Shades are a beautiful way to showcase our heritage fabrics and offer a simple, perfectly proportioned alternative to drapes. Available with either stacked or waterfall folds, plain or pattern fabrics, there’s a wealth of options to choose from.
The most important part of the process might seem like the final fabric choice, especially when browsing our extensive collections of renowned favorites and reimagined classics. However, the devil is in the detail, which in this case is the size of the shade.
It can be daunting to measure your windows for new shades, which is why we’ve collated all our expert tips and tricks to make the process as straightforward as possible.
Before the measuring begins, it’s important to decide whether you would prefer your shades to sit inside or outside of the window reveal. Both are popular, pleasing options, so it comes down to personal preference on that finished look to your shades.
If you need any further guidance with this, read our comprehensive guide on how to choose the perfect window treatment for your home.
For a blind inside the window reveal
Measure the length from the top of the reveal to the window sill. Take measurements from different points along the window, as not all windows are level.
Then measure the width of your reveal at its narrowest point and remove 0.4 inches from this figure. This will be the width of your roman shade, but a 0.2 inch clearance will be added to either side when it arrives on your doorstep.
Expert tip: Make sure that there is a good distance between the blind and any window handles to avoid any difficulties when opening or closing the window.
For a shade outside the window reveal
When measuring a shade that will fit outside of the window reveal, it's best to position the top of the shade 10 cm above the reveal and allow the hem to drop between 2 and 6 inches below the sill. This adds some extra length and is generally regarded as the best approach for this style of blind.
Now, measure from the top of where this shade will sit to the projected hem and this is the finished length. Take measurements from several places along the window to make sure there aren't any discrepancies along the sill, and you are left with your final length.
For the width, there can also be some overhang beyond the reveal, similar to the length. Typically, we would advise leaving 2 inches either side of your reveal and this would make up your final width.
All that’s left to do now is placing the order of your chosen roman shades and preparing for the delivery of these lovingly crafted, hand finished shades straight to your door.
If you haven’t decided on your Morris & Co. fabric yet, browse all our collections of authentic that are rich with British design heritage. Once you have selected your chosen fabric, place your length and width requirements into our made to measure service and be one step closer to having Morris & Co. shades hanging beautifully in your home.
Alongside this roman shades measuring guide, we also have a drapery measuring guide if that is your preferred window treatment.
