{"id":3491,"date":"2026-10-09T11:19:01","date_gmt":"2026-10-09T03:19:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stevegedon.com\/blog\/?p=3491"},"modified":"2026-10-09T11:19:01","modified_gmt":"2026-10-09T03:19:01","slug":"how-to-shorten-a-bed-skirt-47c4-57dffd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.stevegedon.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/09\/how-to-shorten-a-bed-skirt-47c4-57dffd\/","title":{"rendered":"How to shorten a bed skirt?"},"content":{"rendered":"

So, picture this: You just moved into a new space, found the perfect bed frame\u2014sleek, modern, exactly what you wanted\u2014but that brand-new bed skirt you bought online hits the floor like it\u2019s wearing extra-long drag pants. Not cute. It\u2019s too long, it catches on your vacuum, gets tangled around your feet when you climb in, and worst of all? It doesn\u2019t fit the clean, tailored vibe you were going for. As someone who\u2019s been in the bed skirt game for years\u2014seen every too-short, too-long, just plain wrong bed skirt situation under the sun\u2014I get it. Shortening a bed skirt might feel like a tiny, annoying DIY chore, but trust me, it\u2019s way simpler than you think. No need to panic about ruining a $50+ piece of bedding, no need to call a tailor, and definitely no need to run back to the store for a new one. Let\u2019s break this down step by step, like I\u2019m walking you through my back room at the shop (yes, the one with the half-finished bed skirts and way too many sewing pins). Bed Skirt<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

First, let\u2019s get one thing straight: Not all bed skirts are made the same, and that changes how you shorten them. Some are sewn onto a platform (that hard or fabric piece that sits under your mattress), others attach with Velcro, some have a whole separate ruffle piece that hangs down, and a few are even wrap-around styles that just tie at the base. I\u2019ve got all types in my inventory, so I\u2019ll cover the most common ones\u2014those are the ones 9 out of 10 people deal with. Before you touch a needle, grab your tools, and do one quick check: Measure how much you need to take off. Lay the bed skirt flat on the floor, step back, hold a tape measure from the floor (exactly where the skirt should hit\u2014usually 1 to 2 inches above the floor, so it doesn\u2019t drag) up to the bottom edge of the skirt. Write that number down. Don\u2019t guess\u2014you\u2019ll end up either too short (it\u2019ll bunch up at the top) or still too long.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s start with the easiest type first, because let\u2019s be real, no one wants to overcomplicate this. That\u2019s the wrap-around bed skirt, the one that velcros or ties around the legs of your bed, no sewing required. I love these for renters because you don\u2019t have to mess with the platform. If yours is too long, this is a total win. Here\u2019s what you do: First, unfasten the skirt from the bed frame, set it on a clean floor. Fold the bottom edge up to the length you measured earlier, making sure it\u2019s even all the way around\u2014no wonky folds, that\u2019s key. Now, some people will just tape it, but that\u2019s a temporary fix (and tape leaves gunk on fabric, yuck). Grab some heavy-duty, fabric-safe double-sided tape\u2014no paper tape, that\u2019ll peel\u2014and stick the folded edge down. Or, if you want it extra secure, grab a few small safety pins (the ones with the flat backs, so they don\u2019t scratch your floor) and pin the fold every 6 inches or so. Wait, hold on\u2014test it first! Lay it back on your bed before you go pinning every inch. Slip the mattress back on, step back, make sure it hits the floor just right, no dragging. If it\u2019s perfect, you\u2019re done. No sewing, no stress. I\u2019ve had regulars come in with these exact skirts, all frustrated because they thought they had to sew, and 10 minutes later they\u2019re walking out with their fixed bed skirt.<\/p>\n

Next up, the most common type: the bed skirt that\u2019s attached to a fabric or wood platform (the base that goes under your mattress, like I mentioned earlier). This one needs a tiny bit of sewing, but it\u2019s still way easier than it sounds. First, take the mattress off completely\u2014you can\u2019t work on the skirt with a 80-pound pillow top in the way, trust me. Flip the whole bed frame with the platform upside down so you can access the seam where the skirt is attached to the platform. That seam is your target. You don\u2019t want to cut the fabric randomly\u2014cutting into the wrong spot will make the ruffle look weird, like it\u2019s got a little kink at the top. Now, measure how much you need to take off, same as before. Let\u2019s say you need to take 3 inches off. Mark that length on the wrong side of the fabric (the side that doesn\u2019t show when the skirt is on the bed) with a fabric pencil\u2014don\u2019t use a regular pencil, the mark will show, and you don\u2019t want that. Make sure your mark is straight all the way around, no curves. Now, carefully unpick the seam that holds the skirt to the platform, right along the line you marked. Use a seam ripper, not scissors\u2014scissors will slice the fabric, and you\u2019ll end up with a hole. Once you\u2019ve unpicked that seam, you\u2019ll have extra fabric hanging, which you can cut off. Wait, leave about a \u00bd-inch seam allowance! That\u2019s the extra fabric you need to sew the new seam, so don\u2019t chop it all off. Now, fold the new bottom edge (the one you just cut) up to the seam line where you unpicked, so it\u2019s neat. Pin that new fold in place, every 2 to 3 inches, so it doesn\u2019t shift. Now, grab your sewing machine (if you don\u2019t have one, ask a friend\u2014most people I know have a random one in a closet they never use) and sew a straight stitch right along the edge of the fold, where the old seam was. Go slow, make sure it\u2019s even. Once that\u2019s done, reattach the skirt to the platform? Wait, no\u2014wait, if you unpicked the old seam, just tuck the new sewn edge back under where the original seam was, then sew that part shut. Or, if you\u2019re lazy (same), use fabric glue for a temporary fix, but sewing is way more durable. Flip the whole frame back over, put the mattress on, and boom\u2014done. I do this with a lot of my custom orders when a customer\u2019s frame is a little shorter than expected, and I\u2019ve never had one come back saying it messed up.<\/p>\n

What if your bed skirt has a separate ruffle that\u2019s attached to a base band, no platform? That\u2019s another common one, especially for bed-in-a-box skirts. This is probably the second easiest, even if it looks complicated. You\u2019ll have two parts: the top band that goes under your mattress, and the long ruffle hanging down. If the ruffle is too long, you don\u2019t have to mess with the top band at all. Unbutton or unzip the ruffle from the top band (most of these have a hidden zipper or buttons along the side, easy to access). Lay the ruffle flat, measure how much you need to take off, mark it on the wrong side, then fold that edge up. Now, here\u2019s the trick with ruffles: they\u2019re gathered, so when you fold them, make sure you smooth out the gathers evenly so the fold isn\u2019t lopsided. Pin it, then sew a straight stitch along the fold, same as before. Trim the extra fabric, then reattach the ruffle to the top band. Slip it under the mattress, and you\u2019re good. I\u2019ve had people come in with these skirts that are so long they drag on carpet and get lint all over, and fixing this takes like 15 minutes.<\/p>\n

Wait, what if you don\u2019t have a sewing machine at all and don\u2019t want to borrow one? No judgment\u2014we\u2019ve all been there. There\u2019s a no-sew method for the platform-attached or separate ruffle skirts too. For the platform ones, same step: unpick the old seam, mark your length, fold the new edge up, then use iron-on hem tape. That stuff is magic. You put the tape between the two folded edges, then iron it on high (check the fabric first\u2014don\u2019t melt silk!). It holds just as good as a stitch, and you don\u2019t have to sew a thing. For wrap-around skirts, like I said earlier, fabric double-sided tape works. I keep a roll of that at the shop for last-minute fixes, trust me.<\/p>\n

Now, the big mistake I see people make all the time: taking too much off. Like, way too much. A bed skirt that\u2019s too short looks even worse than one that\u2019s too long. It\u2019ll bunch up at the top, show the space under your bed, and ruin the clean look. Rule of thumb: the bottom edge should hit \u00bd to 1 inch above the floor. Not touching it, not hovering 6 inches above\u2014just enough so you don\u2019t see the ugly space under the bed, but not so long it drags. Another mistake: not measuring the entire length evenly. If you take 2 inches off one side and 4 off the other, it\u2019ll look crooked, like a bad haircut. Double check your mark before you cut or sew.<\/p>\n

And let\u2019s talk about fabric types, because that matters. If your bed skirt is cotton, that\u2019s easy\u2014iron-on tape works, sewing is a breeze. If it\u2019s a heavier fabric, like linen or canvas, you might want to reinforce the seam a little. Lighter fabrics, like polyester or chiffon, can be tricky with pins\u2014use seam pins that are extra thin, so you don\u2019t leave holes. If it\u2019s a patterned bed skirt, make sure your mark is straight along the pattern, so you don\u2019t cut off part of a flower or stripe. That\u2019s a small detail, but it makes a huge difference in how the final product looks.<\/p>\n

Now, here\u2019s the thing: we\u2019ve all been there, standing in the store, grabbing that perfect bed skirt, only to get home and realize it\u2019s not the right length. Or you moved, got a new bed, and your old skirt no longer fits. You don\u2019t have to waste money on a new one, and you don\u2019t have to panic. I\u2019ve been in the bed skirt business for years, and I\u2019ve shortened more skirts than I can count\u2014every type, every fabric, every problem. If you\u2019re still nervous about messing it up, or if your skirt is a custom piece (wait, do custom bed skirts count? Yes, I\u2019ve shortened those too), don\u2019t overthink it. If you run into a snag\u2014like you rip a seam, or the gathers don\u2019t look right\u2014hit us up, we\u2019re here to help. We don\u2019t just sell bed skirts; we help make sure yours fits exactly how you want it, no hassle.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re doing a quick no-sew fix for a rental, or a tiny sewing project for your permanent bed, shortening a bed skirt is way simpler than it sounds. It\u2019s not some big, scary DIY task. It\u2019s just measuring, folding, a little pinning, and boom\u2014done. No more dragging fabric, no more vacuum tangles, no more ugly space under your bed. If you ever need a new bed skirt, or if you have a question about fixing the one you have, we\u2019re here to chat. Just reach out when you\u2019re ready to talk all things bed skirts\u2014we\u2019re happy to help, no strings attached.<\/p>\n

Table Cloth<\/a> References:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The Sewing Bible: A Complete Guide to Basic Sewing Techniques, Reader\u2019s Digest, 2019.<\/li>\n
  2. Home DIY 101: Bedding & Fabric Projects, This Old House Books, 2021.<\/li>\n
  3. Fabric Care & Repair for Beginners, Martha Stewart Living, 2020.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    Jiangsu Sidefu Textile Co., Ltd.<\/a>
    Jiangsu Sidefu Textile Co., Ltd. is well-known as one of the professional manufacturers and suppliers of various linen products in China, is equipped with hundreds of professional staff and advanced equipment. We have served many five-star hotels and owned good reputation for the quality of our products. Now, welcome to buy or wholesale bed skirt with our factory.
    Address: No.101 Yongxing Road, Chongchuan Zone, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
    E-mail: info@sidefu-china.com
    WebSite:     https:\/\/www.sidefuchina.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    So, picture this: You just moved into a new space, found the perfect bed frame\u2014sleek, modern, … How to shorten a bed skirt?<\/span>Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":952,"featured_media":3491,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3454],"class_list":["post-3491","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry","tag-bed-skirt-4c33-58a662"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.stevegedon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3491","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.stevegedon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.stevegedon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.stevegedon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/952"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.stevegedon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3491"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.stevegedon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3491\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.stevegedon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3491"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.stevegedon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3491"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.stevegedon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3491"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.stevegedon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3491"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}