Mounting Brackets for Roman Shades

About Roman Shades

• Roman shades are typically made of fabric that provides complete privacy for windows with a mechanism that lifts the shade from the bottom in a neat, pleated fold. Roman shades may have a flat profile, completely flush with the wall surface, or may be softly scalloped. Austrian-type shades offer a more gathered, textured look that is suitable for more traditional décor styles. One advantage of Roman shades is their versatility. They are available in a wide range of fabrics, prints and textures, as well as in wood and other natural materials, including bamboo. All Roman shades are installed basically in the same way on mounting brackets that fit on top of window molding or within the window opening.

Installing Roman Shades

• The installation area for Roman shades must be measured carefully before purchase. Decorators have two options for installation: the inside of the window frame or the outside. Choosing which is right for your window depends on whether you want the window frame to show or keep it hidden behind the shades.

Outside Frame Installation

• The outside mounting method allows the most amount of light to enter the room when the shade is raised. For this installation, measure the width of the window from the outside of the frame. Then measure the length of the window from outside the top frame to the window sill. Finally, measure the space from the top of the window trim to the ceiling. Also measure the depth of the trim if it is trimmed in wood. Add 4 inches to the width of the shade to allow it to cover the trim properly. The mounting board can be placed on top of the wood trim at the top if the trim is shallow enough. Otherwise, you must attach the mounting board above the trim. The shade mounting brackets are then attached to the mounting board at the top.

Inside Frame Installation

• For inside installation, measure the width and length of the opening inside the frame. Measure the depth at the top of the window where the mounting board will be attached. It should be at least 3/4-inch deep, according to Terrell Designs. If it is less than this amount, you cannot use an inside mounting method. The mounting board is then attached to the top, inside the frame of the window and the shade mounting bracket attached to the board.