The popularity of Roman blinds is explained by their compactness, practicality and attractive appearance. They do not take up space, protect well from sunlight entering the room, and are easy to use and install. Information on how to hang a Roman blind with your own hands (with step-by-step instructions, photos and a list of necessary tools) will be useful not only for those who decide to install a curtain rod for the first time, but also for experienced craftsmen.
Design features and mechanisms of Roman blinds
When unfolded, a Roman blind is a single piece of fabric that can be gathered upward, forming even horizontal folds. It can be fixed at any required level.
The lifting mechanism consists of rings sewn on the back of the fabric and a system of cords. The evenness of the assembly is given by cords - plates located horizontally. There are special pockets for them.
There are 3 types of Roman roller blinds:
- frame;
- frameless;
- cascading.
There are no plates in frameless curtains, so the assemblies formed during lifting have a sagging appearance. And the last type is notable for the fact that folds are formed in any position, even on a completely lowered canvas.
The lower cut of the fabric has a weighting agent that promotes tension in the fabric.
Types of fastening
Depending on the owner’s wishes, Roman curtains can be attached:
- on the sash;
- on the frame;
- into the opening;
- on the wall;
- on the ceiling.
The sash mount leaves the window sill open even when the curtain is closed and allows you to open the window without hindrance.
For fixed windows, mounting on a frame is preferable. In this case, the window sill also remains free.
When installing a lifting curtain in a window opening, the curtain is placed in the same plane as the wall. When lowered, it completely or partially covers the window sill.
A large one-piece curtain is attached to the wall above the window or to the ceiling. In this way, they hide the shortcomings of the window opening - uneven slopes or scratches - and visually increase its volume.
The required number of fasteners is calculated based on the number of sections.
In order not to make a mistake with the size of the curtain for mounting inside the opening, you need to measure the width of the window in 3 places: top, bottom and middle. Then subtract 2-3 mm from the minimum value. This will be the width of the future product. The length of the canvas is calculated by measuring the distance from the intended location of the cornice to the maximum lowering level.
When installing a curtain on a sash, you should take into account the location of the window fittings: the lowered curtain should not touch it.
For wall and ceiling mounting, the canvas should protrude 5-7 cm beyond the boundaries of the window opening.
Using cornices
Often complete with Roman curtains there is a cornice with all the components. In other cases, it is purchased in the same place where the curtains themselves are purchased. The cornice is an aluminum or plastic profile equipped with a control unit and a height adjustment mechanism.
For wall or ceiling mounting, choose models with a length of 1.1 to 2.5 m. If the curtain will be hung on the sash, use a smaller version of the cornice. It can be purchased ready-made or made to order.
According to the type of control, curtain rods are:
- manual, controlled by a cord system;
- mechanical, with a rotary-chain device;
- with automatic regulation.
Electric models are indispensable in rooms with high ceilings or in rooms where access to the window is limited. The electric curtain rod can support curtains of any size and weight, has a silent mode for raising/lowering the curtain, convenient remote control, but its cost is quite high.
Velcro fastening
“Velcro” is a special Velcro adhesive tape, one side of which is attached to the curtain rod, the other to the canvas on the wrong side. The tape is sewn or glued onto the fabric.
The advantage of this type of fastening is the ability to quickly install/dismantle the curtains.
Useful tips
When planning to place Roman blinds, you need to pay attention to a number of nuances that may affect their further comfortable use.
- It is better to hang not one wide curtain, but two small curtains on a wide window. They can be assembled smoothly and have more options for adjusting the lighting. To see what is happening outside the window, just lift part of the curtain a little.
- When choosing a mounting method, make sure that you can then open the windows without obstacles. Please note that the fabric will not be raised to the level of the cornice - the folds will form additional volumes.
- When you have narrow window sills, this means that fixing inside the window openings will not be convenient. Choose the normal method.
- If you plan to install curtains that have an automatic control type, they should be placed exclusively above the openings; in other cases, boxes with mechanisms will be too bulky.
- If a Roman blind is to serve as a room divider, you need to ensure that when slightly lowered it will not block access to furniture and the passage.
- When you want to fully open the window space for direct sunlight, fix the cornices 15-20 centimeters above the openings.
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Nowadays, curtains with ties are increasingly hung on thin curtain rods. It will only be inconvenient when washing - you will have to untie each of the ribbons. The universalism of Roman blinds is reflected in their fasteners. Hanging them is often easier than making a choice. With the necessary strengthening, curtains will be a worthy addition and refreshment to your interiors.
Installation Features
There are 2 ways to install cornices:
- by drilling holes for installing holders;
- without drilling, using additional fasteners.
To fasten a short body, 2 holes along the edges are enough; for longer products, drill 1 more hole in the middle of the future structure.
Step-by-step instructions for wall mounting a cornice
Tools and materials used:
- cornice;
- building level;
- roulette;
- pencil;
- drill or hammer drill;
- dowels and screws;
- screwdriver or screwdriver.
Actions step by step:
- Place the cornice in the wall, placing its ends at the same distance from the window, and make marks for future fastenings. Align them by level.
- Drill holes and insert dowels into them.
- Screw the cornice profile. If there are more than 2 screws, then they should be tightened after all fasteners are seated.
- Insert the cornice.
Ceiling mounting is similar to wall mounting. The cornice is placed flush with the top edge of the window or parallel to it. For intra-frame installation, the holes are made closer to the outer corners.
All that remains is to check whether the curtain works correctly: raise, fix and lower.
Further care of the window product consists of periodic dry cleaning, and if it is heavily soiled, it can be washed by first removing the cords. Then the curtain should be collected and dried.
DIY curtain and cornice
If the curtain was sewn yourself, you can hang it on a cornice, also made by yourself. Its manufacture is not difficult.
You need to take a wooden strip of small cross-section, the length of which will be equal to the width of the curtain, and Velcro tape, which ensures that the material sticks to the curtain rod.
The bar can be painted, wrapped in fabric that matches the color and pattern of the curtain material, or a cover can be made for it from wallpaper.
Then it is attached to the wall, and Velcro is glued to the outer part. The second part of the tape is fixed at the upper edge of the cut on the wrong side.
It is easy to care for such products: they can be easily removed, shaken out and hung again on the curtain rod.
How to hang a Roman blind inside a window opening?
Scheme for taking the dimensions of a window opening.
First you need to take careful measurements of the window opening, and this task will not be completed quickly. There is advice that you should take measurements at the top, bottom and middle parts of the window and choose the smallest of them. So, they say, the curtain will function correctly. It would be more logical to check the verticality of the side planes of the opening and, if it is violated, make an alignment. When the side walls of the opening are located at a deviation from the vertical, the Roman blind will only emphasize this defect and will itself look extremely unaesthetic.
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So, the window opening is in proper condition, and its height can be measured. This is the size you will have to buy a Roman blind or make it yourself. By the way, when choosing colors, you should not pay attention to too bright colors, as is often recommended under the guise of another fashion trend. Everything in the room should look like a single whole, so we choose a Roman blind taking into account our own taste and the overall interior of the room.
Now we will place the curtain in the window opening. And again, let's use a ruler: it is necessary to take measurements from the window fittings so that the curtain does not touch them during its operation. It is recommended to hang Roman blinds at a distance of 5 cm deep from the plane of the wall. This way you will provide free space for the curtains to work. And from the outside it will look stylish. But “deep” planting should be avoided - the room will seem wider, but also emptier.
For precise fastening, you should step back from the edge of the upper cut of the window at the specified distance and make markings along which you will later make holes for the brackets. Brackets for curtains are made in various configurations, so the exact location of their fastening is very individual. We always act according to the situation.
Diagram of a cornice for Roman blinds.
But when purchasing, you should carefully consider the brackets for the location of the attachment points. Their close relative placement should alert you: if the walls are made of not very durable material, then the fastening with this arrangement will be unreliable. After attaching the brackets, you can hang the Roman blinds according to the instructions included with them.
Note that it is not always possible to hang Roman blinds inside a window (or door) opening, since the load-bearing structural elements of the entire structure are most often located in these places. This leads to the conclusion that it is better to place the curtain near the window opening.
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Combination of curtains with tulle
Roman models combine well with tulle. You can use this element of window decoration in any room of the house: in the living room, bedroom, nursery, kitchen and loggia. The photos below demonstrate various options for combining tulle with lifting curtains, differing in color, texture and style.
A double curtain looks interesting, where one sheet protects from the sun, and the other, less dense, serves as tulle. It is better to install such products on a wall or ceiling. When marking the places where the curtain rod is attached for a double curtain, you should take into account its width.
Hanging Roman blinds on a plastic window
In addition to the above examples of installing curtains, there are other ways to attach them.
Mounting options
Option 1 (on the wall above the window).
You can use an existing standard curtain rod and hang a Roman curtain on it with hinges. To do this, a special tape is sewn along its upper edge. If such a fastening seems unaesthetic, it can be decorated with accessories or a lambrequin.
Another way is to use a special frame, which allows you to decorate the window with 2 types of curtains at the same time.
Option 2 (in the opening).
To install the lifting cloth in the window opening, you can use a sliding rod, which is often used in the bathroom. It is threaded through the drawstring of a Roman curtain, thereby completely hiding it from view.
Option 3 (on a movable sash).
The canvas is hung on the movable sash using special brackets. This allows you to avoid drilling, maintain the integrity of the plastic window and easily change the interior in the future without fear of unsightly holes.
Types of holders for installing Roman blinds:
- Self-attaching. Using screws and nuts, the brackets are fixed to the fasteners and connected to the cornice. The structure is then put on the frame using plastic hooks.
- Universal. The installation diagram is similar to the previous one. The difference is that the mounted brackets are secured with mounted screws and closed with caps.
- Self-adhesive. The assembled holder is glued to a previously degreased frame.
Such holders are sold in curtain stores in packs of 2. in a pack, which allows you to hang 1 curtain. If there are several opening doors, it is better to purchase the required number of packages with a reserve. An additional spare part will be useful in case of breakdown or defect.
Option 4 (for a sloping window).
For non-standard or inclined windows, Skos cornices with 2 guides are used. They are installed either in the window opening or on each sash.
Installing a Roman structure on a stationary window
Methods for installing such a product on a stationary window are also not difficult. First of all, you should decide on the location of the brackets on which the cornice will be installed.
After this, you need to make a hole using a hammer drill and, using a screwdriver, install the brackets. Everything must be done without haste and with preliminary clear markings. Once the brackets are installed, you can attach the curtain rod itself. It must be tightly secured so that it does not accidentally fall during constant use.
Next, you should install the board into the frame. It should be tightly fixed on it. It can be attached in two ways, using either double-sided tape or by drilling.
For the first approach, you need to cut out the double-sided tape of the required size and stick it to the board. Then fix directly to the frame. Or use a drill and screwdriver to place the board in the window gap. The same thing needs to be done on the other side. Then install the string tensioner, which will adjust the curtain.
After all the manipulations described above, the string should be threaded through the tensioner ear. Put a fastener on top to prevent the thread from wandering. Next, it is recommended to immediately determine the optimal string length. Then make a loop and install the clamp in the tensioner.
At the last stage you need to install a plug. The same steps should be done on the other side. Once the curtain is installed, it is recommended to test it by straightening and folding it several times.
A properly secured version does not dangle. Attaching Roman blinds to plastic windows is not difficult. A properly installed product will protect from excess sunlight and will last for many years.
Video of installation of a roll structure with drilling:
You may also be interested in: How to hang a cornice yourself?
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