Types of Custom Blinds We Install in Ottawa
Custom means made-to-measure from your exact window. Every blind and shade on this site can be custom. These are the jobs where custom is the only real option.
Hardwood Species Blinds
Beyond basswood: blinds in species and finishes chosen to match flooring, cabinetry or millwork. Popular in heritage homes and high-end renovations.
Exotic Material Blinds
Woven textures, metallic finishes, sheer horizontal shadings like Hunter Douglas Silhouette, and specialty fabrics that stock retailers do not carry.
Oversized Window Blinds
Window walls and two-storey glass. We plan single-piece shades up to about 12 feet wide, or multiple shades on one headrail that read as one.
Specialty Shape Blinds
Arches, half-rounds, trapezoids, gables, circles and skylights. We template the shape in-home by laser or paper and order to it.
Bespoke Colour Blinds
Fabric dyed or sourced to match a paint colour, a feature wall or a brand standard, ordered through our 15-supplier network.
The 5-Point Checklist Before Ordering Custom Blinds in Ottawa
- Measure in-home, not over the phone. Laser measurement to 1/16 inch, with the deduction allowance applied by the people who will install it.
- Check jamb depth. It decides inside or outside mount and which products fit at all.
- See samples in your own light. North and south light change colours more than people expect.
- Get it itemised. Measurement, materials, manufacture, delivery and install should each have a line.
- Confirm the timeline in writing. Standard is about 4 weeks. If you need it sooner, rush is $150-$450.
What Stops Ottawa Homeowners From Buying Custom Blinds?
Price shock. Custom blinds run $450-$3,500 per window installed. In our opinion, the real cost is the stock blind you replace in two years because it sat an inch short. Stock blinds cut to the nearest inch are like gym shorts worn to a wedding: works technically, but you’ll feel it all day.
Custom vs stock. Stock blinds come in standard sizes from 24 to 72 inches. If your window is a standard size and square, stock is fine. If it is not, custom is the only way to avoid gaps.
Is motorization worth it? On oversized and high windows, almost always. Nobody wants to pole-operate a 12-foot shade twice a day.
Delivery timeline. About 4 weeks from measure to install, or 2 weeks with rush.
How Much Do Custom Blinds Cost in Ottawa?
| Custom option | Typical installed price |
|---|---|
| Custom roller, zebra or cellular, standard shape | $450-$1,200 |
| Hunter Douglas Silhouette or similar shadings | $900-$2,500 |
| Arched, trapezoid or gable window | $800-$3,500 |
| Oversized single-piece shade (up to ~12 ft) | $1,500-$3,500 |
| Rush delivery (2-week vs standard 4-week) | $150-$450 |
All prices CAD and itemised. Try the estimator below, or see the complete Ottawa rate card.
Are Custom Blinds Worth It for a Home You Might Sell?
In the rooms buyers notice first, usually yes. Living rooms, the primary bedroom and anywhere with big windows show up in listing photos, and well-fitted blinds make rooms look finished and bright. Buyers also notice gaps, bent slats and mismatched blinds, and quietly add them to their reno list. If you plan to sell within a year or two, put custom blinds in the main rooms and choose simpler options for basements and secondary bedrooms. Neutral whites and greys appeal to the most buyers. Motorization and Hunter Douglas Silhouette can be selling points in Westboro and Kanata Lakes listings.
How Long Do Custom Blinds Take? Order to Install Timeline
Here is the usual path. Day 1: you book, and we measure in-home within 48 to 72 hours. At that visit you pick products and get a written quote. Day 3 to 5: you approve, and we order through our 15 Canadian suppliers. Weeks 3 to 4: product arrives, our lead installer checks it against the job sheet. Install day: most houses are done in a single day. Total is about 4 weeks. Rush delivery shortens manufacturing to about 2 weeks for $150-$450, which helps with possession dates and listing photo shoots. Specialty shapes and bespoke fabrics can add a week.
Custom Blinds for Arched, Angled and Skylight Windows
Shaped windows need a template, not just a width and height. For arches we make a paper template or laser-measure several points along the curve, then order a fixed arch shade or a movable shade cut to the curve. Trapezoids and gables get angle-cut shades that follow the slope, often motorized because they sit high. Skylights use shades that run in side tracks so they stay flat on a slope. These are the windows big-box stores will not quote, and in our experience the ones homeowners have lived with uncovered for years.
Custom vs Ready-Made Blinds: Price, Fit and Lifespan
Price: ready-made blinds run $95-$600 and custom $450-$3,500 per window installed. Fit: ready-made comes in standard sizes from 24 to 72 inches and gets trimmed, so most Ottawa windows end up with a gap. Custom is made to the measured opening. Lifespan: custom products use better components and are sized correctly, so they wear evenly and last longer. Timeline: ready-made can be picked up the same week, custom takes 3-4 weeks. Our Nepean showroom stocks both, so you can mix: stock for a basement, custom for the living room.
What Happens During an In-Home Blind Measurement
A certified measurer arrives with a laser measure, a depth gauge and 400+ samples. They measure every window at three widths and two heights, record jamb depth, note obstructions like cranks, handles and alarm sensors, and check whether frames are square. You compare fabrics, slats and colours at the actual windows, in your own light. Then you get a written, itemised CAD quote. Most visits take 45 to 90 minutes. The consultation is free and comes with a $150 credit toward your order, whether you book that day or later.
How Much Do Custom Blinds Cost in Ontario?
Across Ontario, custom blind pricing depends on the product, window size and shape, and the brand. Many companies only share a price after a home visit. We publish ours: $450-$3,500 per window installed in Ottawa, with whole-home packages for 10-14 windows from $2,800 to $9,500. Our recent projects give a feel for real numbers: a Barrhaven new build with 14 cordless cellular shades at $4,200, a Rockcliffe Park heritage home with 22 wood blinds in curved bays at $9,800, and a Kanata Lutron Serena main floor at $12,500.
