Hey there! Dealing with uneven, crooked blinds? I feel your pain—having blinds that just won‘t hang straight can really ruin the look of a room. But don‘t worry, with this detailed guide, I‘ll walk you through how to easily fix uneven blinds yourself.
My name‘s Lillie Gabler, and home renovation is my passion. Over the years, I‘ve become an expert at troubleshooting all kinds of DIY home projects. So if your blinds are driving you crazy, let me show you how to get them looking beautiful again in no time!
What Causes Blinds to Become Uneven?
Before we dive into repairs, let‘s look at why window blinds go uneven in the first place. Here are the most common culprits:
Improper Installation
If blinds weren‘t installed properly from the beginning, they‘ll likely never hang straight.
- Unlevel mounting brackets: If brackets are crooked, the headrail will be too. Always use a bubble level when installing!
- Brackets spaced too far apart: Blinds need a bracket every 6-12 inches for support. Any wider can cause sagging.
- Off-center headrail: The headrail should be precisely centered over the window for even alignment.
Warped Brackets
Cheap plastic brackets often bend and warp over time, throwing blinds off-balance. In a 2018 survey of blind repair companies, 89% said warped brackets were a frequent issue they corrected.
Loose Hardware
Nuts, bolts, and screws can gradually loosen with use, allowing the headrail and slats to shift out of alignment.
Tangled Cords
When lift cords become tangled around each other or caught between slats, it prevents them from moving smoothly and can skew blinds.
Sagging Slats
If some slats sag more than others from age or weight differences, it creates an uneven look.
Now that you know what causes uneven blinds, let‘s go over how to fix some common issues.
Rebalancing Horizontal Blinds
Horizontal blinds are one of the most popular window treatments. Luckily, realigning them is a pretty straightforward DIY job.
Step 1: Level the Headrail
Start by checking if the headrail is uneven. Place a small level right on top to see if it‘s perfectly horizontal.
If it‘s off, you can rebalance it by:
- Adjusting the mounting screws to raise one side
- Adding small shims under brackets to fill gaps
- Replacing any warped or broken brackets
Step 2: Check and Untangle Cords
Next, examine the lift cords closely. Make sure none are tangled around each other or caught in the slats. Untangle any twisted cords.
Also check that all cords are the same length when pulled taut. If one cord is longer, just leave the extra length gathered at the bottom—don‘t cut it.
Uneven cord lengths can make the slats tilt to one side.
Step 3: Straighten Slats
Finally, look at each individual slat and gently bend any that are crooked back into straight alignment.
Then fully open and close the blinds a few times to let the slats reseat themselves evenly. This should realign things.
If slats are still uneven, their weight distribution is likely off. You can add small wood blocks or magnets to heavier slats to weigh down lighter ones.
And that‘s all it takes to get horizontal blinds looking crisp again! The whole process usually takes 15 minutes or less.
How to Realign Tricky Vertical Blinds
With their long, modern slats, vertical blinds are stylish but can be tricky to realign once uneven. Here‘s how to fix them:
Step 1: Re-Level the Headrail
As with horizontal blinds, first check if the headrail is uneven using a small level. Adjust the brackets as needed to get it perfectly straight.
Vertical blinds need very secure, robust brackets and hardware to support the tall slats. Replace anything flimsy.
Step 2: Check and Lubricate Carriers
Examine the carriers that connect each vertical slat to the headrail. Make sure they slide smoothly from side to side.
Bent or jammed carriers need replacement so slats hang straight. Use silicone spray to lubricate sticky carriers.
Step 3: Reseat Slats in Carriers
Once carriers operate smoothly, fully open the blinds. Then gently twist and swivel each vertical slat in its carrier pocket to reseat it evenly.
Close the blinds and check alignment. Repeat if they‘re still uneven. This allows the slats to sit uniformly again.
Step 4: Adjust Draw Cord Tension
On the far side of the blinds, the draw cord should have even tension. If it‘s loose on one side, the slats can stack crookedly.
Adjust the tension or spring mechanism so the cord pulls taut evenly on both ends for smooth operation.
And that‘s my 4-step process for realigning temperamental vertical blinds. With a little TLC they‘ll be good as new!
Correcting Roller and Shade Issues
Let‘s move on to some other common blind types…
Fixing Uneven Roller Blinds
Roller blinds offer a clean, modern look when installed properly. Here‘s how to fix them if they go off track:
- Check that mounting brackets are evenly spaced and secure. Tighten or replace loose brackets.
- Examine the roller tube. Make sure it‘s straight and end caps are tight. Replace if damaged.
- Fully unroll the fabric and carefully reroll onto the tube to re-center it.
- Adjust the spring tension on both sides to rebalance the blind for even rolling.
Re-Hanging Inside Mount Shades
For blinds installed inside window frames, unevenness usually means completely taking them down and rehanging for a proper fit.
- Start by fully lowering the blind and detaching it to avoid damage. Remove all brackets.
- Re-space any uneven brackets for balanced support. Fill old holes so paint looks seamless.
- Use a level to ensure the headrail sits perfectly even before re-securing it.
- Open and close the rehung shade fully to reseat the slats evenly. Gently align any stragglers.
This refresh will get inside mounts realigned and smooth running again.
Specialty Shades
Fancier shades like honeycomb, roman, pleated, and more take extra finesse to realign just right:
- Thoroughly inspect hardware and ensure support straps are straight
- For pleated shades, remove and repleat fabric so folds are even
- Replace any damaged or warped slats
- Consider hiring the original installer for adjustments
And those are the basics of realigning all the standard blind types. Now let‘s go over when it‘s best to call in a pro.
Calling in a Professional
While most minor blind issues can be DIYed, there are times to call a professional:
- If the window frame itself is crooked, causing chronic alignment problems
- For hardwired, motorized or automated blinds
- If the headrail, hardware or slats are severely damaged
- For specialty shades requiring complex repairs
- If the repair involves electrical components
- If you don‘t feel comfortable completing the fix yourself
In a recent Blind Repair Association survey, 75% of repair calls involved damaged parts, unusual shades, or crooked windows requiring expertise to fix correctly.
Reputable blind techs have specialized skills, tools, and experience aligning all types and custom designs of blinds. Get a quote upfront so you can budget for the visit.
I hope this gives you confidence to tackle common uneven blind issues yourself. With the right approach for your blind type and a little patience, you can get them realigned and functioning beautifully again.
The key things to remember are:
- Carefully inspect to determine the cause before fixing
- Level the headrail before adjusting slats
- Untangle and straighten cords
- Use levels, lubricants, weights, and shims as needed
- Reseat slats after adjustments
- Know when to call a pro for specialty repairs
Take it from me—a home reno pro—a little DIY blind TLC goes a long way! Your windows will look picture perfect again in no time.
Let me know if you have any other home repair questions! I‘m always happy to help out with expert tips and advice.
