How to Shorten the Length of Mini Blinds

Things You'll Need

Needle-nose pliers or flat-head screwdriver
Scissors

Mini blinds that are too long for your window can be shortened with just a couple of tools.

Installing mini blinds isn't a difficult task, but it can be frustrating once you get them hung to realize that they are too long for the window. There's no need to disassemble the mini blinds and head back to the home improvement store to exchange them. Leave them in place, and shorten the length of the blinds. Shortening mini blinds is a quick task that can be done by even the novice do-it-yourselfer.

Step 1

Release the mini blind slats so that they extend past the window sill. Count how many slats you want to take out of the mini blinds to shorten them to the desired length. Leave the mini blinds hanging after counting the slats to make shortening them easier.

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Step 2

Locate the plugs on the back side of the bottom rail. Use a pair of needle-nose pliers or a flat-head screwdriver to remove the plugs from the rail.

Step 3

Untie the lift cord knot that was hidden by the plugs. Pull the lift cord up just enough so that the slats you want to remove are released.

Step 4

Slide off the bottom rail and then the slats you want to remove. Slide the bottom rail back on once the slats have been removed.

Step 5

Use a pair of scissors to cut the string ladder just above the slat hanging below the bottom rail. Make sure to leave enough of the string ladder hanging below the bottom rail to put into the holes of the bottom rail.

Step 6

Put the lift cords through the hole in the bottom rail, and tie a knot at the end of each one. Check to make sure that the lift cords are even and that the bottom rail is straight. Adjust the knot a bit, if necessary, to get the right length.

Step 7

Snap the bottom rail plugs back in place. Use a rubber mallet, if necessary, to get them back on securely.

Tip

Take care when shortening the blinds to cut the string ladder, not the lift cord. You’ll visibly see the string ladder. The lift cord is a thicker cord that runs in between two thinner pieces of string. The two thinner pieces of string are the string ladder.

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