In specifying roller shades an often-overlooked item is what side of the roller shade the chain pull should go on. This information is very important and is not something that can be easily changed in the field. Notice we did say easily, so to clarify some manufacturers’ roller shades can be switched with some onsite work. Other manufactures have a fascia/bracket/clutch combination that necessitates the fascia being notched and therefore these cannot be altered onsite.

Make sure to check out our comparative posts, including further detail on the different roller shade manufacturers; 'SWF Contract Roller Shade Comparison' and 'Mariak Roller Shade Comparison'. The simplest answer to the question of which side the chain pull should hang on is that it doesn’t actually matter functionally. You can have it on the left or you can have it on the right and the roller shade is going to work just the same either way.

That being said you shouldn’t consider the chain pull just a throw away specification item, but rather should ask yourself ‘what side would make the functioning of the roller shade easiest and the most common sense to a guest?’ When asking yourself this question, you will have to consider the placement of the furniture and other elements that may affect a guest’s access to the window area.

Usually a decision is made in one of two categories. Either a designer specifies that all chain pulls be on the same side, i.e. always on the right side; or a designer specifies that a chain pull should always be located on a side the corresponds with a piece of furniture (usually the bed). In this case, a designer may specify that the chain pull should always be on the side closest to the bed or the side opposite the headboard. This type of specification allows a project manager the ability to easily look at the floor plans and have each roller shade made in correspondence to the specification note.

Typically, with banks for windows with multiple un-coupled roller shades each roller shade is specified with the chain pull on the same side for continuity sake. This may be altered when a roller shade is obstructed by an object (such as in a tight corner) and therefore the chain pull should be switched to the opposite side.

The last thing to consider is that chain pulls are not always needed. Roller Shades can be motorized and therefore outfitted either with wall switches or wireless remotes. With this functionality you can place the wall switch or wireless remote wherever you would like so that the guest has easy access at all times. Take a look at our motorized options for further information on wall switches & remotes (for either drapery or shades).

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