Inside Mount Vs Outside Mount Roman Shades

Will your new roman shades sit snugly within the window recess or frame the windows from outside? Whether this is a detail you hadn’t thought of yet or one you’ve been puzzling over, this guide will help you decide in a snap - as our window stylists walk through all the nuances, pros and cons of both inside and outside mounting positions for roman shades. From style considerations to practical benefits, we’ll cover it all to help you find the perfect mounting position for your new shades.

So, inside or outside - what’s it going to be? Let’s find out –

Inside Mounted Roman Shades

In this mounting position, the roman shades are affixed to the ‘ceiling’ of the window, perfectly fitted within the window recess and stopping exactly at the sill or the ‘floor’ of the window frame. This close-fitting placement creates a clean, tailored aesthetic that perfectly complements homes with flush finishes and a streamlined design. Inside-mounted roman shades offer all the benefits of perfect-fit window blinds, making them an especially popular choice for small rooms and minimalist design styles where simplicity and functionality are key. As for the advantages of this mounting position, here’s an elaborate array to pick from -

INSIDE MOUNT ROMAN SHADES: PERKS TO PICK

TAILORED TO THE T: If you want to make a statement about the bespoke nature of your window treatments, inside-mounted roman shades will do the job nicely. Tailor-made to fit precisely inside a specific window frame, there’s nothing quite like an inside-mounted shade to flex the bespoke origins of your window dressings.

HIGHLIGHT SHOW-WORTHY TRIMS: On windows adorned with ornate trims and frames, outside-mounted dressings will do a great disservice by covering these works of architectural detail. Inside-mounted roman shades - by virtue of sitting inside the window recess - do not overlap the trims and instead, gracefully accentuate and highlight them. 

IDEAL FOR LAYERING WITH DRAPES: When layering roman shades with curtains, the inside mounting position is ideal. The shades fit compactly within the window frame, while drapery offers sweeping coverage over the window. Both layers have their own space for operation that does not intrude into the other’s plane. Conversely, if the shades were to be mounted outside and then over-layered with drapes, they will both project outward, making the arrangement look bulky. Hence, the inside-mounting position is often the preferred choice for a streamlined layered look.

BEST IN BATHROOMS & KITCHENS: Wet splashes are not rare accidents - but everyday happenings - in bathrooms, laundry rooms and kitchens. The inside-mounting position is the safest bet in these wet spaces as it keeps the shade tucked away within the window frame, stacked at the top when open, away from the splishy-splashy affair below. Comparatively, long flowy curtains and outside-mounted shades are more vulnerable as they are relatively easily exposed to splashes.

MEET SAFETY CONCERNS IN KIDS SPACES: Whether in toddlers’ playrooms, kids’ bedrooms, or a crawler’s nursery, window treatments remain at risk of mischievous tugs from curious hands. In these adventurelands, inside-mounting the shades is a safer choice to make the shades inaccessible for those fidgety little hands.

BEST FRIENDS OF SMALL ROOMS: In a small room, window treatments that take up valuable wall space can easily overwhelm the space or add unnecessary clutter. Inside-mounted shades are your heroes in this scenario as they fulfill their functions and add aesthetic finesse without encroaching on the window’s ‘surround space’ or crowding the room.

PERFECT FOR WINDOWS WITH FURNITURE/FIXTURES UNDERNEATH: When dealing with windows that have furniture, radiators, or seating underneath, inside-mounted shades again make for a strong choice. Positioned within the window frame, they stay clear of any fixtures below, ensuring smooth operation and a tidy appearance.

MINIMALIST TO THE CORE: While roman shades are intrinsically minimalistic, inside mounting notches up their sleekness further. Nestled within the window frame, they create a subtle, unobtrusive presence that perfectly embodies the ‘less is more’ philosophy in decor. For an even more refined aesthetic, hardcore minimalists often choose inside-mounted shades in the same color as the walls, seamlessly blending the shades into the overall design.

MAXIMUM INSULATION: Inside-mounted roman shades are placed closer to the window pane. Therefore, they deal with the hot external air during summer and cold drafts during winter right at the entry point. This puts the inside-mounted shades in a slightly better position for defence, providing better insulation for the room and resulting in more energy savings. 

INSIDE MOUNT ROMAN SHADES: POINTS TO PONDER

While there’s so much that inside-mounted roman shades serve, there remains the proverbial flip side to consider. Here are some of the precluding elements to consider before finalizing inside-mounted roman shades: 

CANNOT FIT WITHIN SHALLOW WINDOW RECESS: If your window recess is not a minimum of two inches deep, it will not be able to host our hardware with an inset roman shade. In such settings, an outside-mounted roman shade becomes your savior and default choice. 

BLOCK SOME VIEW & LIGHT PERMANENTLY: Inside-mounted roman shades will inevitably block some part of the window permanently, as they stack inside the window frame when folded up. This can become a deal-breaker if you have small windows, that may already be limiting your access to light. Furthermore, inside-mounted shades in small windows can make the windows look even smaller, rendering a somewhat cluttered look. 

NOT ECONOMICAL FOR ARCHED/ PIKED WINDOWS: Roman shades are typically stitched for use with straight hardware tracks, making them incompatible for mounting inside windows with curved or angular top edges. While angular hardware and shades options are available, these come at a hefty premium. Therefore, for budget-conscious clients, mounting their shades outside such angular windows with standard, straight hardware tracks proves to be a more practical solution.

REQUIRE PRECISION IN MEASUREMENT: While you get to enjoy a highly tailored, bespoke look with inside-mounted shades, arriving at these perfectly sized shades also requires you to measure like a pro. Since inside-mounted shades hug the window frame inch-to-inch, precision is key — a fraction of an inch more and the shades won’t fit; a fraction of an inch less and there will be an awkward gap. Therefore - unlike outside-mounted roman shades which are far more forgiving when it comes to measurements - there is very little room for error with inside-mounted shades. However, this is never a problem if you follow our Roman Shades Measurement Guide which can aid clients through this seemingly daunting task.

Well, that’s a wrap on inside-mounted roman shades. Whether you’re ready to make your decision or still mulling it over, the next section, diving into the pros and cons of outside-mounted shades, will help you gain an even clearer perspective. 

Outside Mounted Roman Shades

In this position, roman shades are affixed outside on the wall above the window. If the window is very close to the ceiling of the room, the shades can also be mounted to the ceiling. Unlike inside-mounted shades, these are not constrained by the dimensions of the window frame, so they can be extended for more coverage. This aspect comes with a whole lot of advantages that we elaborate ahead.

OUTSIDE MOUNT ROMAN SHADES: PERKS TO PICK

MAXIMISES LIGHT & AIRFLOW: Roman shades mounted inside the window recess permanently cover some part of the window, while also blocking precious light and airflow. It especially shrinks the limited functional capacity of an already small window and also makes it appear smaller. But this situation can be averted by mounting the shade outside the window high enough to accommodate the shade’s stack on the wall, without covering any valuable window space. Thus, by choosing the outside mount position, you can maximize the light and air inflow - a quality especially desirable in case of small windows.  

OPTICALLY ENLARGES SMALL WINDOWS: Outside mounting the shade provides an opportunity to optically elongate and widen a small/narrow window. This is achieved by mounting the shade high enough above the window such that when it is folded up, it overlaps the window trim only by an inch or so. That tad bit of overlapping masks the contours of the window, forming a perception that the window extends higher up behind the shade.  Similarly, the shade can be extended on both sides by a few inches. When the shade is folded down and the window fully covered, the eye is tricked into assuming that the window veiled by the shade is far bigger than it is. Thus, when done right, the outside-mounted shade can make the window look longer and wider, which is especially helpful for small windows.

COVERS WINDOWS WITH SHALLOW RECESS: For windows with shallow recess space that cannot host inside-mounted shades, outside mounting is the ideal - and often the only - solution. Since the shades are mounted outside the window frame on the wall or ceiling, you won’t need to worry about the limited depth of the window recess.

PRESERVES THE VIEW: If mounted sufficiently high above the window, the shade stacks on the wall above and leaves the entire window free for use. Therefore, you can enjoy the full window view without the blinds coming in the way.

CONCEALS ARCHITECTURAL FLAWS: If you have multiple windows in a room positioned at uneven heights, chances are high that inside mounting the shades further accentuates this uneven visual line. Instead, mounting the shade outside at the same height can cleverly cover up this architectural flaw and provide a consistent visual line for a cleaner, less cluttered finish.

COVERS UP UNSIGHTLY FEATURES: When folded down, the shades not only cover the window but also the window trim. So, if you’re concerned about a not-so-show-worthy window trim, chipped edges or damaged wallpaper around the window, outside-mounting the roman shades is the most cost-effective solution to keeping the story under wraps. 

BEST FOR BLACKOUTS: Some light bleeds from the edges of roman shades are inevitable, causing even the best blackout roman shades to be a tad bit unsatisfying for those who are seeking maximal light control. Here, more coverage is a great boon, especially if roman shades are standalone treatments. This is made possible by outside-mounted roman shades as they can completely envelop the window when extended a few inches beyond the window trim on all four sides. Thus, you can minimize light leaks around the blinds. 

BYPASS WINDOW HANDLES & FIXTURES: For windows that have protruding handles and fixtures, some inset roman shades may challenge the smooth operation of the window as well as the shade itself. But outside-mounted shades can conveniently bypass this challenge as they are fixed outside the window, often easily clearing any window hardware. Also, if at all needed, they can be moved further away from the window to accord adequate space for the handles and fixtures by using spacer blocks or extension brackets. 

WELL-SUITED FOR SPECIAL WINDOWS: Arched and angled windows add a special beauty to the home, both to the interiors and the exteriors, however dressing them remains the Gordian knot of interior design. Here, inside-mounting the shade would require specialty shape hardware whereas mounting the shades outside requires no such extra investment. Further, by positioning the shade high enough to stack on the wall without overlapping the window, you can let this architectural gem stand out for its unique shape, just as it would if specialty shades were mounted inside its frame.

RELATIVELY MORE COMPATIBLE WITH INWARD-OPENING WINDOW PANES: Roman shades come in the way of function when you want to operate an inward-opening window. To open the window, you will first have to raise the roman shades completely up and out of the way for the windowpane to turn inward. But - between the two mounting choices - outside mounting the shade makes it relatively less intrusive on the window pane depending on the clearance space required by the window pane and the depth of the window. Since, there is a possibility to use spacer blocks and project the shade further outward, outside-mounting is relatively more compatible with inward-opening windows than inside-mounting which keeps the shade in close proximity to the window pane.

LAYERS UP WITH OTHER BLINDS: If you are planning to use roman shades as an overtreatment to other types of blinds like rollers blinds or woven wooden blinds, outside-mounting is the ideal choice. Such an arrangement - where the blinds are installed within the recess and roman shades are positioned outside - ensures both layers can operate freely without making the arrangement seem bulky. 

FORGIVING WITH MEASUREMENTS: Since outside-mounted roman shades do not need to fit ‘within’ any structure, they allow for some flexibility with measurements. You do not need to worry about achieving precision to the last fraction. So, if you do not have a very cordial relationship with the measuring tape, you’ll find a comforting friend in outside-mounted roman shades.

OUTSIDE MOUNT ROMAN SHADES: POINTS TO PONDER

Outside-mounted roman shades have attractive prospects that make them the perfect choice for certain windows and situations. But there are a few debarring factors you may need to consider before finalizing the ideal position for your roman shades: 

NOT THE MOST MINIMALIST STYLE: Clients often lean towards roman shades for their sleek structure and minimalist appeal. If minimalist looks are your top priority, inside mounting will be able to serve the mandate better. Since outside-mounted shades sit outside the window and have some bits of exposed hardware, they might not instantly fit into your minimalist vision.

NOT IDEAL FOR WINDOWS WITH ORNATE TRIMS: Outside-mounted roman shades tend to cover the trims of the window, making them not the most favorable option for windows with ornate trims. The ornate carvings or crown moldings should ideally be flaunted, not concealed, making inside-mounting the more promising alternative from an aesthetic perspective.

VISIBLE HARDWARE: When mounted inside the window, the headrail (hardware track) is completely concealed behind the roman shade. But when mounted outside the window, the ‘side profile’ of our shades’ headrail remains visible. Even though this visible part is quite minimal, it may not be desirable to some clients, in which case, inside-mounting the shade is a better idea. Note that the hardware provided is the same regardless of the mounting position, only the technique of positioning the hardware varies, explained in simple steps in our Roman Shades Installation Guide.  

LESS OPTIMAL FOR MULTI-LAYERED TREATMENTS: For arrangements that include multiple layers of dressings, like roman shades with drapes or valances, our stylists generally advise against outside-mounting the roman shades. Since the outside-mounted shades already project beyond the window frame, the drapes or valances need to be projected even further outwards to allow for smooth installation/operation of both layers. This, however, can make the arrangement look rather ‘bulky’. Therefore, in such cases, mounting the shades inside the window frame proves to be the better solution, assuming the recess is deep enough to accommodate the shade and its hardware.

DEMANDING WITH SPACE: Unlike inside-mounted shades that sit snugly within the window, outside-mounted shades take some space from the wall surround, and more so if the shades are extended beyond the window trim for better coverage. Even this meagre excess can be concerning in small rooms where each inch counts.

To Sew It All Up

Armed with this comprehensive guide covering every nuance you might need to consider,  we hope you're feeling confident about deciding the mounting position to best suit your custom roman shades. Ultimately fellow shopper, there’s no absolute right or wrong choice here — just the option that best suits your functional needs and aesthetic vision. The answer of whether to ‘inside or outside’ is subjective and can vary from room to room or even window to window within the same room. 

And on that note, we send you off to our Roman Shades Measurement Guide, which will aid you in befriending the measuring tape and arriving at the exact inches for a perfect fit — no matter which mounting position you’ve chosen. Just one last step before you’re ready to hit checkout, and we couldn’t be more thrilled for you. And in case you still have questions, we remain just an email away!