How to inside mount blinds on these windows

TM
by TM
I was planning to install bamboo blinds in our newly purchased home by mounting them inside the window and hanging curtains on the outside, however the quarter round molding is proving to be a problem. The molding is 1 1/8" wide, and is curved, so I do not have a flat mounting surface, and most blinds/shades require at least 1 1/2". Is there any type of shade/blind/window covering that I can use inside my windows or is the only solution to mount them on the outer window frame -I am trying to avoid outside mount because my curtains will hang there. I know curtains are supposed to hang above the window frames on the wall, however want to avoid that as well because walls are plaster. (the white in the picture is the actual window) Any ideas appreciated, I am stumped on what to do with these windows and all of them are like this.
  18 answers
  • Jaxs Jaxs on Dec 26, 2017

    Are you getting wood blinds? And are they 1"wide. .because it might be your problem. .to big

    Also where were you going to hang the curtains again. .I see brown woodwork, is that where

    Curtain rods come in sizes so they can be adjusted not to hit your blinds. .re: 1-4"deep

    Hope you understand what I'm talking about. .its hard on this thing. .But Good Luck. Jackie

    • TM TM on Dec 26, 2017

      thanks for reply, the blinds I want are bamboo, also known as matchstick blinds. they are actually very flat, the problem is that the mounting piece for the blinds at the top is wider than the rounded piece of (brown) molding trim you see in the picture. I already have rods in place (not pictured) and they are mounted on the top upper corners of the brown woodwork. They won't hit the blinds if there is a way to mount the blinds inside the window frame.

  • GrandmasHouseDIY GrandmasHouseDIY on Dec 26, 2017

    Hi there, it really depends on the treatments and/or blinds that you're talking about. I recently had to add blinds to my mom's guest house and I was pleasantly surprised to find that they could be mounted from the top, the back and the sides so all I had to be sure of was to purchase the blinds narrow enough that they would fit "inside" the window trim.

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    • TM TM on Dec 26, 2017

      Great! Thanks so much, I will check those out!

  • William William on Dec 26, 2017

    Most brackets for blinds can be mounted on the side or top of the inside window frame. Manufacturers realize that not all molding is flat and provide the option.

    • TM TM on Dec 26, 2017

      thanks for reply, unfortunately that 1 1/8" molding piece is on the sides as well as the top.

  • Jaxs Jaxs on Dec 26, 2017

    Hi sorry I guess I didn't read that part to well. .so.what is the white part? Is that part of the window. Because you could use that instead. .as long as the windows open. .I thinking vinyl windows? as I have here you could squish between them somehow. .sorry I'm trying to picture this in my head. Let me know. .I'll answer ya back. .I'll keep thinking.

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    • TM TM on Dec 29, 2017

      sorry I just now saw this, thank you so much. I think I've figured out a solution, not ideal, not what I wanted, but I think at least it will work. I appreciate your help!

  • M. M.. M. M.. on Dec 26, 2017

    Are you thinking of mounting the shades inside the white frame or the brown? Both look wide enough to mount something on.Otherwise, you could pry up/remove the innermost brown trim piece, or cut off the top 4" of it for your mounting bracket.

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    • TM TM on Dec 29, 2017

      Hi, Thanks for the reply. Great idea, I had not thought of that, it might work and I'll keep that idea in mind. Appreciate it.

  • William William on Dec 26, 2017

    Check out Walmart like GrandmasHouseDIY suggests or Home Depot, Lowes, Menard's. You may find something you like there. You also can consider buying or making valances for the windows to hold the curtains slightly away from the window frame. Many Hometalkers, as I, have made their own valances,

    • TM TM on Dec 26, 2017

      Thanks, I will check out those other places, I've mostly been looking online to try and find bamboo blinds with narrow mounting brackets without much success, so will most likely end up with something other than that, if I can find something/anything that will work with these weird windows. I do sew, and have made curtains, but I really need to have the privacy that blinds or shades will provide, in addition to the curtains. My other thought was to make a curtain panel the inside width and length of each window, put it on a small diameter tension rod between the brown trim on the sides (hopefully it wouldn't slide off) and then raise/lower that with fabric ties. Not ideal, but may have to resort to that. I don't know, this is quite a dilemma. Thanks for reply.

  • TM TM on Dec 26, 2017

    They would have to be mounted to the innermost brown part on the inside, the white part is the window. My thought was remove it also, but that's what's holding the window in it's place, it's on both sides too. Husband said we can't take that off, but good idea, maybe we could just remove a part of it for the brackets. There are many windows in this house so it would be quite a job to do this to all of them, but I will keep this option in mind. Thanks so much for the reply.

  • Barb Barb on Dec 26, 2017

    This can be done, they will have to mounted to the brown wood side to side with longer screws being that a decorative strip on each side.

  • TM TM on Dec 27, 2017

    Thanks for reply Barb, the problem is that brown strip is not wide enough, and is rounded, I ordered bamboo blinds and tried to make it work on that strip but no luck. I'm having trouble finding anything that has mounting brackets narrow enough to put on that strip. It looks like it would be wide enough in the picture but is not, it is only 1 1/8" wide.

  • Dottie Dottie on Dec 27, 2017

    Can you use a tension rod?

  • TM TM on Dec 28, 2017

    Hi Dottie, we think alike, that's what I'm going to try now. I was on Pinterest yesterday and saw flat burlap window covers mounted inside on a tension rod with curtains on the outside. Those would be simple enough to sew. I haven't got the rod yet but as soon as I do I'm going to see if one will stay up there on that rounded strip of wood without sliding off. I may be able to raise them by putting a metal ring on the bottom corners and then hooking them to something at the top so that half the window can be uncovered to let some light in when I want to. Thanks for your reply and wish me luck that this will solve my problem!

  • Joanne Verros Munns Joanne Verros Munns on Dec 29, 2017

    I didn't read through all the suggestions here so sorry if this a repeat. Can you take the quarter round off and replace it with flat pieces of board instead?

    • TM TM on Dec 29, 2017

      Hi, I thought about doing that but there are several windows in the house and they are all like this, plus that piece is what's holding the window in place, so too much work to remove and replace. I think I have figured out an alternative to the bamboo blinds I was hoping for, and it will just have to do. Appreciate your reply!

  • Bre29447132 Bre29447132 on Dec 31, 2017

    I had those bamboo stick blinds on my patio doors. There is a little triangle that was attached to the back and I hung them from cup hooks. You might find the triangles in the picture framing section of a craft store


  • Bre29447132 Bre29447132 on Dec 31, 2017

    I had those bamboo stick blinds on my patio doors. Mine came with little triangles on the back of the mounting strip. I hung them from cup hooks that I mounted to the frame. You can get the triangles or similar ones in the picture framing aisle

    • TM TM on Dec 31, 2017

      Oh thanks! I guess I have not seen that kind of bamboo blind, I will look for those, or maybe I can convert the other kind by adding the triangles myself. And I would think cup hooks would work on that brown strip of wood on my window too. Great idea, thanks so much!

  • Sec34130784 Sec34130784 on Sep 21, 2018

    Curious what your solutions was? I have the same issue,

    • TM TM on Sep 22, 2018

      Thanks for asking, my solution was I sewed burlap window covers the width and length of the window, very plain with rod pocket at the top, hemmed at the bottom, hung them from tension rods inside the window. That curved wood molding strip that the rod ends are up against is slick wood and any disturbance can make the rods slide off if the curtain is disturbed, I just make the tension on the rod a little tighter and put them back up, so far they have stayed in place well. With the curtains being burlap I can see through them to the outside without moving them, I hung curtains from rods on the window frame and pull them closed at night for privacy. It's worked out well and was a fairly cheap solution since I couldn't do blinds. That's the first time I've ever sewed burlap, it's a little tricky. I steamed out any wrinkles in the burlap with damp cloth and steam iron before I sewed them. I did 5 windows, purchased entire bolt of burlap at Walmart and had some left over.

  • 17335038 17335038 on Sep 21, 2018

    Is this the style of window blinds you are referring to?

    If your aim in hanging these is to have privacy, have you checked after dark to see the extent of privacy that the bamboo ones really do provide? Have someone hold it in front of the window with full lights on inside, then go outside to determine how much you can or cannot see inside.


    The reason why I am suggesting this is because I once had a matchstick blind that was so thin, it was almost transparent after dark. Thankfully a neighbour alerted me to the fact that it did not provide privacy soon enough to avoid embarrassment. This style of window coverings are designed more for sun blocking or providing shade.

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    • 17335038 17335038 on Sep 23, 2018

      'Good to hear that you have found a way around this often over-looked dilemma.

      To facilitate sewing burlap you can use nylon tricot seam binding tape. This provides a smooth non-catching surface for the presser foot to glide over, without adding bulk. It can be an indispensable notion for sewing any loose woven or knit fabrics as it will add non-fraying stability to any seam. It comes in black or white.

      The picture below shows one brand name commonly available. I have also seen brand-less rolls available in larger quantities.

  • Min Zhang Min Zhang on Nov 12, 2018

    Use outside mount L bracket on the white window slab, you get inside mount. The crooked overhanging bracket then can adjust shade overhanging depth by sliding the top skews. This is Levolor roller shade, you can simulate from there

    • TM TM on Nov 12, 2018

      Thank you, I didn't know this could be done!