How To Lower Blinds With 3 Strings (Step-by-Step Guide)

Kellan Jansen
by Kellan Jansen
Lowering the blinds is generally easy, but things get confusing when there are 3 strings. The average American home has blinds with 3 strings, so it is important to get it down. Follow along as we explore the easiest way to operate blinds with 3 strings.

Blinds serve an important function in our home. With them, we have privacy and the ability to control how much light gets into each of our rooms.

However, some blinds can also be challenging to operate. People who have blinds with three strings often complain about not being able to open or close them without messing up the blinds somehow. If you’re wondering how to operate these blinds, you’ve come to the right place.

To lower blinds with three strings, you need to treat the three strings as if they were one. Gather all of them in your hand and pull the strings to one side. If the blinds don’t lower after pulling them to the first side, try the second side. One of the two directions will lower your blinds.

What Do Blinds Do?

Most of us have blinds located throughout our homes. However, many of us have never stopped to consider what purpose blinds actually serve. Put simply, blinds serve three primary functions. Each of them makes our homes and apartments better places to be.

The first function that blinds serve is to provide us with privacy. Windows without coverings expose the interior of our homes to all who care to look. This can be especially disconcerting to people who live on busy streets. Blinds promote privacy by blocking our otherwise exposed windows.

Blinds also give us the ability to control how much light we let into each of our rooms. For example, maybe you like to sleep in on the weekend. Blinds make it easy for you to do that by enabling you to block light that otherwise may have woken you up.

Finally, blinds also make our homes look better. When picked correctly, blinds can be the stylish addition that ties a room together. It’s why there are so many different kinds of blinds available to choose from.

What Kinds of Blinds Are There?

Homeowners today have dozens of window coverings to choose from. Blinds are just one kind of window covering that you may select for your home.

That being said, there are several different types of blinds that are popular today. The first is called vertical blinds. These feature individual slats that run along a track at the top of the blind. They’re a popular choice for patio doors and long windows.

Venetian blinds are another popular option. These feature horizontal slats, which attach with string or strips of cloth, commonly called tapes. If you have three-string blinds, then chances are that Venetian blinds are what you’re actually referring to.

Mini and micro blinds are two more popular kinds of blinds. They’re very similar to Venetian blinds but differ in that their slats have a smaller width. Mini blinds have slats that are about 1-inch thick while micro blinds have slats that are about 1/2-inch thick.

How to Pick Blinds for Your Home

With so many different kinds of blinds to choose from, it can be difficult for homeowners to identify which is right for their needs. However, doing so isn’t actually as complicated as you might think.

When picking out blinds for your home, there are several key factors you want to consider. The first is light control.

If light control isn’t especially important to you, then a standard Venetian blind should work fine for your needs. If it is important to you, then you may want to go with a blind that features light-filtering or blackout window technologies. These will give you the ability to block virtually all light from entering your home.

You also want to find blinds that are a good fit for your budget. To save money, you may want to consider selecting aluminum blinds or faux wood blinds, which are typically much cheaper than real wood blinds.

Finally, you need blinds that match the shape of your window. For large windows, try something light such as wood blinds or cellular shades. For high windows, consider a motorized window treatment that closes your blinds automatically.

Make sure to consider these factors the next time that you need to shop for blinds. Doing so will help you make a smarter selection about the next new addition to your home.

How To Lower Blinds With 3 Strings

Whichever blinds you choose, they’re only going to be effective if you know how to operate them. This can be challenging to do with three-string blinds. Follow the step-by-step guide below if you’ve been struggling to lower blinds with three strings.

  • Locate your blinds’ three strings. You should have one on the left side, middle, and right side of your blinds.
  • Gather all three of those strings in your hand. Take care not to pull on any of them too hard yet. Doing so could mess up the level of your blinds, making them even more difficult to lower.
  • Pull the three strings to the left and release them slowly. You may find that your blinds are lowering just like you wanted them to. If this isn’t happening, continue to the next step.
  • Pull the three strings to the right and release them slowly. This should lower your three-string blinds if step three hadn’t already done so.

Lowering your three-string blinds is as easy as following the four steps above. When you need to raise your blinds, you will need to gather the three strings in one hand again. Then, simply pull up and the blinds should raise and catch on their own.

Video: How To Drop Down Blinds

How Do Blinds with Three Strings Work?

Since three-string blinds can be difficult to operate, you may be curious about how they actually work. Understanding this can make it easier to remember how you’re supposed to use the blinds.

Pay attention to the top of each of the three strings. You should notice that they all attach into a bar that’s located at the top of your blinds.

Here, you may see something that looks like a little wheel. When you hold onto all of the three strings and pull them to one side, that little wheel releases. When you pull the three strings to the other side, the wheel locks.

Essentially, when you’re attempting to lower or raise your three-string blinds, you’re really trying to engage or release the blinds’ locking mechanism. This typically only activates when all three strings are pulled, which is why you need to gather them before trying to operate your blinds.

It’s worth noting here that as you operate your blinds, the bottom of them should always stay flat. If it tilts towards one side or the other, that’s a sign that you’re doing something wrong. Fixing it will require you to reset the blinds at either the bottom or top and to try again.


Related Questions

Are window blinds expensive?

If you’re still having trouble with your three-string blinds, you may be interested in replacing them. The costs of doing so will depend on the types of blinds you purchase and whether you’re going to install them yourself or hire a professional.Blinds can cost as little as $10 and as much as $100. Your installation costs could add between $50 and $100 to that price.


Are window blinds hard to install?

No, they’re easy enough for most DIYers to handle without breaking a sweat. All you need to do so is a screwdriver or a drill with a 1/4-inch Hex head drill bit.

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Kellan Jansen
Kellan Jansen

Kellan is a content writer who specializes in everything DIY. When he's not behind the keyboard, he enjoys spending time with his pets, playing music, and geeking out about basketball. He hopes to make your home improvement projects a little bit easier to accomplish.

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