How to Cut Vinyl Vertical Blinds

Cutting vertical blinds to fit the new window is doable.

Vertical blinds are available off the shelf at big box stores, on line through catalogue shopping, or even at the local garage or church sale. While reuse and recycle are hallmarks of a busy life, too often the ready-made, on sale or repurposed blinds are not the right size for the chosen window. A savvy homeowner can cut these blinds herself, using tools readily available in her toolbox.

1

Lay the blind, with slats attached, on the floor and draw the cords to imitate closing the blind. Rotate the slats to the closed position.

2

Measure the new blinds from the top of the headrail to the bottom of the slats and note the existing length. Next, measure the height of the window from where the top of the headrail will fasten, to determine the desired length of the blinds. Subtract the two measurements to determine how much to remove from the bottom of each slat. (Because of bracket mounting requirements and valance depths it is difficult to determine the required length of the slats themselves without hanging the blind system on a wall. Using overall length will provide a more accurate length adjustment.)

3

Number and label each slat as it hangs in the headrail from left to right. Write the number on a small piece of tape and tape it to the front side of the slat near the headrail.

4

Note the orientation of the slats at they hang in the headrail. It is helpful to take a close-up picture for reference when rehanging the slats.

5

Remove the slats from the carriers holding them to the rod. Lay them side by side on a work surface. Orient all the slats the same way, with the bottom edges all toward one end.

6

Turn all the slats right side up, wrong side to the work surface.

7

Mark the new bottom edge on the slat nearest you with the measurement of the amount to remove. Measure from the bottom up and mark with a pencil or fine felt-tipped marker. Measuring from the bottom up will ensure an even bottom edge.

8

Cut along the new edge line of the first slat using 10-inch heavy-duty shears or tin snips. Cut in one motion from start to finish with one cut. Small cuts will result in a jagged bottom edge.

9

Use the cut piece as a gauge to mark the remaining slats. Align the original bottom edge of the cut-off piece with the bottom edge of the second slat and mark the cutting line.

10

Continue marking and cutting the slats, using the first cut piece as the gauge.

11

Sand the edges of the cuts with 100-grit sandpaper to smooth them and remove any small burs or nicks.

12

Return each slat to its appropriate position on the headrail, taking care to orient all of them in the same direction as they were before removal.

Things You Will Need

Camera

Tape measure

Pencil or felt-tipped marker

Shears, 10-inch or tin-snips

100-grit sandpaper

Warnings

An exact-o knife is not strong enough to cut in one motion, several passes may be necessary to cut through the vinyl and this may result in a ragged cut edge.

Be prepared to sharpen scissors used for this alteration before using them for fabric cutting again. Heavy-duty shears or tin snips are a better choice.

About the Author

Linda Erlam started writing educational manuals in 1979. She also writes a biweekly newspaper column, "Design Dilemmas," in the "Lakeshore News" and has been published in "Design and Drapery Pro" magazine. Erlam is a graduate of the Sheffield School of Interior Design and is a practicing interior decorator and drapery workroom operator.