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Cornell University

Housing & Residential Life

Blinds Adjustments

Single-string blinds

To raise the blinds, pull the cord down. Pull the cord slightly to the right to lock the blinds in place. To lower the blinds, or adjust them to a different level, unlock the cord by pulling it toward the left. Once the cord is unlocked, you can lower them all the way, or lock the blinds in place at a new height by pulling the cord to the right.

TIP: Pull both cords at the same time to raise and lower the blinds evenly. 

Duofold shades

Blind over a window with the top and bottom exposed. Cords circled on either side of blind. Arrows above and below the blind pointing both up and down. Arrow pointing from cord on left to arrow at the top.

If your shades/blinds have strings on both sides (left and right), they are probably duofold shades. That means that you can adjust the height of the top of the blinds as well as the bottom. The right string will allow you to adjust the bottom of the shades.  The left string will allow you to adjust the top. Follow the instructions for "Single-string blinds" above to raise and lower your blinds, and lock them into place.

Continuous-cord shades

Blinds with the cord circled on the left hand side and an arrow pointing to the bottom of the cord

Continuous-cord shades have one looped string that allows you to raise and lower the bottom of the shades. To operate, pull down on one side of the loop to raise the shades. Pull down on the other side of the loop to lower them. For continuous-cord shades, the looped string has no effect on the angle of the shades.

Curtains

Curtains with a yellow arrow at the top pointing in both directions

To open or close your curtains, pull the curtain along the guide rail at the top of the window in the direction that you would like the curtain to go. TIP: Do not pull the curtain away from the window with too much force, or the curtain may become unattached from the guide rail. Also, make sure when opening and closing the window that the curtain stays in the room and does not get caught in the window.

Still experiencing problems?

If you think your window coverings may be broken, please submit a maintenance request.  (You must have a Cornell NetID to enter your request. Residents without a NetID should contact their service center.)