Should Roman Blinds be fitted inside or outside the recess?

Fitting Roman Blinds

Here at Norwich Sunblinds we love answering customer questions. One of the things we’re often asked is “Should Roman blinds be fitted inside or outside the recess?”

We need to consider the functionality and ask a series of questions based on how you want to use your blinds.

Our team are on hand to help with fitting Roman blinds and will advise you on the best options for your home.

In the meantime, here are some tips to make the whole topic of fitting Roman blinds less of a conundrum!

How to decide whether your Roman blinds should be inside or outside the recess

Made from furnishing and curtain fabrics, Roman blinds are the most luxurious of blinds and make a real style statement in any room.

Before fitting Roman blinds, we need to decide whether they will sit inside or outside the recess.

What is a recess?

Just in case you don’t know, you have a recess if your window doesn’t sit flush to the wall. The recess is the space between the glass and the inside wall. Recesses can vary in shape and size, there’s no one size-fits-all.

 

Questions to ask when fitting Roman blinds

Will I be wanting curtains as well as the blinds?

When fitting Roman blinds, you need to consider whether you want curtains as well.

Combining curtains with Roman blinds creates a sumptuous look and has the added bonus of creating a cosy feel in wintertime.

If it’s a yes to curtains, the Roman blind will need to be installed inside the recess, as there will be limited space outside the reveal, and you will want to avoid the curtains fouling on the blind.

Fitting Roman blinds inside the recess creates a neat and tidy effect.

•  Answer – Yes to curtains
• Solution – Fitting Roman blinds inside the recess

As an independent Norfolk business, we are not tied to any supplier; meaning you can choose from a wide variety of fabrics from today’s leading fabric companies.
You can view fabric samples during a home appointment or in our Attleborough Showroom.

Do you have a window with a long drop?

Fitting Roman blinds inside the recess will reduce light considerably.

When the blind is pulled up it will generally still take up about 20-30cm of your window. This is fine if you have a window with a long drop but if your window is less than 100cm, it will reduce the amount of light in the room.

If the answer is yes to a long drop, an inside recess fitting is fine.

You don’t need to worry about working this out when you order your Roman blinds from Norwich Sunblinds. We do all the measuring and fitting for you and will advise you on the best solution for installing your Roman blinds.

• Answer – Yes to a window with a long drop.
• Solution – Fitting Roman blinds inside the recess.

Do you want to darken the room?

If you want to darken the room, the Roman blind needs to be fitted inside the recess as close to the window as possible. When fitting Roman blinds, we would only allow a 1cm allowance in total to minimise light bleed.

A blackout lining is essential if having a dark room is a priority. However, because of stitch lines and small gaps at the side, the blind will still let in a small amount of light.

Your Roman blinds will be made to measure by craftspeople in Norfolk ensuring a perfect fit.

• Answer – Yes to wanting to darken the room.
• Solution – Fitting Roman blinds inside the recess.

Do you want to prevent loss of light?

Fitting Roman blinds outside the recess not only dresses the window but if they are installed higher up, the amount of light lost is much less.

If you like to display a lot of ornaments on the windowsill, fitting blinds on the outside will be a better option for you.

Here at Norwich Sunblinds, we would normally recommend measuring half-way between the top of the window and the ceiling for a fixing point and at least 5cm over each side.

Windowsills are often 7.5cm wider than the window, so if that’s the case, we would measure the width to be the same as the sills.

• Answer – Yes to preventing light loss.
• Solution – Fitting Roman blinds outside the recess.

Need some help choosing Roman blinds?
Visit our Attleborough showroom or book a home appointment.
With over 40 years’ experience measuring, making and fitting blinds of all kinds (and curtains too!), there isn’t much we don’t know.

Do you want to minimise light for sleeping?

Perhaps you have a streetlight outside your home or you’re easily woken by sunrise. If you want to minimise light in the evening for sleeping, it’s a good idea to install a blackout roller blind behind the Roman blind, which will be hidden during the day. This will help reduce the amount of light coming into the room.

Wood venetian blinds are another popular choice for fitting behind the Roman blind and can be supplied in natural wood or painted effects. White and grey are on trend right now but as they are classic colours will not date. Venetian blinds give you the option to tilt the slats to reduce glare and enhance privacy.

Your Roman blind would be fitted outside the recess to cover your windows entirely whereas the additional blind would be inside the recess.

During a home appointment one of our expert team can advise you on the best option for fitting Roman blinds on your windows.

• Answer – Yes to minimising light for sleeping
• Solution – Fitting Roman blinds outside the recess.

 

Fitting Roman blinds inside or outside the recess?

For some people, appearance is a major consideration and might tip the balance when it comes to fitting Roman blinds inside or outside the recess.

• If you have smaller windows, fitting your blinds higher outside the recess gives an illusion of height.
• Fitting Roman blinds inside the recess creates a tidy finish.

That said, Roman blinds create real impact in a room and are ideal for the living room and bedrooms, so whichever option you decide on they will make a real style statement.

We’re here to help you find the best Roman blind fitting for your home, contact us today!