How to Install 1" Aluminum Blinds

Locate the left and right box-style mounting brackets. Their multiple screw holes let you top mount or side mount inside the window opening; decide which you will use.

Check the depth of the window opening: you need at least 7/8" to mount the brackets inside the frame, and at least 1 1/4" for a fully flush mount.

If the opening is deeper than 1 1/4", measure back 1 1/4" from the front edge to find where to mount the brackets, so the blind sits right at the front of the opening without protruding into the room.

Hold one bracket in place and mark its two screw holes with a pencil, placing the screws diagonally from one another if possible. Repeat for the other bracket.

If you have one center support bracket, position it as close to the center of the window opening as possible. If you have two, space them as evenly as possible across the width of the opening.

Mark the center support bracket screw holes using the bracket as a guide. Center support brackets must be top mounted.

Pre-drill each marked screw hole with the drill and 1/4" hex bit.

Align each bracket over its pre-drilled holes and drive in the mounting screws with the drill or screwdriver.

Place the valance clips on the headrail.

Open the "doors" on each bracket.

Lift the blind and set the ends of the headrail into the brackets. If you have center support brackets, rest the headrail on their bottom ledge.

Hold the headrail steady with one hand and close the bracket doors with the other. The headrail is now locked in place.

At the top of the wand, pull the plastic sleeve upward to expose the metal hook, which stays attached to the tip of the wand.

Slide the plastic sleeve up over the metal shaft sticking out of the headrail.

Holding the sleeve in place, insert the wand's hook all the way through the shaft until the shaft rests in the bend of the hook.

Carefully pull the plastic sleeve down to cover the hook.

Slide each loose valance slat, one at a time, through the top and bottom grooves of the valance clips, working from left to right or right to left.

Check that the two slats are stacked on top of each other without overlapping.

Decide whether you will mount on the trim or above the trim. The brackets must go on a flat surface.

If you are mounting above raised trim, molding or window framing, use the extension brackets with your mounting brackets to add space between the mounting surface and the blind.

Set the width using the outside edges of the brackets: where the left bracket starts and where the right bracket ends.

Set the height from the top of the brackets.

Hold one bracket in place and mark its two screw holes with a pencil, placing the screws diagonally from one another if possible. Repeat for the other bracket.

If you have one center support bracket, position it as close to the center of the window as possible. If you have two, space them as evenly as possible across the width.

Mark the center support bracket screw holes using the bracket as a guide. Center support brackets must be top mounted.

Pre-drill each marked screw hole with the drill and 1/4" hex bit.

Align each bracket over its pre-drilled holes and drive in the mounting screws with the drill or screwdriver.

Open the "doors" on each bracket.

Lift the blind and set the ends of the headrail into the brackets. If you have center support brackets, rest the headrail on their bottom ledge.

Hold the headrail steady with one hand and close the bracket doors with the other. The headrail is now locked in place.

Screw the hold-down brackets into the lower corners of the windowsill or jamb, without placing them too close together.

Find the pre-drilled hole in the center of each end of the bottom rail.

Pull each hold-down bracket out and insert its pin into the hole in the bottom rail. Repeat on the other side.

At the top of the wand, pull the plastic sleeve upward to expose the metal hook, which stays attached to the tip of the wand.

Slide the plastic sleeve up over the metal shaft sticking out of the headrail.

Holding the sleeve in place, insert the wand's hook all the way through the shaft until the shaft rests in the bend of the hook.

Carefully pull the plastic sleeve down to cover the hook.

Bend the channel valance at the score on its back.

Connect the valance clips to the top of the headrail and spread them evenly apart.

Slide each loose valance slat, one at a time, through the top and bottom grooves of the valance clips, working from left to right or right to left.

Check that the two slats are stacked on top of each other without overlapping.