Double Hung Window Shades & Blinds

A double hung window has two sashes that slide past each other in the same frame. It is the most common window in American housing and the easiest one to cover, so almost nothing is ruled out by the opening itself. What decides your order is how much depth the frame gives you for an inside mount, and whether you want the shade to open from the top as well as the bottom. Everything here is made to the size you measure and ships direct to you.

Which shades and blinds suit a double hung window

Cellular shades are the natural match, because a double hung is the one window people habitually open from the top, and cellular is where our top down bottom up builds live. A top down bottom up shade lowers from the top for daylight while the bottom stays closed for privacy, the same move as dropping the upper sash, and it is offered at 25, 38 and 45 mm. Light filtering cellular is the general purpose choice and blackout cellular the bedroom one.

Roller shades are the simplest option and take the least room at the reveal, in light filtering for daytime and blackout where the room has to go dark. Zebra shades suit a double hung in a front room, since the alternating sheer and solid bands slide past each other and let you set privacy and view on one shade. Woven wood adds texture in bamboo, reed and jute, with an optional light filtering liner at roughly 70 percent openness or a blackout liner at 100 percent. Keep woven wood out of a bathroom, since natural fabrics are not suited to high humidity and moisture damage is a listed warranty exclusion.

Frame depth decides inside or outside mount

A double hung sits in a frame that is often shallower than it looks, because the upper sash and its track take up part of the depth. Woven wood needs 1 5/8 inches of frame depth to mount inside at all, and 2 5/8 inches for the headrail to sit flush with the front of the frame, or 2 1/8 inches on a cordless build. If your frame is shallower than that, mount outside.

Size is rarely the limit on a window this shape, but the numbers are worth knowing before you order a run of them. Cellular on a bead chain reaches 157 inches of drop and 197 inches wide at 38 mm and 45 mm, cordless cellular caps at 94 inches in both directions, and motorized cellular at 38 mm and 45 mm caps at 79 inches high. Light filtering roller reaches 96 inches wide on our standard cassettes while blackout and sunscreen goods stop at 86 inches, because the heavier goods are milled on narrower rolls.

Measuring and installing it yourself

Measure the width at top, centre and bottom and use the smallest figure, rounded down to the nearest 1/8 inch, then measure the height on both sides with your back to the wall and do the same. Give us the exact opening, because the factory applies the 1/4 inch width deduction. For an outside mount, add about 3 7/8 inches to width and height so the shade overlaps the opening. If the window has a deep sill or a sash lock that projects, a reverse roll on a roller shade carries the fabric out past it.

Fitting needs a 6 mm drill bit, and the brackets mark at 1.1 inch screw spacing. Two anchor types ship in the box, so match the anchor to your wall rather than using whichever is on top. Two screws on opposite sides hold fine on a sound wall, and each bracket has four pre-drilled holes for a weak wall. Hook the valance groove onto the bracket latch, press back until it clicks, and confirm top and rear have locked.

Order samples first, since most houses carry a run of these windows and you will be living with the same fabric in several rooms. Everything here carries a limited lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship, with motors and controls covered for five years.