Multiple Blinds on a Headrail – When One Blind Isn’t Enough

Most windows have one headrail and one blind. On occasion, you may see multiple blinds on the same headrail…. and for good reason: the width of the window or glass door makes having only one blind impractical. Oversized blinds are more likely to warp or place too great a strain on the blind’s lift mechanism, especially with faux wood blinds which are heavy. Certainly, you could go with a lighter material for your horizontals, but you shouldn’t have to give up the warmth and durability of faux wood, if that’s the material you want for your room.

Regardless of width or material, the solution for oversized windows is simple: use 2 or 3 blinds hanging from a single headrail. You can close/open one or all blinds as needed, and each blind’s mechanism will be able to handle the weight of that blind. Use one single valence to cover the length of the headrail (and all the blinds), giving the illusion of a single blind.

The advantages of having multiple blinds on a headrail become more evident when you have sliding glass doors. Using vertical blinds is the most common covering for your sliding glass doors, but they’re not always the best choice for your room. If all the blinds in your room are horizontals, using verticals on your sliding glass or patio doors will look odd. There is something to be said for consistency. But if you use one long horizontal blind to cover your sliding glass doors, you’ll find the weight of raising the blind difficult and risky. Using multiple horizontal blinds on one headrail allows you to maintain a consistent look throughout your room. You can open the blind for the door that slides open and leave the other blind(s) down (or open). You’ll have an easier time going in and out of your home with multiple blinds too since raising one of two or three blinds is easier than raising one long, heavy horizontal blind.