We at Select Blinds take pride in offering personalized window update/interior design solutions for any budget — over 170 customizable, quality-crafted products, in over 1800 beautiful colors, for starters.
Along your design project journey, we also love making things as easy for you as possible. We give you all the helpful resources you’ll need, like videos for how to measure your windows, downloadable, easy-to-follow installation guides and videos, etc. We even offer you FREE one-on-one design consultation help with one of our design consultants.
“Life happens,” as they say, and design project problems and obstacles tend to find you no matter how easy we make it for you and how well-prepared you are. Not to worry, though, as we’re with you every step of the way. We’ve got you (and your windows) covered!
By the way, have you tried this free design consultation service out? Call us today at (855) 235-3120 for quick questions or for help with bigger issues whenever you might get stuck.
Keep reading for three common design problems our Select Blinds customers have run into and how our design consultants have helped them get resolved.
Related: Mapping the Journey of A SelectBlinds.com Shopper
Common Problem #1: Arched Windows
We have customers calling in all the time asking for help and guidance with arch-topped windows. How to mount, where to mount, what kind of solutions we offer that will work for them, etc.
Where do the difficulties arise? One common problem spot arises when an arch is the actual top part of a window, with no flat surfaces for mounting (see below).
There are a few solutions for this issue:
- Side Mount
If a window is narrow enough (e.g., less than 36″), some solutions include:
*A product that utilizes box brackets that attach to the sides of the window.
*Cellular shades, as many of our cellular products, offer side-mounting up to a certain width (e.g., our Select and Premier products), but even that is dependent on the lift system selected.
*Roller shades ordered with the “exposed roll” option also offer side-mounting – but you’ll sacrifice the ease of installation that comes with a cassette since cassettes cannot be side-mounted. - No-Tools Headrail (NTH)
Select Blinds products are famous for their ease of installation. We offer an even easier installation option, the No-Tools Headrail (NTH). Line your headrail up, and click it right into place. No tools, no hassle. We have expanded our selection of NTH options since we first introduced this option. At first, customers could only get the NTH option with inexpensive cellular or Roman shades. This was a good offering but made the No-Tools Headrail option exclusively available for inexpensive products. We have since introduced NTH for some of our higher-end roller shades, and then more recently with the Little Dreamer and Little Adventurer roller shades for kids. All things considered, No-Tools Headrail is a very viable option for arch-topped windows! - Drapery / Curtains
If you can’t fill your window, then cover it! Unless the window in question isn’t too wide (i.e., less than 48″ wide), curtains or drapes can do a great job covering unusually shaped windows. Plus, you can keep the functionality of the window while adding style, as well as bonuses like temperature insulation and noise dampening. Drapes are a more traditional option – so there might be style conflicts with this option. - Palladian Shelves
A Palladian shelf is a “floating shelf” that can be installed at the bottom of the arched part of a window. Palladian shelves are great for creating a physical separation (and a flat surface) between the main, rectangular part of the window and the arched part. Select Blinds doesn’t currently offer Palladian shelves, but we will recommend them if we feel it’s the solution that will work best for a customer. These shelves are good for wider windows, as shades can be mounted to the bottom of the shelf as if it were the flat, level top of a window. Palladian shelves also create a surface to mount an arch shade for the top arched part of a window. Palladian shelves are also quite easy to install, not to mention visually pleasing.
Common Problem #2: Brackets and Depth Visualization
Our website doesn’t always answer every question, so, for example, some of our customers will call in trying to get an idea of what our brackets and hardware look like, how they mount, and how they will fit into their windows at home. Most people are visually driven, so we have a few ways to cater to that need.
Our solutions for this common customer question include reference materials for the customer, along with a few tips and tricks:
- Specifications Tab (on each product page)
We can guide customers to and/or through our specifications tab(s) for any products in question. On this tab, we have our depth and deductions numbers listed in a very easy-to-read format. At this point one of our Design Consultants can take all the time needed to talk a customer through these specifications – that’s what we are here for! - “Measure & Install” Tab (on each product page)
Each product page also includes a “Measure & Install” tab where customers can view installation videos and also look over our installation PDF files. Sometimes getting a visual of the shape and form of a bracket can help customers overcome any uncertainty and get a clearer picture of how our mounting systems really work. Saying that our installation is easy is much different than actually showing it – this helps build our customers’ confidence and answers many questions that customers may not have even known they had. - Depth Templates
By taking the flush mount measurements and tracing them out on paper or cardboard, a template can easily and quickly be made. Templates are super useful when it comes to special situations like covering bay windows or windows that meet at 90-degree angles, but they can also be used to visualize simple things like depth. If a blind has a 3.5″ flush mount depth, and you want to know how far that will protrude out from your window, simply cut out a 3.5″ template and hold it up at the top of your window! This will give you a very clear image and help you set accurate expectations.
Common Problem #3: Blinds (or Shades) for Windowed Doors
The uncertainty of how to handle doors with windows has also become a common question from customers.
- Q: “I have a big, protruding handle on my door. Will the blinds have to hang over the handle?”
Solution: We can suggest you get custom blinds with a “cutout,” or suggest you get a smaller door handle. - Q: “I don’t want door blinds, and I don’t want to get a smaller handle. What now?”
Solution: We’d probably recommend a roller shade or a cellular shade, in that case. If you order a roller shade, for example, with the “standard roll” option, it can tuck nicely and neatly behind the door handle. If you like “reverse roll” better, it would hang in front of the handle. We could also suggest adjusting your shades’ width so that it hangs to the side of your door handle or knob. - Q: “Can I get a shade so I can still see outside?”
Solution: Let’s suggest a solar shade, in that instance. - Q: “I don’t want to install hardware into my door. What now?”
Solution: We’d definitely suggest our Adjustable Roman Door Shades, which can be installed with strong velcro tape, without tools or hardware. - Q: “I don’t want my shade to make noise when I open and close it. What do I do?”
Solution: Roller shades and Roman shades won’t have this problem, but for blinds, we offer hold-down brackets to attach the bottom of your blinds to your door to prevent them from swinging loosely. - Q: “How do I measure my door’s window?”
Solution: It depends on the window, so we suggest sharing a photo with us so we can give you the best direction. Generally speaking, for a vertical measurement, if the window is centered in the door, you’ll likely need up to a few inches above the top of the window for mounting, and up to a few inches below the window to ensure ample coverage. Any additions to the width will depend heavily on where your handles and knobs are positioned.
Take Control of Taking Your Home to the Next Level!
DIY doesn’t have to mean “all by yourself.” For indoor spaces or outdoor spaces, a home design upgrade should never feel intimidating.
Select Blinds is here to support you all the way from start to finish with tons of helpful resources to make your life (and projects) easier. We’re just as invested in your success as you are! Make your house ALL YOURS as you personalize it just for you, without breaking the bank. As you sharpen those interior DIY design instincts, you can save yourself plenty of money in the process.
Check out our FREE interior design consulting as just another way we can support you from start to finish. Get tips, color guidance, product recommendations, solutions to the problems you may encounter, etc. Call us today at (855) 235-3120 to take advantage of our free design consultation resources.
With custom window treatments easily and smartly installed, you can help turn your living space into a calm, inviting sanctuary to enjoy with friends and family.
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