How To Install Pleated Shades Or Cellular Shades As A Side Mount

There are three basic types of mounting window blinds and shades:

• Inside Mount (mounts within a window frame)
• Outside Mount (mounts outside a window frame – on a casing or wall)
• Side Mount (mounts within a window frame using extra installation parts)

Let’s take a look at a side-mount installation (since you’d need to know what extra parts to order, what it looks like, and small success tips to do-it-yourself fast). 

A Partial-Window Installation – Side Mount Pleated Shades

As you can see on the picture, the window is a tall one and the windowsill is deep. The customer had no plans to cover up the whole window. She’s got a beautiful mountain view and calming evergreens towering nearby.

So, she measured the width and wanted height and ordered:

• Partial window-height pleated shades (inside mount – factory takes deductions)
• Top-Down Bottom-Up Options
• Installation Brackets
• Metal, right-angled extension brackets (extra parts)
• Wood screws to attach the extension brackets to the wooden frame
• Nuts and screws to fasten the holding brackets to the extension brackets (extra parts)

The windows have thin plastic frames around them and disallow any potential fasteners in them ‘cause they’d interfere with their sliding action to open and close.

No problem. Here’s a simple way around it.

Left Bracket – A Side-Mount Installation	A Right Bracket Detail – Side Mount

The left photo shows you the L-bracket assembly, while the right one gives a closer view at the R-bracket assembly.

Notice two details:

1. The extension bracket installation depth on the window frame
2. The extension bracket orientation

To find the right depth for the brackets, simply snap the brackets (or the whole assembly) on the headrail and measure how deep they need to be. Mark the distance and transfer it to the height where the brackets will be. (You can find a few more how-to details on this page.)

Noticed the metal extension brackets’ short sides face toward the window?

Because that is to have enough space for the wood screw heads between the headrail end caps and the window frame.

Often, if the “short sides” face the room, there’s not enough width room for the metal brackets, the fasteners … and the whole headrail. Ooops.

So, having the “short sides” face the window solves the lack-of-space difficultyJ.

To have the blind nice and level, measure the correct height for the brackets the same on each side of the window.

Note:
Window shades each have different headrail rigidity. It’s common to install a third support bracket in the middle if the width is over 45”.

In our example (wider than 45”), we didn’t use a middle bracket since the headrail was rigid enough (without sagging in the middle).

If you are ordering similar pleated shades or cellular shades, ask if 2 or 3 headrail support brackets are needed for your window width when using a side-mount installation.