Vertical blinds are a popular addition in many homes. They’re perfect for those looking for a way to maintain privacy, without sacrificing light flowing into their room. Vertical blinds are best fitted amongst French doors and large windows – as they’re simple to use and glide side-to-side easily.
But, an easy mistake many buyers make when ordering vertical blinds online is overestimating the size they need. If this has happened to you, there’s no need to fret. Luckily, you can shorten vertical blinds at home without professional help.
Find out how to shorten vertical blinds yourself with Solaire Blinds and our vast blinds-related expertise, below.
Is it okay if blinds are too long?
Yes, it is okay for blinds to be too long, but they mustn’t be too long. Vertical blinds should ideally overlap the top of your window recess by at least an inch.
And, if you do find your blinds are still too long and overlap at the bottom, you can still make slight changes to them afterward.
How to shorten your vertical blinds at home
We’ve highlighted three easy steps when shortening your vertical blinds at home below – so you know exactly where to start.
Step one: Ensure you have the appropriate tools
When making any changes to your blinds, you need to make sure you have the correct tools. This is especially the case when shortening vertical blinds, as one incorrect move could lead to:
- Jagged or uneven cuts – this can make the blinds look less polished in their appearance
- Damage to the blinds, such as cracks and splinters in the material – this can shorten the longevity of your blinds
To avoid the above occurring, you must use the appropriate equipment, such as the following:
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Utility knife
- Step ladder
- A level
- Sandpaper
Step two: Take your measurements
Next, you need to measure your slats to ensure they meet your desired length, but ensure you have removed them from their rail first. If clips hold your blinds, you just need to detach them carefully. For those looking to detach roller blinds, check out our blog to ensure a smooth removal.
When shortening vertical blinds, it’s best to start by measuring the length of your window. This will ensure that your new shortened blind length still covers the window in its entirety – which is necessary for privacy, and to maintain the heat of your home.
When you’re happy with your window measurement, you’ll have more of an idea of how much length you need to shorten your vane by. Remember, you must cut from the top of the slat as the folded pockets are used as bottom weights, ensuring the blinds hang correctly.
Step three: Cut each hanger carefully, smooth and check
Either raise the height of your headrail slightly to reduce the length of the slats. Or, if your slats have a double hanger at the top, snip off the top hanger and hang the slat back on to the headrail. This will give you a few mm’s to play with length-wise.
For the best fit, use a level to check the measurements are all the same. This helps to avoid uneven cuts occurring. Use scissors or a utility knife to cut along the hanger – as this will provide more precision.
Now you’ve cut all of the slats, you can reattach one to check it’s the length you need. You can smooth the edges over the hanger with sandpaper to give them a polished finish – and clip them back into place.
Solaire’s Top Tip – when cutting down any blind, ensure you have a large smooth work area so the fabric is laid out and not crumpled.
Things to avoid when shortening vertical blinds
With any DIY project, there are several things you must avoid doing. This applies to those shortening vertical blinds as well, as taking the wrong steps could lead to damage. To help you, here is a list of things you should avoid when shortening your vertical blinds:
- Taking the incorrect measurements: It’s best to double-check that the measurements you’ve taken are absolutely correct. Otherwise, you might take too much length off. If you’re not sure how much length you should remove, trim a little bit at a time until you reach the perfect fit. At Solaire Blinds we make all our blinds bespoke to your window size. To prevent your slats being too long or too short, make sure to contact us and arrange a home survey and let us do the work for you.
- Using the wrong tools: Ensure you’ve used the right tools when shortening your blinds. The tools you should use depend on their material. For example, you’ll need a stronger tool to cut vinyl than you would when cutting fabric. Remember to ensure your tools are sharpened as well, as blunt objects can splinter your blinds or cause jagged edges.
- Cutting slats/hangers all at once: It’s tempting to want to cut your slats all at once for time efficiency, but doing so could lead to uneven cuts. That’s why you should make time to cut each hanger precisely for precision. It might take a bit longer, but you’ll be more satisfied with the result.
Fortunately, when you work with Solaire Blinds, you won’t need to worry about your blinds being the wrong fit. Our bespoke service includes one of our representatives performing a survey of your home to ensure the blinds you purchase are tailored correctly.
How do you clean vertical blinds?
To clean vertical blinds, it’s best to remove them from their rail first. This ensures you tackle every bit of dust and dirt in hard-to-reach places, as well as helping you avoid damage to your blinds.
Next, dust along the rail and remove any marks with a cloth. For the slats, use warm water and a sponge to tackle any stains. Finally, lie each slat down in a place where they can dry without being stepped on.
Are vertical blinds good at keeping heat in?
Vertical blinds do keep heat in better than others, due to there being smaller gaps between each slat. But, the best types of blinds for thermal insulation are those made from single-piece fabric.
For more information about using blinds for thermal insulation, check out our blog.
Come Down to a Solaire Blinds Showroom to See for Yourself
Seeing is believing, and our blinds showrooms in Wakefield and Leeds display the best of our window blinds to all customers who prefer to see for themselves in person.
Be guided through our wide range of blinds, fabrics and styles by one of our experienced showroom blinds experts. Gain an insight into our best heat retaining blinds, like our thrillingly innovative reflective roller blinds which defend against heat loss when it’s cold, and shield your home from strong direct sunlight when it’s hot.
Book a Free Design Consultation Today
At Solaire Blinds, we provide our clients with a free design service to help them select the perfect blinds for their homes. Our range of window blinds and window coverings is extensive, with the choice to pick from a vast range of fabrics and textiles.
However, if you’d prefer to design your blinds at home, those living throughout the North West can receive an expert visit from a Solaire representative, who will measure your space and ensure the sizing is right for your room. Our staff are as friendly as they are experienced, and well-equipped to provide a design consultation that takes your unique requirements into account.
To book your free design consultation, and take advantage of a Solaire no-obligation quote, contact us at your earliest convenience.
