How to Cut Your Bamboo Blinds to Fit Your Windows

Bamboo blinds are a great window treatment that might be just what your home or office needs.  The blinds, made from bamboo and cut and shaped to fit your window, can add a lovely element of calm and serenity to the space.  However, the blinds aren’t always perfectly fitted, and you might find that you have to cut the bamboo on your own to make them work without letting in too much or too little light.

The first thing that you have to determine is whether you are going to have the bamboo blinds hang inside or outside the mount.  Measure the width of the window so you will know how wide the blinds have to be once you cut them.  As a rule of thumb, inside mount blinds should measure about half an inch less than the window frame, while outside mount blinds should go past the window frame by about two inches on both sides.

Look for edge bindings on the bamboo blinds.  If they are there, remove them.  You will find that quite a few of the bindings on these types of blinds are sewn into place, and you will need a small, sharp craft knife to remove them.

Measure the slats all around, and compare them to the measurements you took earlier.  Once you’ve measured how much you need to cut, make markings in pencil to guide you.  Cover the ends of the bamboo blinds with masking tape – this can prevent the blinds from splintering. 

Use a hacksaw to cut the blinds, and be very careful so you don’t cut away too much bamboo or break them.  Make sure that the blinds are cut to the same dimensions so they are even.  You can trim pieces away from the bamboo blinds now to ensure evenness.  Finally, replace the binding if the blinds had any.

If you don’t feel you can do the job, some home improvement stores will be able to do it for you for just a small fee.