So, you’re in. The boxes are in the right rooms (mostly), the van has driven away, and you’ve finally found the box with the kettle. You breathe a huge sigh of relief, order a well-deserved takeaway, and… 7 PM hits.
It gets dark. You turn the lights on. And suddenly you realise you’re on full display to the entire street.
We call this “the goldfish bowl.” It’s that awful, exposed feeling on your first night, and it’s the one thing everyone forgets. You’re exhausted, you’re stressed, and the last thing on earth you want to do is start a fiddly, high-pressure DIY job.
Look, I’ll be honest with you. Hanging blinds isn’t just “a quick job.” It’s one of those tasks that looks easy but is secretly designed to make you lose your mind.
In This Guide, You’ll Find:
- Why That “Simple” DIY Job Is Never Simple
- The DIY Disasters We’ve Seen
- A Pro’s Take on Manchester Blind and Curtain Fitting
- Simple Tips if You’re Doing It Yourself
- A Few More Things People Always Ask…
Why That “Simple” DIY Job Is Never Simple
Here’s the thing most people don’t realise until it’s too late: hanging a curtain pole or a blind isn’t about the blind. It’s about what’s inside your wall.
Is it a modern plasterboard wall? An old Victorian brick wall? A post-war concrete lintel that eats drill bits for breakfast?
- Drill into plasterboard without the right fixing, and the whole thing will just fall out, leaving a massive, crumbly hole.
- Try to drill into a brick or concrete lintel (that’s the hard bit above the window) with a standard drill, and you’ll get nowhere but a cloud of dust and a blunt drill bit.
You need the right drill, the right bits, and the right wall plugs (rawl plugs). Most people find this out at 9 PM on a Sunday, with one bracket hanging off the wall.
The DIY Disasters We See All the Time
We get called to fix these jobs a lot. Here are the top mistakes we see:
- The Wonky Pole: The classic “that looks level to me” eyeball. You put the curtains up, and they immediately all slide to one end. Infuriating.
- The ‘Too Low’ Disaster: You’ve drilled, plugged, and screwed in the whole pole, only to find you’ve hung it so low that the curtains bunch up on the floor or, worse, you can’t even open the window.
- The “Hope and Pray” Fixing: Using the wrong wall plug for plasterboard. It holds for about 10 minutes, just long enough for you to feel proud of yourself, and then the whole lot comes crashing down.
A Pro’s Take on Manchester Blind and Curtain Fitting
This is where a professional service makes all the difference. When our team is on a job—like you see in the photos—we’re not just guessing.
We’ve got the proper tools:
- A Professional Combi Drill: One that can handle brick, wood, and concrete.
- A Spirit Level: A big, proper one. Not an app on a phone. You can see our lad in the photo with his level right there on the window sill, making sure it’s perfect.
- A Box of Every Fixing: We carry every type of wall plug, so we’re prepared for whatever your wall throws at us.
Our furniture assembly and handyman service isn’t just about beds and wardrobes. It’s about finishing the job. It’s about taking that last, annoying 10% of the move off your hands so you can actually relax. We can get all your blinds and poles up in an hour, perfectly straight and totally secure, while you’re unpacking the kitchen.
Simple Tips if You’re Doing It Yourself
Look, if you’re determined to tackle it, I respect that. Here are a few bits of honest advice:
- Measure Three Times: Seriously. Measure the wall, measure the pole, measure the window. Check where the brackets need to go and make sure they’re not hitting a pipe or a cable.
- Get a Good Drill: If you’re drilling into brick, you need a hammer drill. Don’t try and use a standard cordless driver, you’ll just burn the motor out.
- Buy Decent Wall Plugs: Don’t use the flimsy ones that come in the box. Go to a proper hardware store like B&Q and get the right ones for your wall type (plasterboard, brick, etc.).
Oh, and a few other things people always ask us…
Q: Can you just come and hang one curtain pole for me? A: Absolutely. Our “man and van” service isn’t just for big moves. We’re here for the small, fiddly jobs too. Give us a bell, and we can sort it.
Q: I bought these blinds, but they’re too wide. Can you cut them? A: Honestly, it depends. Some Venetian blinds are designed to be cut to size, but it’s a specialist job. We’re happy to take a look, but our advice is always to get the measurements perfect before you buy.
Q: Does this mean you can put up my shelves and TV bracket too? A: Yes! That’s all part of the same service. Your new home setup. We can get all those “blue-tack” jobs done for you in one go. Check out more of our tips on our blog.
Don’t spend your first night in the “goldfish bowl” and your first weekend in a DIY nightmare. Just give us a bell.
We can add this service to your move or book it in for a separate day. Let’s get your new house feeling like a home, with privacy included.
- Phone: 0161 507 2417 or 07490 323949
- Email: contact@metromananvan.co.uk
- Online: Get in touch here for a no-nonsense quote.
See our team in action on Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter).
(Company Number: METRO MAN AND VAN LTD 14172532)
