Inside Mounting 46 Blinds Was a Mistake (Here's What I Do Now)

I used to be an inside-mount purist. There is something deeply satisfying about a flush fit, or at least there was until I realized my apartment builder used a literal protractor from a cereal box to frame my bedroom window. I spent three hours trying to hammer a set of 46 blinds into a space that was exactly 45.9 inches at the top and 46.1 inches at the bottom.

The result? A motorized headrail that groaned every time it moved and a light gap that let the sun stab me in the eye at 6:15 AM. I finally ripped them out, patched the holes, and went with an outside mount. It changed the entire room.

• Outside mounting prevents motor binding caused by 'un-square' window frames.
• Using 46 inch wide window blinds on a smaller window creates a high-end hotel aesthetic.
• Smart motors last longer when they aren't fighting friction from side jambs.
• Calibration is key when you don't have a physical window sill to stop the descent.

The Day I Gave Up on Inside Mounting

We have all been there. You measure the top, middle, and bottom of the frame. You order your 46 in blinds with that standard half-inch deduction, and you assume it will slide in like a glove. But drywall is a liar. In my last place, the corner bead was slightly flared, meaning the 46 inch blinds fit at the top but squeezed the motor casing the moment the shade started to drop.

Smart motors are sensitive. They are designed to stop if they sense resistance to prevent the motor from burning out or the fabric from tearing. Every time I triggered my 'Good Night' scene, the left side would catch on the paint, the motor would groan at 40dB, and the shade would stall halfway down. It was the opposite of the 'set it and forget it' dream.

Why 46 Inch Window Blinds Are the Perfect Candidate for Outside Mounts

If you have a standard 40-inch wide bedroom window, do not buy 40-inch blinds. Buy 46 inch wide window blinds and mount them four inches above the trim. This is the 'designer secret' that makes a cramped apartment feel like a suite at the Park Hyatt. By covering the trim entirely, you trick the eye into thinking the glass is much larger than it actually is.

I recently swapped my old venetians for Spica Series Motorized Light Filtering Sheer Shades using this exact method. Because they are 46 inch window shades covering a smaller opening, there is zero light leakage on the sides. The sheer fabric glows when the sun hits it, and because the brackets are mounted to the wall rather than squeezed into the jamb, the motor runs perfectly silent.

The Friction Problem: How Drywall Kills Smart Motors

Precision is the enemy of the DIYer when it comes to internal mounts. Most smart motors have an overload protection circuit. If your 46x46 window blinds rub against the side of the frame even slightly, the motor draws more current to compensate. The logic board sees that spike and thinks the shade has hit an obstruction, causing it to stop or reverse.

This is why people often think their batteries are dying or their Zigbee signal is weak. In reality, the motor is just tired of fighting your house. I learned this the hard way after thinking I had a dud unit. Once I moved to an outside mount, the battery life on my 46 inch window blinds jumped from four months to nearly seven. If you are still on the fence, check out this Blog Why Choose Smart Blinds for more on how automation should actually simplify your life, not add chores.

Getting the Spacing Right (Without Looking Goofy)

The biggest fear with outside mounting 46 inch wide blinds is that they will look like a random slab of plastic stuck to the wall. To avoid this, follow the 'three and three' rule: mount the brackets three inches above the window trim and ensure you have at least three inches of overlap on either side of the glass.

For 46 in wide blinds, this usually means you are covering a window that is roughly 40 inches wide. This overlap is crucial for light blocking. If you mount them too low, you see the top of the roller mechanism from the street. If you mount them too narrow, you get a halo effect of light that makes it impossible to sleep in on Saturdays.

Re-Calibrating Your Limits for Outside Mounts

When you inside-mount 46 window blinds, the window sill acts as a safety net. If you mess up the programming, the bottom rail just hits the wood and stops. With an outside mount, your 46 x 46 window shades have nothing to stop them but the floor (or your furniture). You have to be precise with your digital limits.

I use a Zigbee bridge to set my limits. I drop the shade until it is exactly one inch below the bottom trim, then save that as the 'lower limit' in the app. This process is similar to Mastering The Wide Window A Complete Guide To Selecting 60 Inch Blinds And Shades—the wider the treatment, the more you notice a crooked limit. Take the extra two minutes to level your brackets with a laser level, or your 46 inch mini blinds will look slanted against the horizontal lines of your window trim.

The Final Verdict: Is It Worth Re-Hanging Everything?

Patching drywall is annoying. I hate sanding as much as the next person. But the difference between 46 window shade units that struggle in a tight frame and those that glide freely on an outside mount is night and day. You get better light blocking, a more expensive-looking room, and a motor that won't give up the ghost in six months.

If your windows aren't perfectly square—and trust me, they aren't—stop trying to force a fit. Go wide, go high, and let the motor breathe. Your smart home setup will finally feel as polished as it looks in the brochures.

FAQ

Do 46 inch blinds come with mounting hardware?

Yes, almost all 46 inch wide blinds include brackets for both inside and outside mounting. For outside mounts, you will just be drilling into the wall or trim instead of the inner window header.

Will 46 inch window shades block all light?

Only if you outside mount them with at least two inches of overlap on each side. If you inside mount, you will almost always have a 'light gap' where the fabric meets the brackets.

How do I clean 46 inch mini blinds?

Use a microfiber cloth or a vacuum with a brush attachment. If they are motorized, never spray liquid cleaner directly onto the headrail where the motor and battery are located.