INSTALLING ROMAN SHADES

Installing Sew Lovely Roman shades is usually very easy and normally only requires a drill and 2 screws (we provide the screws)!

*Important- Please read the directions carefully, as even though it’s rather simple to install the shades, incorrect installation can cause the shade to appear crooked or not function correctly. If your shade ever appears off, please contact us and send photos so we can be sure it was installed correctly.

Does Sew Lovely Provide the Hardware? YES!

We provide 1 5/8” screws to use to drill directly through the board and into your trim/wall or inside the top of the casing. That should be all you need to install our shades. On occasion, like for outside mounted cordless shades or for some other rare situations, you may need additional bracket like L brackets or flat brackets to mount them, but we do not provide these brackets. They can be found for under $5 at Home Depot, Lowes and most hardware stores. We recommend using just the screws we provide to mount the roman shades, as. it is the cleanest look and also the easiest way to install them.

Please carefully iron or steam the shades before installing them. They might be wrinkled a bit during shipping.

Follow the directions below based on if you if you ordered inside or outside mount roman shades. Scroll down for cordless and continuous cord shades.

IMPORTANT: Please do not cut off anything that is attached directly to the back side of shade, such as, mini zip ties, rings, clear plastic orbs on cordless shades etc. Anything that is attached to the shade is done so for a reason. If there is excess cord hanging down, you may cut that but to be sure, please contact us first before cutting anything off a shade.

Roman shades can be mounted inside your window casing or outside, on the wall or trim.  It is really all your preference but sometimes the window won't allow for one style or the other.  For an inside mounted shade, the depth of the trim to the glass should be at least 1 1/2" or it may stick out too much.  Inside mounted shades are nice if you'd like to display your trim and provides a nice clean look.  The top board is orientated so that the 1 1/2" part of the wood is facing the ceiling and floor.  Outside mounted shades are a good option if you have old trim or no trim at all, or if your window is small and you want to expand the area a little bit.  Outside mounted shades are orientated so that the 3/4" part of the top wood is facing the ceiling and floor, so the depth of the shade is about 5/8".  Please click here to view how to measure properly.

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Corded Roman Shades

INSIDE MOUNT

Option 1: Using Only Screws (We Provide), No Brackets

Step 1:  Hold your shade into position inside the window with the fabric let down all the way, and the cord lock facing downward.  Be sure the sizing seems ok before drilling.  The front of the top board should be as flush as possible with the top of the window trim so it does not project out of the window casing. Take note of where you will drill the 2 screws into the top/inside of the window.  

Step 2:  On a flat surface, liner side up, pre drill screws (usually on the inside or each of the screw eyes)  They should be on the same side of the board as the cord lock. This screw placement is not set in stone and can be adjusted, if needed.  Please be sure the shade fabric is not bunched up underneath when drilling and you are just drilling into the side with the cord lock and out the other side of the top of the board.   We recommend pre drilling so the fabric does not pull when drilling.  If you do not wish to pre drill, please drill the screw very carefully and be sure the fabric is not pulling.  Drill the screws into the board and partially through the other side of the board so that the screw is popping out slightly through top of board.  Do this on both sides of the shade. If the shade is wide, you may wish to put a screw in the middle of the board for additional support.  

Step 3:  Position yourself under the shade with the fabric all the way down.  Hold the shade into the window, as flush as possible with front of moulding and drill up into the top of the window on both sides.  

Corded Roman Shades

OUTSIDE MOUNT

Option 1: Using Only Screws (We Provide), No Brackets

Step 1: Hold shade up to the window with the pleats let down all the way, so the bottom of the shade brushes against the window sill straight across.  

Step 2: Put a level on the top of the board to be sure it is straight and then mark 2 pencil lines right above the board where you will position the board for drilling.  Take note of where you will want to drill into the window trim/wall.  Measure to be sure the lines are even on both sides.

Step 3: Put the shade on a flat surface, liner side up, and pre drill on the X mark. You will find this mark if you lift up the board, on the flip side of the screw eyes/cord lock.  You can also adjust this mark if you need to, depending on where you want to drill into the trim/wall.  We recommend pre drilling so the fabric does not pull when drilling.  If you do not wish to pre drill, please drill the screw very slowly and be sure the fabric is not pulling.  Drill the screws into the board and partially through the other side of the board so that the screw is popping out slightly through the back of the board.  Do this on the right and left. If the shade is wide, you may wish to put a screw in the middle of the board for additional support.  **IMPORTANT** never drill through to the front side of the shade.   The screw should pop out on the back of the board only.

Step 4:  Hold the shade up to the pencil marks with the fabric all the way down.  Position yourself underneath the shade and drill both screws into the trim/wall.  You may wish to use a level to be sure it is level and adjust if needed.  

Corded Roman Shades

INSIDE MOUNT

Option 2: Using L Brackets/Flat Brackets (not provided/you supply)

Brackets be purchased at most hardware stores. *As of February 2019, we will no longer be providing brackets, as drilling directly into the board using 2 long screws is much easier and better than the brackets. Scroll down for installing without brackets

Use 2 L brackets and 8 screws per shade.  First, put the shade on the floor or a flat surface so that the cord lock and eye lit screws are facing upward, 2” part of the wood flat on the floor and the white liner facing you.  Drill 2 screws into the board directly above the cord lock and in the same position on the other side.  Make sure the part of the bracket that goes into the trim/casing is flush with the ends of the top wood.  Put the shades fully down and hold them up to where you want them to mount.  Make sure the bottom is sitting even across on the sill.  Drill 2 screws into the inside of the casing.   When you raise and lower the shade you may need to adjust each string to make the pleats level.  Each string controls a different part of the shade.  Do not tie off the strings above the knob because the child proof condensor knob will not work properly.  You should always tie off the cords up hight if you have children or pets around.  You may also tuck them behind a pleat for a neater look. 

Corded Roman Shades

OUTSIDE MOUNT

Option 2: Using Flat Brackets (not provided/you supply)

Use 2 flat brackets and 4 screws per shade.  Start with the shades fully down and hold them up to where you want them to mount.  For outside mounted shades, make a pencil mark on each top corner once you get it level.  Inside mounted shades should be flush on top, inside the casing.  Put the shade on a table or flat surface with 2” part of the board on the ground and the white liner facing you.  Hold the bracket so the bottom hold is directly under the board and fully exposed.  The bracket should be positioned about 1-2” in from the edge on each side.  Next, drill one screw into the top hold and into the wood.  Do the same on the other side.  Next, have someone else hold the shade up so that it is even, and drill a screw through the bottom hole and into your trim or wall.  You may use a level on top of the wood to be sure it’s level.  

Installing Continuous Cord Roman Shades

Continuous cord roman shades are a bit new to our shop, so we apologize for the shortened instructions at this time. We recommend inside mount for continuous cord, as the outside mount requires additional brackets (nor provided) and has a 1 1/2” projection.

You will want to press in on the one side of the end bracket (small circle) to release the tube from the bracket. This might take 2 people to do. Then you drill directly up into the board as you would the inside mount corded roman shades, and then slide the tube back onto the end bracket until you hear it click in again. You can also drill directly up into the board without detaching the tube if you drill on an angle. Please contact us for more information. Continuous cord shades are usually best for inside mounted shades.

Installing Inside Mount Cordless Roman Shades

IMPORTANT: Please do not cut off anything that is attached directly to the back side of shade, such as, mini zip ties, rings, clear plastic orbs on cordless shades etc. Anything that is attached to the shade is done so for a reason. If there is excess cord hanging down, you may cut that but to be sure, please contact us first before cutting anything off a shade.

We recommend hiring a handyman or professional installer to install cordless shades, as sometimes they need minor adjusting once hung.

IMPORTANT- For straighter folds, please carefully adjust the plastic orbs found on the backside, bottom of each cord (3 orbs per shade). Since we cannot hang these in our house before shipping out, sometimes they need minor adjusting for the folds to be straight across. You simply move the orbs up or down until each fold looks straighter. We allow slack at the bottom to account for this adjustment. To operate cordless roman shades, you simply pull on the white knob hanging down on the back side of the shade.

Cordless roman shades are rather new for us, so we will hopefully have instructional videos soon! Cordless shades are mounted on a board with a tube and metal bar/cordless system underneath. The board is always about 1 3/4” deep, so cordless shades are best for inside mounted shades. To install, it is best with two people. The fabric wooden board detaches from the tube and rail so you can drill directly into the board and then reattach the tube and rail.

1. With the shade on a flat surface, liner side up, you will pop off the aluminum rail from the fabric covered headboard by clenching the little plastic piece on the metal brackets on the board (2 per board). Then drill the 2 provided screws directly into the board (one on each side of the board, about 2” or so from the end) and up into your window casing for inside mount with the tube and rail hanging down below.

2. Pop the rail back onto the brackets on the wooden board by angling it a bit. You should hear it click in.

3. Use the knob hanging on the backside to operate the shade. Do not pull on the fabric to operate.

4. Adjust the 3 plastic orbs, if needed, to straighten the folds or make the shade flatter when in the down position if it is buckling a bit.

5. Adjust the tension and stop position, if needed, by following the videos below. The tension wheel is on the right side of the shade (when looking at the shade installed in the window) and has a marked “x” on the tube. The stop is located on the left side (when the shade is installed). The stop controls where how far the shade goes up and the tension controls how hard you have to pull on the shade for it to move.

6. Videos below show how to adjust the tension and stop point on your roman shade. The tension is set by adjusting the right side of the shade if you are looking at the face fabric. The stop position is adjusted by turning the knob on the left side of the shade, if you are looking at the face fabric.

   Installing Outside Mount Cordless Roman Shades

   For outside mounted cordless roman shades, you may need to purchase extra brackets.

   We recommend doing corded shades if you want it to mount outside, or if you need cordless, we recommend inside mount. Outside mounted cordless will projection 1 1/2” and do not have a side return on them so some of the hardware might show from the side view. Please contact us with any questions, as this is new to our website and we will be adding more instructional videos soon. You will follow the same directions as above. Detach the rail and tube from the wood board but pinching in the little brackets on the board. You can purchase an L bracket at any local hardware store. If you need us to supply, please contact us. With the shade detached from the board, drill the L bracket on top of the board (see photo) in the spot that you will like the shade to mount. Hold the shade up to your window in position for mounting(2 people may be required for this step). drill the under side of the L bracket into the wall or trim. Then reattach your board.

   Installing Outside Mount Continuous Cord Roman Shades

   We recommend INSIDE mount for continuous cord, as the outside mount requires additional brackets (nor provided) and has a 1 1/2” projection. They also do not have a side return. The wood board is covered in fabric, but it does not extend downward to cover up the side view of the hardware. They also have a 1 1/2” projection. For these reasons, we do recommend inside mount if you want continuous cord.

   You will want to press in on the one side of the end bracket (small circle) to release the tube from the bracket. This might take 2 people to do. Then you drill directly up into the board as you would the inside mount corded roman shades, and then slide the tube back onto the end bracket until you hear it click in again. You can also drill directly up into the board without detaching the tube if you drill on an angle. Please contact us for more information. Continuous cord shades are usually best for inside mounted shades. If you are installing for outside mount, you will need brackets. L brackets are usually required and you can purchase at any local hardware store. We recommend hiring a handy man to install.

How to adjust the folds more, if needed, on cordless and continuous cord roman shades.

How to Unclip Cordless Roman Shades from the Board

How to Adjust the Tension on Cordless Shades