any measurement or deduction remains unclear, resolve it with the supplier before placing the order.