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Made to Measure
Window shades can be an excellent alternative to curtains, especially in rooms where you want to be able to control the light. Roman shades are great for privacy and can be the ideal choice for bedroom and living room windows.
Choose your Shade
If you're opting for shades, it's important to take specific measurements of your windows. This blog will take you through how to measure for shades, whether your windows have deep, shallow or no recesses.
At Graham & Brown, we sell two of the most popular types of shades: roller shades and roman shades.
The difference between these shades is the way in which they extend - roller shades can be rolled and unrolled, whereas roman shades fold upwards and downwards in pleats. They are also made from different fabrics: roller shade fabric is stiffer and has a blackout coating applied, and roman shades are soft with an extra lining to make them blackout.
You can choose between two stacking finishes when ordering shades from Graham & Brown - the stacked finish, where fabric neatly stacks behind itself, and the waterfall finish, where the fabric cascades when in the open position.
Both our roller shades and roman shades use a pulley mechanism, operated by a chain.
1. Only use a metal measuring tape and record your measurements in cm.
2. Measurements must be accurate for a perfect fit. We will make the necessary allowances to ensure the shade fits the window/door*.
3. Decide on how you want the shade fitted – ‘inside mount’ is within the window/door frame or ‘outside mount’ is to your desired point on the wall outside of the window/door frame.
If you are opting for a blackout shade and you would like it to sit as close to the wall as possible, we advise that you order an ‘outside mount’ fit shade instead of an ‘inside mount’ shade.
4. Always measure the width first (across the window) and then the drop (top to bottom) in 3 places.
5. Record your measurements in the same order.
6. Look for any obstructions such as handles and ensure you leave enough room in front and there is enough space for the shade to fit into the inside mount.
7. Finally, re-check your width and drop measurements to ensure accuracy. For more information on measurements and tolerances, please refer to the FAQ page.
*Please note :
Inside mount roman shades: 1-1.2cm will be removed from the overall width and drop so the shade fits comfortably. Please note, the gap between the edge of the fabric and the edge of the cassette is roughly 3mm on each side.
Inside mount roller shades: 1-1.2cm will be removed off the width only. If you have selected a cassette, the width of the shade will be the width of the cassette and not the width of the fabric.
Cassette roller shades: the gap between the edge of the fabric is roughly 2.5cm on the control side, and 2cm on the non-control side.
If you want your shade to be a certain length, then please choose an outside mount measurement shade.
If your window has a deep inside mount, a shade will fit comfortably flush against the window whilst still leaving you room on the sill. However, if you have window handles or anything that protrudes on the inside of the window, you will need to leave a small space.
Deep inside mount - width measurement
Use a metal tape measure to measure the width of the inner mount. Take three measurements - one inside the inside mount at the top, one in the middle, and one along the inside of the sill at the bottom. Take the shortest measurement as your width. Please note that your width measurement quoted is the total product width including the mechanism.
Deep inside mount - drop measurement
For the length, or drop, again take three measurements - one down the right side, one down the middle, and one down the left. Take the shortest measurement as your drop and order your shade as an inside mount measurement. Graham & Brown will then make an allowance to ensure the shade fits into the inside mount.
If you don't have a window with an inside mount (recess), or it is quite shallow, your shades will need to hang outside the mount (recess).
Shallow or no inside mount - width measurement
Use a metal tape measure to measure the width of the window from outside the mount and add 20cm (7.874in) to the result, to allow for a 10cm (3.937in) overlap on either side. Take three measurements - one across the top, one across the middle and one across the bottom. Use the largest measurement as your width. Please note that your width measurement quoted is the total product width including the mechanism.
Shallow or no mount - drop measurement
For the drop, measure from the top of the outside of your mount, down to as far as you'd like your shades to hang. Add 10cm (3.937in) to this measurement and record the figure as your drop.
Not sure about shades? Check out our guide to measuring your windows for curtains.
To create a perfect fit please follow the step-by-step guides:
1. Find the head rail depth of your chosen shade below.
Roller Classic: 2.17in (55mm)
Roller Cassette: 3.15in (80mm)
Roman Classic: 1.89in (48mm)
Roman Cassette: 3.15in (80mm)
Please note :
Note: If window handles protrude, take the measurement of the projection and add to each of the three measurements (if applicable).The trick to measuring angled bays is to make a template. Follow our step-by-step guide:
1. Find the head rail depth of your chosen shade below:
Roller Classic: 2.17in (55mm)
Roller Cassette: 3.15in (80mm)
Roman Classic: 1.89in (48mm)
Roman Cassette: 3.15in (80mm)
TIP! For both the width and drop measurements, measure in three places for each window. For the width, measure top, middle and bottom and for the drop measure left, middle and right. Your window might not be even, so always give us the smallest measurement.
Bring effortless style to every room with our range of plain roman and roller shades. Choose from a wide mix of colors and finishes, from calming blues to purple and green shades that elevate any space.
Inspired by the outdoors, our leaf‑patterned blinds bring natural texture and color into your home. Available in soft neutrals or vibrant shades, they’re designed to introduce fresh, uplifting tones to any room.
Express your style with our floral shades. Whether you prefer elegant, traditional florals or contemporary ditsy and abstract designs, each pattern brings color and character to your home.
Add personality to your space with our animal print shades. These bold designs bring playful sophistication to living areas, bedrooms and children’s rooms, introducing character in a stylish, standout way.