How to Choose Mount Type, Valance, and Bottom Rail for Your Weffort Custom Shades

How to Choose Mount Type, Valance, and Bottom Rail for Your Weffort Custom Shades

on Oct 24 2026
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    Quick Answer: Choose in order: the mount from the recess, the valance from the depth you have, and the bottom rail from the trim and the sill. Weffort’s measuring guide lists a minimum inside-mount depth of 1 3/4 inches (4.5 cm) for a cassette valance and 2 inches (5 cm) for a square valance, and an inside side mount needs “Side Mount” written in the order notes so the factory can adjust the order[1]. For finish, the Texture Series wraps its valance in fabric matching the shade, and the Signature Dark Series uses a fabric-wrapped aluminum bottom rail with an optional cassette[2]. One reviewer’s order shows a standard valance paired with a black square bottom rod[3].

    One-line rule: Let the recess choose the mount, the depth choose the valance, and the trim choose the bottom rail.

    These three order lines decide what you see when the shade is up and where it stops when it is down. The valance is what shows at the top of a raised shade, and the bottom rail draws the line at the sill when it is lowered. Our mount and roll-direction guide covers mount logic in full; this page focuses on the hardware you see.

    How Do You Choose the Mount First?

    Start from the recess. A recess too shallow for the valance can still take an inside mount: where the frame is flat, Weffort can provide extension brackets. Frames that are visibly out of square, or shallow and not flat, go to an outside mount.

    Window condition Mount to start with Note
    Deep, square recess with a flat top surface Inside top mount Inside top mount is the default on the order[1]
    Brackets can only go on the side jambs Inside side mount Write “Side Mount” in the order notes, or the factory cannot make the adjustment
    A handle or crank in the fabric path Inside mount, then inside with extension brackets, then outside Our fit guide explains each step
    Recess too shallow for the valance, on a flat frame Inside mount with extension brackets Confirm the extension brackets with customer service before ordering
    A shallow frame that is not flat, or a frame visibly out of square Outside mount Needs 2 to 3 inches of flat space above the window for brackets[1]
    A rental where drilling is not allowed No Drill Dark Series, inside only Tension mount with a cover plate in place of exposed brackets

    Inside mounting rewards accuracy. Mighty Gadget’s reviewer found accuracy critical for an inside mount, and the shade fitted the recess closely[3]. WIRED’s buying advice is to measure, measure again, and have a second person check the numbers[4]. For darkness, the ranking is an inside mount with compatible light blockers or tracks, then an inside mount alone, then an outside mount; our blackout mount guide maps the leak paths.

    Which Valance Fits Your Recess?

    The valance covers the roller at the top of the shade, so its depth decides whether a standard inside mount fits; below the minimum, a flat frame can take an inside mount on extension brackets.

    Valance style Inside-mount depth needed Where it fits
    Cassette valance 1 3/4 inches (4.5 cm) Recesses between 1 3/4 and 2 inches deep, and deeper ones
    Square valance 2 inches (5 cm) Recesses with at least 2 inches of clear depth
    Fabric-wrapped valance (Texture Series) Follows the valance style Rooms where the top of the shade should match the fabric

    Measure the depth where the brackets will sit, since a lock, crank, or deep trim can take up part of an otherwise deep recess. A recess of 1 7/8 inches, for example, clears the cassette minimum and falls short of the square-valance minimum. Minimum depth is the threshold for a standard inside mount; if the valance must sit flush with the front of the frame, ask customer service to confirm the projection for your configuration.

    In the reviewer’s order record, the valance type is listed as “Standard,” and the reviewer found the raised cassette reasonably discreet[3]. Look at the valance options on your series in the configurator, and compare them with the trim depth you measured.

    How Do the Valance and Fabric Width Work Together?

    The ordered width is the width of the valance and assembly. The fabric runs about 1 3/16 inches narrower than the valance so it can travel freely[1], which leaves a thin running clearance at each side of an inside mount. That clearance is product geometry, and ordering a wider shade to close it would stop the assembly fitting the recess.

    At the top, the valance covers the roller, and on an outside mount it sits on the wall or trim above the opening. The measuring guide adds 3 to 6 inches to the width and height for an outside mount[1], and that overlap carries the valance past the frame on both sides. The installation itself is a bracket-and-clip job: in the reviewer’s install, the brackets were screwed into the frame and the cassette clipped onto them with three spring-loaded clips[3], and in SmartHomeScene’s review the shade snapped into place once the brackets were up[5].

    Which Bottom Rail Should You Choose?

    The bottom rail weights the fabric and draws the closed line. Mighty Gadget’s reviewer found the bottom rail had a good weight to it, helping the shade hang straight and operate smoothly[3]. Two finishes appear in Weffort’s documentation:

    • A fabric-wrapped aluminum bottom rail, used on the Signature Dark Series, which blends the rail into the fabric.
    • A black square bottom rod, chosen in the reviewer’s order, which draws a crisp line against a light sill or a dark frame[3].

    Pick the finish by what surrounds it. A rail that matches the fabric suits a window where the shade should read as one surface; a dark rod suits black frames, dark trim, or modern rooms. Then check the path: on an inside mount, the rail should meet the sill when the bottom limit is set, and on an outside mount it should clear the bottom of the frame. The travel limits are adjusted with the remote after mounting[5], so the rail can be set to that line at the window.

    How Do the Three Choices Work Together?

    Design goal Mount Valance Bottom rail
    A shade that blends into the window Inside Fabric-wrapped valance, where the series offers it Fabric-wrapped rail
    Crisp, modern lines Inside or outside Square valance Black square rod
    A shallow frame Inside, adding extension brackets on a flat frame below the depth minimum Cassette valance, or the slim headrail of the Compact Series The series’ standard rail
    The darkest bedroom Inside, with compatible edge hardware[3] The style that fits the depth A rail set to meet the sill
    A rental No-Drill tension mount Cover plate in place of exposed brackets The series’ standard rail

    Roll direction joins the same decision. Reverse roll drops the fabric from the front of the roller, which can clear handles and change how the fabric meets compatible tracks; our fit guide explains when to choose it. The Signature Dark Series also uses a reinforced roller tube that helps keep the fabric rolling straight[2].

    What Should You Confirm Before You Order?

    1. Measure the recess depth where the brackets will sit, and compare it with 1 3/4 and 2 inches.
    2. Choose inside top or inside side mount, and write “Side Mount” in the order notes if needed.
    3. For an outside mount, check 2 to 3 inches of flat space above the window.
    4. Pick the valance style that fits the depth, and look at its finish against the trim.
    5. Choose the bottom rail finish, and check that it clears handles on its way to the sill.
    6. Order samples to compare fabric, valance, and trim colors together.
    7. Ask customer service about extension brackets, flush fit, or clearance at +1 877-933-3671, through 24/7 live chat, or at support@weffortshades.com.

    Our made-to-measure guide explains the other order fields, from width and height to motor side.

    FAQ

    What is a roller shade valance?
    The cover at the top of the shade that hides the roller. Weffort’s measuring guide lists two valance styles with inside-mount depth minimums: 1 3/4 inches for a cassette valance and 2 inches for a square valance.

    How deep does a window need to be for an inside-mount valance?
    At least 1 3/4 inches (4.5 cm) for a cassette valance and 2 inches (5 cm) for a square valance, measured where the brackets will sit. On a shallower recess with a flat frame, Weffort can provide extension brackets for an inside mount.

    Should I choose a cassette or a square valance?
    Let the depth decide first: a recess between 1 3/4 and 2 inches takes the cassette. With 2 inches or more, choose by look, such as a square valance for crisp lines.

    What does the bottom rail do?
    It weights the fabric and draws the closed line. Mighty Gadget’s reviewer found the rail’s weight helped the shade hang straight and operate smoothly[3].

    Do I need to tell Weffort if I want a side mount?
    Yes. Write “Side Mount” in the order notes; without it, the factory cannot make the adjustment for side mounting.

    Can the valance match the fabric?
    On the Texture Series, the valance is wrapped in fabric matching the shade. For other series, compare the valance options in the configurator against your fabric sample.

    Bottom Line

    Mount, valance, and bottom rail are three decisions taken in order. The recess picks the mount, with inside top mount as the default and “Side Mount” in the order notes when brackets go on the jambs. The depth picks the valance: 1 3/4 inches for a cassette valance and 2 inches for a square valance. The trim and sill pick the bottom rail, from a fabric-wrapped rail that blends in to a black square rod that draws a clear line.

    Check the bracket spot, the flat space above an outside mount, and the rail’s path past any handle, then compare samples of fabric and finish together. When the three choices agree, the shade looks finished when it is raised and closes cleanly when it is down.

    References

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