Arched windows are a popular way for builders to make a dramatic design statement. While they're are commonly found over the front door and in kitchens, they’re also used in family rooms over standard windows. There are two ways to cover your arched windows:
Cell shades can be custom fitted to the exact measurements of your arched window for an inside mount. No template is required and we’ll quickly make a window covering that’s a perfect fit.
Any window treatment we offer can be used to cover your arched window if you want an outside mount configuration. Make sure to add at least 2” onto the width on each side of the widest points and at least 2” in length at the center of the window. This will make sure the window covering will completely cover the arched window.
When choosing bathroom window coverings, you’ll need to keep the material in mind. The best bathroom window treatments are those that are resistant to both moisture and heat. That way, they won’t warp when you use the shower.
Faux wood is a great option because it is less likely to warp when compared to real wood.
Metal blinds should also be considered. They won’t warp, fade, or bow because of heat or humidity, and they’re extremely easy to clean.
Top down/bottom up shades are a popular choice for bathrooms. You can open the top of the shade to allow light to come through while keeping the bottom closed for privacy. It’s the best of both worlds!
Bottom Rail
Bottom Rail
The bottom rail consists of a thicker slat at the bottom of the window covering. The material used to create the bottom rail will either match or coordinate with the rest of the window covering.
Box Bracket
Box Bracket
Horizontal coverings are mounted using a box bracket, which mounts either to the inside of the window frame or outside the window. Once the box bracket is installed, the window covering will slide right in.
Braided Ladder
Braided Ladder
Usually made of strong polyester, the braided ladder runs vertically through the slats. It helps control the raising, lowering, and tilting of the window covering.
The center support bracket is for horizontal coverings that are too wide to adequately support the weight with only the two end brackets. For example: faux wood is heavier than real wood, a center support bracket might be required to make sure they’re secure.
Clearance
This refers to the depth available for an inside mounted window treatment. Typically, horizontal blinds require a greater clearance than a window shade. Door blinds normally have a small clearance and often require you to use an outside mount.
Cloth Tape
Cloth Tape
Cloth tape is a decorative piece of fabric that is mounted over the ladders on horizontal window coverings. This can be used to further customize the look and style, to cover unsightly corded ladders, or to cover those small pinpricks of light that come through.
Control Length
The control length is how long the lift and tilt are, which is usually half the length of the window covering.
Cutout
A cutout provides a space in the window covering for an obstacle, like a door handle, a window crank, or even for crown molding. This is most often used for door coverings.
End caps cover the ends of the headrail and bottom rail and are color coordinated to match the color of the window coverings.
Extension Brackets
Extension brackets are used when your window frame protrudes too far for the standard outside mount brackets to fit properly. Adding extension brackets, which are L-shaped, will provide extra clearance and depth so your window coverings will fit perfectly.
Easy Lift System
Easy Lift System
The easy lift system is cordless. Simply raise or lower the window coverings from the bottom rail. The easy lift system helps the covering raise with just a light touch.
The headrail is found at the top of the window covering, and it’s used for two purposes:
1. Mounting -
Roman Shades are mounted directly to the window frame by screwing in the headrail to the mounting surface.
Horizontal blinds are mounted by inserting the ends of the headrail into the box bracket and then snapping the bracket shut.
Cellular shades, also known as honeycomb shades are mounted by snapping the headrail into a mounting bracket.
2. Operation
The ladders are attached to the headrail and work with the lift mechanism to let you raise and lower your window coverings.
Hold Down Brackets
Hold Down Brackets
Hold-down brackets allow you to hold the bottom rail in place. It’s typically used for window coverings that tilt open rather than raising or lowering. They’re also commonly used for door blinds so you can use the door without having the window treatment swing off the door each time it’s used.
These are used for outside mounting when it’s necessary to extend the headrail out from the wall. This gives you enough clearance to properly mount and operate the window coverings.
Ladder Grommets
Ladder grommets are metal clips that are compressed on the ends of the ladders on horizontal coverings. They are used to level the covering and are attached to the bottom rail, which helps you raise and lower them.
Lift & Lock™
Lift & Lock™
The Lift & Lock™ cordless system has a push button on the bottom rail. To raise or lower, just push the button and lift or pull down. It does most of the work for you. All you have to do is guide it. When you release the button, it locks in place.
2 or 3 window coverings can be mounted on a single headrail. This is a great option if you have an extremely wide window and you want to keep the window coverings lightweight. Each blind/shade will work independently, but you’ll still have a unified, streamlined look with the shared headrail.
The no holes privacy option eliminates those tiny route holes in standard window coverings. This gets rid of the pinpricks of light that come through, giving you more light and privacy control. Instead of the corded ladders running through the middle of the slat, there are notches on the back of the slat where the cords run through. You still get the same functionality, but you will have a more streamlined look.
Outside Mount means the window coverings are mounted outside the window frame.
Openness Factor
Solar Shade Openness Factors
The openness factor, or simply "openness" of a solar shade refers to how tight the weave of the fabric is, and, consequently, how much light it lets through. Interior and exterior solar shades on selectblinds.com come in openness levels from 1% to 14%. The higher the number, the more light the shade lets through.
Projection refers to the distance between the wall and the front of the mounting bracket. This will determine if the window covering will clear the window frame during operation.
With blinds that are outside mounted, there is a gap on the sides which makes the ends of the headrail visible. When this occurs, we include a return to cover that gap. The return attaches to the side of the valance and will match perfectly.
Return L Bracket
This bracket is used for mounting the returns to the face of the valance. It can be made from either plastic or metal.
Roman Fold
Roman Fold
The roman fold refers to the specific fold used for roman and woven wood shades. When raised, these shades will fold from the bottom as they move their way up, almost like an accordion.
Route Hole
Route Hole
Route holes are the little holes in the slats of horizontal blinds and pleated shades that have the corded ladders threaded through.
The valance is a decorative piece that covers the headrail of blinds/shades.
Valance Clip
If the valance is not attached to the headrail at the factory, then it can be attached with valance clips. In many cases, these installed valance clips can be kept out of sight.
The wand tilter is used to tilt the slats open or closed. When turned in one direction, the slats open. And when the wand tilter is turned in the opposite direction, the slats close. The wand tilter can also be placed on either side of the covering during the customization process.
