Curtains & Blinds Installation in England

Looped cords and chains strangle toddlers, and most countries now regulate them: new blinds must be cordless, have inaccessible cords, or ship with tensioners and cleats that must actually be installed. If you have young children, choose cordless or motorized — and retrofit tensioners on existing corded blinds today.

Inside (recess) mounts look neatest and suit deep windows; outside (face) mounts block more light around the edges and hide shallow or uneven recesses. Light-blocking priorities decide: for bedrooms, outside-mounted blackout blinds or blinds with side channels beat recess fits.

Installers charge per window or per hour, with the product itself the bigger cost. Simple roller and venetian fits are quick jobs; bay windows, tall stairwell windows, motorized blinds and plantation shutters cost more to fit. Supply-and-install packages from blind companies usually beat separate labour on price.

Plantation shutters are hinged interior panels with tiltable louvres, made to measure per window. They are the premium option — several times the price of quality blinds — but last decades, add resale appeal, and handle wet rooms well in PVC versions. Fitting is always included by the supplier.

For recess fits: width and drop at three points each, using the smallest; note obstructions like handles and tiles. For face fits: add overlap each side and above. Millimetre precision matters for made-to-measure — which is exactly why supply-and-install retailers include measuring in the price.

For hard-to-reach windows, large arrays, and anyone standardizing on smart-home control, yes — battery motors have made retrofit easy with no wiring. The premium per blind is real, so many homes motorize the living areas and keep manual controls in bedrooms. Check app/hub compatibility before buying.

A straightforward window takes 20-40 minutes; a whole home of 8-12 windows is usually a half-day to a day. Add time for masonry drilling, tall or awkward access, and motorized blinds that need pairing and charging.

Handyman fitting runs £10-25 per blind or £40-60 per hour; a whole house of 8-12 windows lands £150-350 labour. Made-to-measure retailers bundle fitting into product pricing.