Are you concerned about measuring for plantation shutters and blinds? Here is a guide from the pros and an excellent way to be sure you do not mess up this critical process.

This first thing you need to do is organize your measures on a work sheet.   Click measurement worksheet to see an example. They are designed to help keep your window measurements in an organized and useful pattern. This makes selection, ordering, and installation much more efficient.

One of the  biggest mistakes to avoid is in the order which you state the width and height. Remember, for the window covering industry, width always first and height second.. Window treatments are always stated in inches only. Shutters measurements are always done to 1/8th of an inch and not to16ths of an inch so always round down. When measuring for an inside mount blinds, round down to the nearest 1/8 of an inch and for outside mounts windows, round up to the nearest 1/8th of an inch.

The second mistake to avoid is believing all your windows are the exact same size. Measure every window opening and never order blinds off the measurements of existing blinds that have been already installed.

Below is a standard pattern used by the best blinds professionals and it is very easy to do.

Measure in a clockwise pattern. Standing at the front door, facing inside the house, start with the room that is on your left. For example, let's say it is your living room and there are 2 windows in there. First, measure the first one on your left and use a simple code like LV 1 to name it, LV2 will be for the second. If you put this code on "window location" on the measure worksheet, the blind factory will label that location on each blind. When the blinds are being hung, the room location tags will let you know right away where each one goes. Second, move clockwise and do the same (left to right) for the next room. Keep the same pattern up for the entire floor until you are back to the first window.  If you have multiple floors, do the same thing for each floor.

For best results, use two people. Start with one person measuring and reading the tape and the second person that writes it down on the measure worksheet. Be sure to always use a metal tape measure so it stays straight. After one person is done, trade places. Then you can compare measurements and make sure no mistakes were allowed.