So, you have decided to order our blinds for your windows.  Ordering from Blinds of Distinction is the convenient, cheap and very smart way to buy your blinds, but measuring for your new blinds can be an intimidating process.

Here you will find a detailed guide that will assist you in measuring up your windows correctly to allow your to place your order.

Step One:  Determine whether you are going to use an inside/recessed fitting or outside mount fitting for your new blinds.  Recessed mounting will allow the blinds to hang inside the frame of the window/recess without covering the moulding/wall that surrounds your windows.  An outside mount will attach the blinds to your wood trim or above it, so using that style will cause your trim to be covered.  Both types of mounting are acceptable and is purely your choice.

Further options include measuring for a window recess or if measuring for French doors, which are shown  below if you scroll down the page

Step Two:  Gather your equipment.  You'll need a metal tape measure to guarantee that your measurements will be exact.  You'll also need a pencil and paper on which to record your measurements. Sketching out your windows before measuring can provide you with an easy place to record each dimension.

Measuring Tips:

1. Always use a metal tape measure. Cloth or plastic may stretch and provide inaccurate measurements.

2. Record measurements in cm only. If you have measured in inches, please use our convertor and convert inches to cm.

3. Record measurements Width first, Drop second (W x H). Be careful not to transpose measurements.

4. Take all your measurements to the nearest millimetre.

5. Measure all windows, even if they look alike.

6. Double check all measurements. Your blinds are custom made to your specific window size to ensure proper fit.

7. If you have any questions when measuring, please call us on 0845 83 82 81 9 for our staff to guide you through the process that will guarantee a professional fit.

INSIDE RECESS (within the Frame of your window)

          [ example of a blind in recess ]                                      [ illustration of measuring for inside recess ]

1. Start at the inside edge of the trim and measure the width to the opposite inside edge.

2. Repeat this 3 times, at the TOP, MIDDLE and BOTTOM of the window, and make a note of each on your paper pad.

3. Now measure the drop (height) from the top inside edge of the trim and measure this down to the sill of your window.

4. Repeat this 3 times, at the LEFT, CENTRE and RIGHT sides, making a note on the dimensions.

PROVIDE US WITH THE NARROWEST WIDTH AND SHORTEST DROP FOR EACH WINDOW IN CM.

PLEASE ADVISE US THAT THE DIMENSION PROVIDED IS FOR INSIDE RECESS.

Do not make any reductions to what you have measured. We will make all the deductions necessary to ensure that the blind we supply you will fit into your window recess.

OUTSIDE RECESS (Blind size outside of the Frame of your window)

   [ example of a blind outside of the recess ]                           [ illustration of measuring for outside recess ]

1. Start by measuring the width of the window from left to right.

2. Make a note of the width and then please add on +10cm (5 cm for each side for overlap).

3. Now measure the drop (height) from the top down to the sill of your window.

4. Make a note of the drop and then please add on at least +10cm (5 cm for both top and bottom for overlap). You can of course add on more if you wish, but we suggest this is adequate to stop light coming in from the sides and provide space at the top for the head rail to mount.

PROVIDE US WITH THE ACTUAL WIDTH + 10cm AND ACTUAL DROP + 10cm FOR EACH WINDOW IN CM.

PLEASE ADVISE US THAT THE DIMENSION PROVIDED IS FOR OUTSIDE RECESS or please state BLIND SIZE.

Please note that this blind will arrive to you at the size you have stated and no deduction has been made for brackets, and as such, the brackets will be mounted outside the size you have provided.

BAY WINDOWS (showing a 3 part bay as an example)

1. To start, let us focus on the widths. You are advised to cut out 3 pieces of cardboard or equivalent (labelled A, B & C) The lengths of the cut outs is not important. However the Depths are.

For 25mm slat blinds, your cardboard pieces should be 4.0cm in depth.

For 35mm slat blinds, your cardboard pieces should be 5.0cm in depth.

For 50mm slat blinds, your cardboard pieces should be 6.5cm in depth.

For 70mm slat blinds, your cardboard pieces should be 8.5cm in depth.

2. Position the cut out pieces as per illustration on the window sill. It is important to position "B" & "C" so that the inner edges do not touch or overlap each other so as to ensure that your blinds fit your window professionally.

3. The distance between the far left of "A" and the far Right of "B" is the width of the first window blind. Make a note of this size in cm.

4. Move cut out "A" to the far right side of the second window, so that you have the layout as "B", "C" & "A". The distance between "C" & the new "A" is the width of the second blind. Make a note of this size in cm.

5. Now move cut out "B" to the left side of window 3 and move cut out "C" to the far right of window 3, so you have a layout as new "A", "B" & "C". Make sure that the inner edge of the new "A" position cut out and the inner edge of the new "B" position cut out do not touch or overlap so as to ensure a perfect fit.

6. The distance between the new  "B" & the new "C" is the width of the third blind. Make a note of this size in cm.

7. The Drops should be measured individually for each window. Mark where you want the top of the blind to be, making sure you have at least 5 cm above the glass area for the brackets to mount and mark the base to the sill for recess positions or +5cm if fitting outside the recess position

8. Now measure the drop (height) from the top marked position  down to the bottom sill of your window, making a note on the dimensions in cm

9. For bay windows with multiple parts, repeat the process for all the parts to your bay.

PROVIDE US WITH THE  WIDTH AND  DROP FOR EACH WINDOW IN CM.

PLEASE ADVISE US THAT THE DIMENSION PROVIDED IS FOR BAY RECESS.

Do not make any reductions to what you have measured. We will make a 1.5cm deductions to ensure that the brackets will fit your blind size within the size you have provided.

FRENCH DOORS (over the glass area)

    [ example of a blind ]                     [ illustration of measuring ]

1. Start by measuring the width of the glass area from left to right. Do not go wider than the inside edge of the door handle plate.

2. Make a note of the width in cm..

3. Now measure the drop (height) from the top of the glass area to the bottom of the glass area.

4. Make a note of the drop and then please add on at least +10cm (5 cm for both top and bottom for overlap). You can of course add on more if you wish, but we suggest this is adequate to allow the head rail to mount.

PROVIDE US WITH THE ACTUAL WIDTH AND SECONDLY THE ACTUAL DROP + 10cm FOR EACH DOOR IN CM.

PLEASE ADVISE US THAT THE DIMENSION PROVIDED IS FOR DOOR or please state DOOR BLIND SIZE.

Please note that this blind will arrive to you at the size you have stated and no deduction will have been made for brackets, and as such, the brackets will be mounted outside the size you have provided which is fine for the door, or you will have the space to the sides of the head rail to mount the 2mm brackets.