Learn how to shorten Venetian blinds at home, including tools, step-by-step instructions, and tips for trimming aluminium and wooden blinds correctly.
Sometimes you receive or buy Venetians that hang too low, cut into the sill, or simply look untidy because they weren’t made to your exact window dimensions. Instead of returning them, you can customise Venetian blinds yourself. Whether yours are aluminium, wood or faux wood, trimming their length is often a straightforward process when done carefully.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the tools, steps, precautions, and tips for shortening Venetian blinds — including how to shorten aluminium venetian blinds — while also answering common questions that people search for when they try this. The goal is a clean, professional finish that maintains smooth operation.
When blinds are too long, they gather on the windowsill or floor, catch on objects, and spoil the visual balance of your interior. Shortening them ensures a tailored, clean fit, improves operation, and reduces risks of damage.
Especially in Australia, with variable window sizes and renovations, many homeowners find they must adjust standard blinds to suit. Knowing how to do it saves cost and gives you control over the final result.
Before you begin, assemble these essentials:
Also, remove the blinds (if possible) from their brackets and lay them flat to make the trimming easier and safer.
Here’s a full process — adapted for general Venetian blinds, including aluminium:
Lower the blind to where you want its bottom edge to sit (often just above the sill). Mark that point on the cords or slats.
The bottom rail is usually held by end plugs or caps. Use a flathead screwdriver to gently pry them out. Keep the caps safe — you’ll reuse them.
At the underside of the bottom rail, the lift cords are knotted. Untie carefully or loosen the knot, so you can slide cords free of the bottom rail.
Count how many slats are below your marked line. Slide those slats out sideways from the ladder cords (the vertical cord “ladders” hold each slat in place). Do this symmetrically to keep balance.
Once the extra slats are out, pass the lift cords and ladder cords through the bottom holes of the lowest remaining slat and into the bottom rail.
Secure the lift cords with a neat knot (often an overhand knot plus wrap) just inside the bottom rail. Slide in the plugs or caps to lock cords in place.
Leave a small tail for adjustments (5–10 mm). Snip carefully. If cords are synthetic, you can melt the end lightly to prevent fraying. For natural cords, a drop of clear nail polish helps.
Place the blinds back on their brackets and test raising, lowering and tilting. Watch for snagging or uneven operation.
If the operation feels stiff, check that ladder cords are level and slip, no slat is binding. Recheck knot tension as needed.
For aluminium Venetian blinds, the same process applies, though you may need tin snips or a fine-tooth saw for cutting any metal parts or headrail. Be extra cautious of sharp edges and use gloves/safety goggles.
Uneven removal or misaligned ladder cords can tilt one side lower. Always remove equal slats from each side and ensure ladder cords are parallel and even.
If your blind doesn’t rise or lower smoothly, a cord might be twisted, or the knot too tight. Loosen, realign, and retest.
If the lift or ladder cords fray after trimming, they may jam or break. Melting synthetic cord ends or using clear nail polish helps.
Remove a few, test and repeat rather than doing all at once. Removing too many can make the blind look squat or alter balance.
This guide focuses on shortening length. If you also need to shorten width, you may need to cut the headrail, realign internal mechanisms and rethread cords — that’s trickier and riskier.
Yes — many venetian blinds are designed to be trimmed to size by removing excess slats and re‑knotting the cords.
With proper measurements and a steady hand, you can shorten yourself. It’s especially feasible with aluminium or standard venetians. The key is to preserve the ladder cord geometry, knot the lift cords securely, and test operation before installation. If the mechanism or internal components are complex, professional help may be safer.
You shorten aluminium Venetian blinds by removing slats and rethreading the cords through the bottom rail, using snips or a fine saw if necessary.
Because aluminium is thin but rigid, tools like tin snips or a fine hacksaw help trim any metal pieces. Be mindful of sharp edges; file gently if needed. The same ladder/cord technique applies — slide out excess slats, reinsert cords into a new bottom slat and rail, knot, replug and test.
You can trim until only a few slats remain, but for aesthetic balance it’s best to leave at least a few slats to retain proportion.
Pragmatically, you remove as many slats as needed to reach the desired height. But if you trim too much, the bottom rail may look too close to the top and distort aesthetics. For standard blinds, trimming more than one third often looks odd. Always test in stages.
At Diamond Curtains & Blinds, we understand that not every blind arrives perfectly sized. Whether you have aluminium venetians that need trimming or any variant, our team provides bespoke customisation and installation. We offer:
Let us tailor your window treatments to your space so they look right and work right — no guesswork, no frustration.
Shortening Venetian blinds allows you to make standard blinds fit neatly and function smoothly, saving cost while achieving a custom look. Whether your blinds are made from aluminium, wood or hybrid materials, the key lies in precise measurement, careful removal of slats, correct rethreading of cords, and solid knotting. While many DIY the task, you also have the option to rely on professionals for tricky or high‑end installations. At Diamond Curtains & Blinds, we offer expert customisation and installation so you don’t need to risk damaging your blinds or ending up with uneven results.
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