How to Use Window Blinds

PDF download Download Article
Learn to open and close Venetian, cellular, Roman, roller, continuous cord, and vertical blinds
PDF download Download Article

Window blinds are a popular and convenient window treatment—they come in a variety of different styles and can be adjusted to let in more or less light as needed. Learning how to open and close blinds might seem a little tricky at first, but we’re here to help you figure out how they work, no matter what style you have!

How do you open and close window blinds?

To raise corded window blinds, pull straight down on the set of strings on the side of the window. To close the blinds, pull the set of strings towards the middle of the window to unlock them, then loosen your grip to let the cord slide through your hands. To lock the blinds again, pull the strings so they hang straight down.

Section 1 of 4:

Using Corded Venetian Blinds

PDF download Download Article
  1. Examine the top of the window to find a set of dangling strings. Pull down on the strings to raise the blinds. Continue pulling until you reach the top of the window, or until the blinds are as high as you want them to be. Once you’ve reached that point, let go of the string. [1]
    • Venetian blinds are made of stacked slats that can be adjusted with either a string or a wand. If your blinds don’t have slats, then they aren’t Venetian. [2]
    • Single-string blinds only have one string instead of a set of several strings. Aside from the number of strings, these operate the same way as regular Venetian blinds.
  2. As you pull the string, loosen your grip to let the cord slide through your hand. This will bring the blinds down . Once the blinds are all the way down, or at the height you want them to be, pull the strings straight down so they’re perpendicular to the blinds. [3]
    • When the string is parallel to the window frame, the blinds will lock back into place.
    Advertisement
  3. Rotate the wand counterclockwise to make the blind slats face upwards. To position the slats at a lower angle, turn the wand clockwise. If you want to block any natural light from entering the room, turn the wand so that the slats are completely up or down. Experiment with the wand until you find a setting you like! [4]
  4. 4
    Close ground floor blinds facing upward for privacy. If your windows are on the ground floor, use the wand to turn the blinds so the inside edge (the side closest to you) faces upward. That way, anyone standing outside will only be able to see the ceiling. [5]
    • If you’re on the second floor or higher, turn the blinds with the inside edge facing downward so no one on the ground can look up and see inside.
    5. Advertisement
Section 2 of 4:

Using Cellular, Roman, and Roller Blinds

PDF download Download Article
  1. Find the set of strings dangling along the side of the window and pull them downward to raise up the bottom of the blinds. Continue pulling on the strings until the blinds are where you want them to be. [6]
    • If you have top-down blinds, there will be two sets of strings—use the right-side string to raise and lower the bottom of the shades. [7]
    • Cellular blinds, also known as honeycomb blinds or top-down-bottom-up shades, don’t have slats, and are made of connected paper grooves that look like honeycombs.
    • Roman blinds are made of one piece of fabric that fold into stacked pleats when you raise or lower them.
    • Roller blinds are also made of a single piece of fabric. When you raise them, they roll up, and they unroll when you lower them.
  2. Pull the set of strings at an angle toward the middle of the window and loosen your grip. Once you’ve lowered your blinds to the height you want them to be, move the strings back to a vertical position to lock it back into place. [8]
    • Make sure to leave the string parallel to the window frame.
  3. If you have top-down blinds—also called duofold blinds—use the string on the left side of the shades to adjust the height at the top. Tug that string to lift the top portion of the blinds. If you want to lower the top of the blinds, pull the string at an angle toward the center of the blinds, then slowly release your grip. When the top portion of the blinds reaches your desired spot, bring the strings back to a vertical position. [9]
  4. 4
    Use the bottom bar to adjust the height of cordless blinds. Some cellular, Roman, and roller blinds don’t have a string. To raise cordless blinds, lift the bottom edge of the shades straight upward, and let go when they’re at the height you want them to be. To lower them, pull straight down on the bottom edge. [10]
    • Some cordless blinds require you to tug down slightly on the bottom bar first, then release so the blinds will go up.
    • If you have top-down cordless shades, gently pull straight down on the top edge of the blinds to lower the top, and push straight up on the top edge to raise them.
    5. Advertisement
Section 3 of 4:

Using Continuous-Cord Shades

PDF download Download Article
  1. Find the large, looping string that’s going down one side of your shade or blind. Pull down on the front part of that loop to lift the blinds. If you only want to raise the blinds a little bit, don’t pull on the string very much. [11]
    • To open the blinds all the way, pull the cord with one hand, then the other, repeating until the blinds reach the top of the window.
  2. Take the back end of the loop in one or both hands and pull firmly to lower the blinds back into their original position. Use the front and back of the loop to adjust the blinds as much or as little as you need. [12]
    • If you’re only looking to adjust the blinds a tiny bit, then only use a tiny amount of force.
  3. Use the height of your continuous-cord blinds to determine how much light enters the room. Since many continuous-cord models don’t have slats, use the looped string to bring in more or less light as needed.
    • For example, if it’s a rainy day, you might raise your continuous-loop blinds to let more light in.
    4. Advertisement
Section 4 of 4:

Using Vertical Blinds

PDF download Download Article
  1. Take the front piece of the chain or looped cord attached to the vertical blinds and tug on it to retract the slats. Make sure that the slats turn counter-clockwise as you pull along the cord. [13]
    • This operation is very similar to the continuous-cord style of blinds, but you’ll be rotating the slats open and closed instead of opening the blinds up and down.
  2. Pull on the back section of the looped cord or chain to open the slats so they’re parallel to one another. As you go, double check that the slats are turning clockwise, and that none of them are crooked. [14]
    • If you don’t want the slats to be completely open, only pull on the back cord a little bit.
  3. Rotate the wand counter-clockwise to open the slats and allow light into the room. To close the blinds, twist the wand clockwise. Feel free to experiment with these settings until you’ve reached your desired setting. [15]
    • Some models let you use the wand to push and compress the vertical slats to reveal more of the window.
    4. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      5 Ways to Make Blinds Go Down
      How to
      Rethread a Roller Blind Cord
      How to
      Remove Blinds
      How to
      Restring Blinds
      How to
      Take Down a Roller Blind
      How to
      Remove Venetian Blinds
      How to
      Cut Blinds
      How to
      Measure and Install Roller Blinds
      How to
      Remove Vertical Blinds
      How to
      Install Blinds
      How to
      Cut Roller Blinds
      How to
      Hang Roman Shades
      How to
      Clean Vertical Blinds
      How to
      Roll Up Blinds
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zFxMK1aiRSE&t=0m26s
      2. ↑ https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/venetian%20blind
      3. ↑ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pKBjvwxHAiU&t=1m19s
      4. ↑ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=At5Wi_eeFc8&t=0m7s
      5. ↑ https://homeandtexture.com/how-to-close-blinds/
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/Yj4984pg5og?t=70
      7. ↑ https://scl.cornell.edu/residential-life/housing/contact-us/maintenance-requests/blinds-adjustments
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/Yj4984pg5og?t=61
      9. ↑ https://scl.cornell.edu/residential-life/housing/contact-us/maintenance-requests/blinds-adjustments
      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/vrL3CrGkXD0?t=32
      2. ↑ https://scl.cornell.edu/residential-life/housing/contact-us/maintenance-requests/blinds-adjustments
      3. ↑ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yrPMD2mW2NI&t=0m16s
      4. ↑ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EwvAZT11kc4&t=0m16s
      5. ↑ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EwvAZT11kc4&t=0m41s
      6. ↑ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ltRg5_ECp6o&t=0m15s

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 114,228 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Jeanne V.

        Aug 28, 2023

        "Yes, I like this page a lot! I have been fighting my blinds thinking they work the same as louvered blinds. This ..." more
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement