Windows of residential and office premises are very often decorated with blinds. For this reason, in the construction markets of any city you can find a large assortment of similar products. You can easily choose a product of the right colors and parameters that will fit perfectly into your home interior.
But what if the parameters of the window opening were measured incorrectly and you purchased an interior element that does not fit at all? In such a situation, you can independently adjust the product to the desired size.
In our article we will tell you how to shorten the blinds with your own hands. Using the methods described, you can change the size of new slats that were purchased recently. Also, with their help, you can set the necessary parameters for the old canvas, which you decided to hang on another window opening.
Varieties of products
Modern blinds are very diverse, but still divided into two main groups:
- products with horizontal stripes;
- vertical varieties.
Each option consists of a number of components with which youyou will have to work to perform an independent repair of the blinds. If you have to fit vertical products that need to be reduced in width, then the cornice, inner stem, chain and the lamellas themselves must be trimmed.
Horizontal varieties are a bit easier to work with. The process of shortening comes down to trimming the strips themselves and the cord on which they are fixed. Let's take a closer look at all the available methods.
Reducing the length of horizontal products
Before shortening horizontal blinds, measure the parameters of the new opening several times. In this process, it is important not to make mistakes, since it will be difficult, and in some cases impossible, to increase the parameters of the canvas.
If you need to reduce the canvas height, do the following:
- Move the product to the "Open" position. Release the retaining cord at the level of the lowest band. It can be untied or simply cut off.
- Pull the rope to the level you need to reduce the height of the canvas.
- Disconnect all excess blind strips from the structure. When the canvas is adjusted to the desired height, fasten the cord under the bottom slat. Do this work very carefully, as in the process of removing the strips, you can move the strips you need. To return them to their original position, you will have to tinker.
This completes the reduction in the length of the blinds. To prevent the cord from fraying during operation,burn the edges with a lighter flame.
How to reduce the width of horizontal curtains?
As you can see, removing the extra planks is the easiest way, but how to shorten the horizontal blinds in width? For these jobs, prepare a pencil, measuring tool, sandpaper, a hacksaw or an electric jigsaw.
Start with careful measurements of the opening. If the curtain is hanging on the window, use a pencil to make appropriate marks on each slat. Mark the point from which you need to cut the strip. The width of the canvas should be reduced not from one, but from two sides at once.
Now remove the product from the window and place it on the floor. Repair of blinds is carried out after removal of all bands. Lay the panels in one stack and fasten them securely. For this purpose, it is better to use a clamp, but you can get by with ordinary tape.
Now make a cut along the marked stripes. Trim the slats on one side and the other. So you get smooth, but rough edges. Sand the ends of each panel with sandpaper. Now put the strips on the cord and fasten it under the last panel.
Reducing the width of vertical products
The most difficult work is for the owners of vertical curtains, which need to be reduced in width. Before shortening the blinds horizontally, remove the product from the window and make marks on the cornice. Remove the slats and set them aside.
Inside the cornice you will see a metal rod, exactlyyou will need to cut it with a grinder. Do the following:
- Release the stem by carefully removing the tab washer. It is very important to keep these petals intact.
- At a distance of 2 cm from the edge of the product, make a small incision. Be careful not to damage the cord in the eaves.
- Cut off the rod, remove the end of the product, remove the washer and the stem itself.
- File the cut edge and push the stem into the washer along the direction of the petals.
- Now cut the cornice itself, process the cut with a file.
- Remove excess hooks from the cornice by unfastening them from each other.
Reinstall the cornice end piece and tab washer. Now shorten the cord itself. Use a screwdriver to remove its plug, cut off the excess piece of cord and fix it back with a plug.
How to shorten vertical blinds?
Reducing the length of vertical stripes is much easier. To do this, use a long ruler or tape measure to measure the height of the opening.
Next, remove the strips from the cornice and follow these steps:
- Using a knife, gently pry off the plastic cover with a knife. After that, remove the hooks from the eaves and disconnect them from the canvases.
- Remove the plastic weight from each strip, which is located on the bottom of all curtain elements.
- Measure the height you need and make an allowance of a few centimeters to fix the weight.
- Before you shorten the vertical blinds in height, re-measure the opening, as it will be impossible to lengthen the short curtain. Cut off each strip at the marked places. Treat the cut with fire, otherwise the fabric will begin to unravel.
- Tuck the edge of each strip and iron it gently. Attach a weighting bar to each curtain and assemble the curtain in reverse order.
At the final stage, you can reduce the length of the regulatory chain. Find a plastic clasp on it, unfasten it and release both ends of the cord. Cut it to your desired length, zip it back up and snap it shut.
Conclusions
Having considered the above methods of how to shorten the blinds, we can conclude that it is not worth throwing out old canvases at all. They can be used in the country and in another room. You can also adjust the dimensions of the canvas after unsuccessful calculations, especially since anyone can do this job.
