One of the lovely things about bay windows is how much sunlight they allow to flow into your Michigan home. However, there are times when you may want to block some or all of that sunlight in order to dim the room or provide privacy. Roman shades are a lovely window treatment option for bay windows. They come in an array of styles and materials, are easy to operate, and are not too difficult to install, either. Here’s a closer look at this window treatment option.
Roman shades are a type of window shade that appears smooth when closed. As you open the shade, the material folds over itself, creating a bunched look only on the top or bottom of the shade; the rest of the shade retains its smooth look. The shades are operated with a cord, which usually hangs along the back of the blind.
There are so many different materials used to make Roman shades in various styles, so you should have no trouble finding shades to match your home decor. Pleated Roman shades offer a traditional, comfortable look, while ones made of colorful fabric or even bamboo look more modern. You can install one shade on each window panel within your bay window, enabling you to control the flow of sunlight through each window panel individually.
Most window treatments come with mounting instructions, but in general, you can follow these steps to mount a Roman shade to one panel within your bay window.
Use your screwdriver or drill to fix two brackets on the inside of the window frame towards the top. Usually, you will want them to be about an inch from the top of the window frame. Measure and mark the location of the brackets before you start drilling so you can ensure they’re hung in the right place.
Once the brackets are in place, hang the headrail (the piece from which the shade will hang) from these two brackets. Usually, you can do this simply by sliding the headrail into each of the C-brackets. Once the rail is in place, insert a screw into the hole in the bottom of each bracket. This should secure the headrail into place.
After you’ve secured the headrail, try operating the shade by pulling on the back cord. Make sure it slides up and down freely in front of the window when you pull on the cord. Also make sure the headrail does not jiggle around as you open and close the blind. If it does, you need to tighten the screws attaching it to the C-brackets.
Repeat these steps to install identical shades over each panel of the bay window in your Michigan home. You’ll find that the shades look best when they are all opened or closed to the same degree, but you can definitely open just one or two if you want a little sunlight from a certain direction.
Roman shades can help camouflage a bay window that’s looking a bit worse for wear, but you should still consider replacing windows that are becoming leaky or drafty. Contact Renewal by Andersen to schedule a free consultation and discuss the best bay window designs for your Michigan home.
