How to Adjust Faux Wood Blinds

Faux wood blinds are created to imitate the appearance of wood window blinds and generally cost less. The opening and closing mechanisms for faux wood and real wood blinds are similarly manufactured. Therefore, directions for adjusting faux wood and real wood blinds are the same. There are several components that enable the user to raise, lower and tilt the blinds in order to adjust them.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• Flat-head screwdriver
• Needle-nose pliers or tweezers

Instructions

1. 

   Window blinds

   Removing slats will adjust a window blind to make it shorter. To remove slats and make a blind shorter, Levolor.com suggests lowering the blinds fully and selecting a slat even with or just below the windowsill. Count two slats below the slat even with the windowsill and cut the ladder cords below that slat and repeat for all ladder cords. Cut both lift cords 6 inches below the new bottom slat and repeat for all lift cords. Remove the bottom two slats.

2. 

   Remove plugs.

   Pry up the plugs from the bottom rail with the flat of a screwdriver. Plugs are plastic stoppers inserted into 1/2" round predrilled holes on the bottom rail. Ladder cord, which runs vertically in three sections on blinds, keeps slats anchored. The plugs keep the ladder cords taut and in place. Remove the bottom rail from the extra slats. Remove the knotted end of the lift cord from the bottom rail with a needle-nose pliers or tweezers. Insert the bottom rail through all the ladder cords below the new bottom slat. Pull the lift cord out of the last loop on the ladder cord below the bottom rail and repeat for all lift cords.

3. 

   Finish shortening.

   Insert the lift cord into the hole on one side of the bottom rail and repeat for all lift cords. Pull the lift cords through the bottom hole and repeat for all lift cords. Tie each pair of lift cords together and add a knot. Trim all excess lift and ladder cords, hiding the leftover ladder cords in the plug holes, then replug by replacing the plastic plugs into the bottom rail to keep the ladder cords tight and functioning.

4. 

   Motorized blinds

   Another way to adjust blinds is by twisting the tilt rod, which opens the slats horizontally. If a twist rod does not work, make sure it is snapped in place at the top near the valance. For hard-to-reach blinds, consider cordless lift blinds and motorized tilt blinds with remote controls.

5. For raising and lowering blinds, the slats must be open. To raise window blinds, pull the lift cord down. If the blades are locked up and can't be lowered, look in the head rail where the cord lock originates. Gently push on the locking mechanism with a screwdriver head to disengage. To lower blinds, pull the lift cord toward the center of the blinds and slowly raise your hand while holding onto the cord.

Tips & Warnings

• Please see Resources below for information from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission regarding children and blind cord safety. Window blind cords can be dangerous around children.

References

• "Lotus Blind.com: Specifications"
• "Levolor.com: Shortening Wood Blinds"
• "Kirsch.com: Wood Blinds"

Resources

• "Blindsplease.com: Faux Wood Blinds"
• "U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Blindcords"