Make Out Of Reach IKEA Blinds More Versatile With An Easy Swap

A lot of us look to popular IKEA items to transform our bedrooms, kitchens, and homes in general. For instance, the FRIDANS black-out roller blinds from IKEA are perfect for homeowners looking for a sleek, affordable window treatment. These blinds block out unwanted light, reducing glare from TV screens or glossy walls. They also can protect from harsh sun rays, enhance sleep and comfort, improve energy savings through thermal insulation, and can become a budget-friendly home movie screen in a pinch. These blinds may seem like a complete hit, but they have their quirks. One issue is the placement of the control stick, which is used to raise, lower, and tilt the blinds. By default, the stick is on the right side of the blinds, but thankfully, switching it to the left is possible.

For some people, the right placement is perfectly fine. But if your window is in a tight corner, or if you're left-handed, or if the right side of the blinds is simply harder to reach, this whole setup can be frustrating. The trick here is to reverse the control stick/handle position, and that requires you to carefully take pieces apart and put them back together in the opposite direction. Let's face it — stretching across a wide window or fumbling with the stick can turn a simple adjustment into a mini workout. But luckily, we're here to help twist this situation around with a creative window hack for a better fit. 

First, you'll need to remove the control stick from the right side of the metal tube the blind sits on. On the left side is the tension spring, which you'll also pull out. Then, you'll push the tension spring into the right side of the tube. However, prior to pushing the handle into the right side, you'll need to adjust the control to ensure you'll be able to operate the blinds normally. On the handle, there's a plastic component that goes into the roller tube. It has a toothed washer that holds a metal pin in place. Use a screwdriver to pry out the washer then a hammer to carefully hit and remove the metal pin. Once the pin is off, you'll notice plastic clips inside the rolling mechanism that goes into your blind's tube. 

Now, squeeze the clips together with a tweezer so the plastic that goes into the tube and the part that clips on the wall bracket will come off with their washers. Next, hold the control stick in your left hand so the notch at the top of the stick is not facing you. Now, you'll need to put the pieces back into the control stick in their right order but in the opposite positions. The plastic that clips to the bracket should be on the left of the stick and the rolling mechanism on the right. Pop the metal pin back in and reattach the washer. You need to bend the washer's tabs with a screwdriver to secure the pin. Test run to ensure the rolling mechanism is rolling inwards when you hold it in your left hand.