Measuring & Installing

Measure once and mount it right the first time

A treatment that is a half inch too narrow, brackets screwed into plain drywall or a rod that sits crooked can spoil an otherwise good purchase. Most returns and installation problems trace back to measuring the wrong part of the window or choosing hardware that does not suit the wall. Inside mounts and outside mounts need different measurements, and every window in a home can vary slightly.

The guides here show how to measure width, height and depth, take readings at several points and record them so nothing is mixed up. You will see how to find studs, choose anchors, level brackets and hang blinds, shades, curtain rods and shutters safely. When walls are hard to read, windows are very high or wide, or hardware must carry heavy drapes, hiring an installer is a sensible choice, and these pages help you decide when that makes sense.