Stop Hanging Single 70 Inch Faux Wood Blinds on Wide Windows

I remember standing in my first 'real' living room, staring at a massive double window that looked out over a busy street. It was 70 inches of pure architectural challenge. In a fit of DIY optimism, I ordered 70 inch faux wood blinds, thinking I could just mount one giant unit and call it a day. I spent two hours sweating over a drill, only to realize I hadn't just bought a window treatment; I'd bought a physical liability that would eventually pull the anchors right out of my drywall.

• Single spans over 60 inches almost always sag in the center due to material weight.
• The lift cords on extra-wide composite blinds are prone to snapping under the 20+ pound load.
• Two blinds on a single headrail provide better light control and a much longer lifespan.
• Strategic drapery is the designer secret for hiding the light gap between split blinds.

The Gravity Problem With Massive Double Windows

Large windows are a blessing for natural light but a curse for hardware. When I finally moved into a place with decent trim, I immediately replaced my metal minis with something that had more weight and presence. Faux wood is the go-to because it handles humidity and looks like the real deal, but it is deceptively heavy.

Some of my clients initially push for roller shades because they want a clean, single-panel look across a wide frame. But if your home has traditional crown molding or deep sills, those flat fabrics can feel a bit too clinical. You want the texture of slats, but once you cross that 60-inch threshold, the physics of the material starts working against you. Standard frames just aren't built to support a single massive slab of PVC and wood flour without some serious structural help.

Why I Never Specify a Single 70-Inch Wide Span

Ordering 70 inch wide faux wood blinds as a single unit is a mistake I only made once. Faux wood is actually a dense composite. When you stretch that material across nearly six feet, you are asking the mounting brackets and the internal ladder strings to do an impossible job. I once installed a single-span unit in a rental, and by the time I moved out, the middle bracket had bent a full 15 degrees downward.

In my experience, a blind this size is a beast to install. You're balancing a heavy, awkward bar while trying to snap it into brackets that are screaming under the tension. Even if you get it up, the daily wear and tear of opening and closing it will eventually destroy the internal components. It's not a matter of if the blind will fail, but when.

The Dreaded 'Smiling' Slat Dilemma

Have you ever seen a window treatment that looks like it's frowning at you? That is the 'smiling' slat effect. Because the center of a 70-inch span lacks enough vertical support, gravity pulls the middle of each slat downward. Within six months, that crisp, horizontal line becomes a permanent curve. It looks cheap and tired. I once tried to 'fix' a client's sagging slats by adding extra support strings, but once the PVC has heat-set into that shape during a warm July, it’s permanent.

The Cord-Snapping Weight Issue

Lifting a massive composite blind is basically a gym workout. Every time you pull that cord, you're putting immense friction on the locking mechanism. I've seen cords fray and snap mid-pull, sending twenty pounds of slats crashing onto a mahogany windowsill. It is why so many people eventually give up and swap them for cordless custom double roller blinds just to avoid the literal headache of a broken lift system and a bruised ego.

The 'Two-on-One' Headrail Trick Designers Swear By

Here is the secret: you order two separate blinds, but you specify a 'two-on-one' headrail or a single continuous valance. This allows you to have two manageable 35-inch blinds sitting side-by-side. You get two sets of controls, meaning you can keep the left side closed to block glare on the TV while the right side stays open for the dog to look out. It's about functionality as much as it is about physics.

I find that choosing sleek 1 inch faux wood blinds for this setup works beautifully. The narrower slats keep the profile from looking too chunky on a wide window. You get the architectural interest of the louvers without the bulk of a 2-inch slat that sticks out three inches from the casing. It looks tailored, intentional, and most importantly, it won't fall on your head.

What to Do If You Already Have Faux Wood Blinds 70 Inches Wide

If you already bought faux wood blinds 70 inches wide, don't panic, but do change how you use them. Stop raising and lowering them every day. The lift mechanism is the first thing to fail. Instead, keep the blinds lowered to their full length and use the tilt wand to control light and privacy. This keeps the tension consistent and prevents the cords from fraying.

If you must raise them for cleaning, use your hand to help support the bottom rail as you pull the cord. This takes the weight off the internal strings. It's a bit of a chore, but it will extend the life of your investment. Also, check your mounting brackets once a month. If you see the screws starting to pull away from the wood, it's time to pull them down before they take the trim with them.

How I Camouflage the Split With Strategic Drapery

The only downside to the two-on-one method is the tiny light gap between the two blinds. I hide this by hanging a stationary drapery panel right over the center point. I usually go for a heavy 200 gsm linen blend with a 2.5x fullness. By mounting a rod 6 inches above the window frame and letting the fabric 'kiss' the floor, you draw the eye up and away from the split in the blinds. It makes the entire window look like a custom-built feature rather than a hardware store compromise.

Is a 70-inch blind too heavy for one person to install?

Yes. Beyond the weight, the sheer length makes it impossible to hold level while engaging the brackets. You need two people and heavy-duty toggle bolts if you aren't hitting a wall stud.

Will faux wood blinds warp in the sun?

High-quality faux wood is UV-rated, but extreme heat can cause the 'smiling' effect on wider spans. Stick to lighter colors like white or alabaster to reflect heat and keep the material cool.

Can I cut down a 70-inch blind myself?

I don't recommend it. DIY cutting usually leaves jagged edges and messes with the string spacing. If the strings are too far from the edge, the ends of the slats will droop even faster.