How To Trim The Roman Shade Width

By  Melanie Haas

Things Needed

  • Tape measure

  • Grease pencil

  • Hacksaw

  • Large rubber bands

  • Straight pins

  • Iron-on hem tape

Tip

Not all Roman shades have slats, only rings sewn to the fabric at intervals. If this is the case with your shade, skip the steps detailing how to cut the slats.

When measuring how much to cut from each end, be careful not to cut past the outer edge of the lifting mechanism.

Warning

Wear proper hand and eye protection when using the hacksaw.

...

Roman shades provide privacy and help block sunlight in a room, which can lower energy costs and protect your belongings. Roman shades are sold in several standard widths. However, if your window is slightly narrower than one of these standard sizes, trying to find Roman shades to fit your window can be difficult. One option is to buy Roman shades that are slightly wider than your window and trim the shade to fit your window.

Step 1

Measure your window. Measure across the top of the window from the inside of one corner to the inside of the other.

Step 2

Measure the head rail of your shade from one end to the other.

Step 3

Subtract the measurement of your window from the measurement of the head rail. Divide this number by 2. The result is the amount you will need to remove from each end of your shade.

Step 4

Lay the shade on a flat, solid surface. Measure in from each end of the head rail the appropriate amount. Mark each measurement with a grease pencil.

Step 5

Cut the head rail on the marked lines with a hacksaw.

Step 6

Use the lift cord to pull the shade up as close to the head rail as possible. If you have fabric Roman shades, slide the slats of the shade partially out of their fabric covering. Bundle the slats of the shade together. Use rubber bands to secure each end of the slats together. Keep the ends of the slats even with each other.

Step 7

Mark the slats at each end with a grease pencil using the same measurement that you used for the head rail.

Step 8

Use a hacksaw to cut the slats of the shade. If your shade is made entirely of wood (such as bamboo), cut through the entire shade with the hacksaw at this point.

Step 9

Slide the slats back into their fabric covering. Center the slats within their fabric sleeves.

Step 10

Fold the edges of the fabric toward the back of the shade on both sides. Pull the fabric snug against both ends of the slats and pin in place with straight pins.

Step 11

Follow the manufacturer's directions to apply the iron-on hem tape to secure the folded fabric in place.

References

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