If your blinds are too long, they’ll look bad and create a safety issue for your kids. The slats hanging below the windowsill can pose a strangulation hazard for your young children. Shortening the blinds is a quick and easy DIY project. Just remove the bottom slat and follow the step-by-step instructions given here.
Whether you need to remove slats or cut off the continuous fabric, here’s a quick and easy way to do this in just a few minutes.
Tools You’ll Need
Before you get started, collect these tools for perfectly resizing your blinds.
- A flathead screwdriver
- A sharp pair of scissors
- Hacksaw (to cut plastic or metal slats into halves)
- Steel tape measure
- A pencil (to draw the cutting line)
- A metal ruler (to be used in conjunction with scissors for better results)
Step-by-Step Instructions to Cut the Length of Too Long Blinds
Here are some easy steps to resize your blinds or reduce their vertical length.
Step 1: Lower Your Blinds
Close or lower the blinds to the full length and turn open the slats to see how much extra length they have. Hold the rod or wand and pull down until the blinds get fully lowered (or rolled down).
Step 2: Mark the Desired Length
Determine the desired length and mark it by drawing a line with pencil, indicating where to cut.
Step 3: Remove the Blinds from the Window
Remove the blind from the window and lay it on a flat surface.
Step 4: Identify Lift Cords
Identify the lift cords that control the operation (raising and lowering) of the blinds. (If your blinds are cordless, skip steps 4, 5, and 6.)
Step 5: Untie the Knots
Untie the knots at the end of the lift cords and safely remove the plastic end caps.
Step 6: Trim Excess Cords
Adjust the length of the lift cords to your desired length and trim the excess cords. Make sure to leave some extra length for tying knots.
Step 7: Cut and Remove Slats
Cut and remove all the blind slats below the marked line. In the case of inside mounted blinds, the bottom rail should be flush with the bottom sill. For outside mounted blinds, level the bottom rail with the bottom window trim and remove all the extra slats.
If plastic or metal slats are to be cut into halves, use a hacksaw.
Step 8: Cut the Ladder Cords
Identify and cut the horizontal ladder cords from the slats you just removed. Make sure to not cut the middle lift cord, as it is used to create the tension that pulls the blinds up and down.
Step 9: Remove the Plugs from the Blinds
Use a flathead screwdriver to remove the plug from the blinds. Gently pry the plugs out without detaching them from their cords.
Step 10: Reposition the Bottom Rail
Lift the bottom rail to the remaining slat in such a way that the leftover ladder cords dangle past the bottom rail.
Step 11: Retie the Knot on the Lift Cord
Retie knots on the lift cords at the desired length and trim the excess cords.
Step 12: Reattach Plastic End Caps and Plugs
Reattach the plastic end caps and place the plugs back into the hole. Secure the ladder cords and finish the blinds.
Step 13: Test the Blinds
Test the blinds to ensure they operate smoothly at the new length. Make adjustments, if needed.
Note: It’s important to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer of your blinds, as different window blinds may have slightly different mechanisms for adjusting the length.
Considerations When Shortening the Blinds
Once you have invested in your favorite window blinds, you need to be careful while shortening their length or resizing the blind along width to ensure a perfect fit.
When shortening the length of your window blinds, here are the key factors to consider.
Measurements
When determining the desired length, measure the exact distance from the top of the window frame to its bottom.
Subtractions
Ask your blind manufacturer to make subtractions for proper clearance and hanging. This will be the new length of the window blinds.
Cutting Excess Material
Use a hacksaw for cutting metal or plastic. Carefully saw through the excess material on the bottom rail of your blinds.
Smoothing Rough Edges
Use a file or sandpaper to smooth any rough edges.
Reattaching the Blinds
Carefully reattach the blinds to the window frame and adjust the cords to raise, lower or adjust the slats of the blinds.
Precaution
It is important to use caution when cutting the blinds. You also need to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. If you are not confident or comfortable cutting the blinds yourself, you can seek the services of a professional.
FAQs
Can you cut the length of blinds?
Yes, it’s easy. If your blind is made of slats, follow these 4 steps:
- Step 1: Remove the plugs located on the bottom side of the bottom rail to release the knotted lift cord and the string ladder.
- Step 2: Undo the knot in the lift cord.
- Step 3: Pull up the lift cord enough to release the slats (or vanes) you want to remove.
- Step 4: Finally, remove the bottom rail and the slat(s) necessary to shorten your blind to the desired length.
If your blind is made of continuous fabric and it’s too long to fit your odd sized window, follow these steps to cut the length:
- Step 1: Make light markings on the fabric of your shade, curtain, or drape to indicate where to cut.
- Step 2: Take a sharp pair of scissors and cut the fabric along the marked lines. Begin by cutting off the bulk of the excess.
- Step 3: Even out the edges for a perfect fit and look.
- When cutting blinds, do you cut both sides?
Is it OK if blinds are too long?
In the case of both the vertical and horizontal blinds mounted outside the frame, it is usually preferable to keep the blinds longer than the frame for better light control and privacy. Longer fabrics will also make your window look bigger. That’s why blinds being longer is perfectly normal and acceptable, and it’s usually more common than not.
When cutting blinds, do you cut both sides?
Yes, when cutting blinds, an even amount of fabric (or slats’ edges) should be cut off both sides. To get started, mark and measure where you would like to cut. If you only need to trim a small amount of material, remove the blinds from the lift side of the headrail and take the end stiffener off the headrail. In many ways only cutting one side is much easier. If the lift cords are on one side, you can only cut on the opposite side.
How do you cut roller blinds that are too long?
Use a straight edge ruler, the one that engineers and architects use, and a sharp pair of scissors to cut roller blinds that are too long. First draw a line on the blinds indicating where to cut. Next use the pair of scissors to cut the fabric along the cutting line. For best results and keep the straight line, do trimming scissors in conjunction with a metal ruler.
Need More Help?
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