A handy guide to mounting blinds

Blinds not only help dress up your windows; they also help control the amount of light and heat that gets into a room. Here's a handy guide to mounting blinds if you choose to do the job yourself.

• Measuring the width of blinds that are going to be mounted inside an old window frame can be a challenge. The best strategy is to measure the width at the top, middle and bottom of the frame and then use the narrowest measurement for your blinds' width.
• Blinds that are fixed to the surface of a window frame should be sized so that they overlap the window at the bottom and on both sides. For most windows, an overlap of about 5 centimetres (2 inches) all round will be sufficient.

• Venetian blinds (correct width)
• Blinds mounting brackets
• Screws
• Screwdriver
• Knife or scissors

• Consider whether or not you might add curtains in the future before deciding how to mount your blinds.
• If the blinds are mounted on the surface of the frame, you'll need to source a curtain rod with extended brackets.

• Decide whether you want to mount your blinds on the surface of the window frame or inside the frame.
• If you're mounting your blinds inside the window frame, you can choose to attach your mounting brackets to the side jambs or to the underside of the head jamb.
• Attach your brackets with screws.

• Insert the headrail into the brackets.
• Some models have hinged fronts that you'll need to swing open first.
• If your blinds comes with tie-down clips and attachments for the bottom rail to prevent it from swinging and banging against the window in the breeze, then you'll need to fit these now.

• Open the blinds to their full length, then remove the plugs or clips of the bottom rail to reveal the knotted ends of the pull cord.
• Untie the knots and remove the bottom rail. Now slide off any unwanted slats.

• Once you have the desired length for your blinds, thread the bottom rail back on to the cord and knot the cord to secure.
• Trim the cord and replace any plugs or clips that were removed.
• Put the leftover slats into storage — they may be useful for repairs at a later date.

• You can replace the cord that lifts the blades of Venetian blinds up and down without even taking the blinds off the wall.
• The trick to this is to use the old cord to pull the new one into place.
• First, remove the buckle on the cord, then clip the cord a few centimetres above the loop.
• Tape the ends of the new cord to the cut ends, then open the bottom of the blinds and pull on the knotted ends of the old cord to draw the attached new pieces of cord through.

If you choose to mount your own blinds, this handy guide can help you do so confidently and cleverly.