How easy is it to cut down a roller blind?

[nancerama]

I really need a blind up at our bathroom window. I've found one that I love in John Lewis, but of course the made to measure ones aren't the same proportion as my window.

Do I spend £30 on one 10cm too wide and cut it down to size, or spend £100 on the made to measure version?

[piprabbit]

It's fairly easy to cut them down to size, we've done them in most rooms of our house.
John Lewis even have a video showing you exactly what to do.

[nancerama]

I watched the videos. They looked easy, but DIY projects always look easier on YouTube!

[piprabbit]

Just go very slowly and triple check your measurements.
Oh, and remember you only need to trim one side of the blind, not both that caught us out first time .

[piprabbit]

Also - even if you make a complete dogs dinner of your first effort and have to buy a new blind, you'll still be £40 better off.

[nancerama]

Thanks Pip - this is EXACTLY the conversation I've been having with DH. He doesn't trust me to do a decent job. He thinks that for JL to charge £70 to alter it must be a very skilled job.

Maybe I'll take the risk and surprise him when he comes home from work one day next week. I can't be doing with DH's substitute of a changing mat and an old towel for much longer.

[piprabbit]

No it's not very skilled. Just needs patience and to be really sure of your numbers.

[itsnothingoriginal]

Have you tried 24/7 blinds? They are quite reasonable for made to measure. I've got several blackout ones from there. Didn't trust DH to cut one down neatly!

[2blessed2bstressed]

Ach, if me and dp can do it, then anyone can! It is honestly pretty straightforward, just make sure you have sharp scissors for the blind part, and a wee hacksaw for the tube bit.

[monkeytennismum]

I 2nd that it's an easy job. I'm not known as being good at DIY and don't have the best concentration but I still managed to do it without going wrong! Go for it!

[nancerama]

Right ladies. I have just returned from town with my new blind. DH will be dispatched to the loft tonight to hunt down my hacksaw and drill.

If this goes wrong I'm blaming you all.

[QuackQuackChicken]

Make sure you measure at the top of the blind and at the bottom, especially if you've got an old house. We made the mistake of just measuring across the middle but our window got wider on the way down.

[nancerama]

Thanks for the tip Quack Quack. Our house was definitely built before right angles were invented!

[nancerama]

Thanks for the advice and moral support everyone. I did it all by myself. It looks beautiful.

[QuackQuackChicken]

Yay! Well done nancerama.