We are going to replace our regular sliding glass doors and mechanical hurricane shutters with impact sliding glass doors. We currently use the mechanical shutters in our bedroom for black out and privacy in our bedroom. There is a sheer on those, and I will eventually be purchasing a mechanical blackout shade to use underneath that. However, I cannot place the order for that until the new windows are installed. It should take 3-4 weeks for those to come in per the window treatment guy. Sooooo, I need something cheap and easy to use temporarily for room darkening and privacy. Any ideas?
I’d prefer it not to always be dark in there, but if that is my only option, I’ll take it, as I’d prefer that over the Eastern sun blaring in in the morning.
We used Redi Shade w/our recent house rehab (didn’t want any window treatments for staging the property for sale). Really easy, cheap, and adjustable!
It’s been a few years but Lowe’s or Home Depot also had some sort of temporary shade - or a shade for people who live in rentals (so not permanent) that were inexpensive.
Amazon sells lots of privacy film for windows. Easy stick on/peel off. Not expensive. Not sure if there is anything that would work for you but may be worth checking into for a temporary solution.
We use the Redi Shade for blackout when the grandchildren visit. Cheap and easy to use and install. I actually take them down between visit as they have to be wedged behind the blinds in one room, and over the blinds in the other; I don’t like how they look left up, and the kids are only here a couple of times a year.
We were as cheap as it gets! I pinned a large dark sheet to the top of the window trim when we got new windows and were waiting for our blackout drapes. Cost $0.
Costco has some fairly inexpensive blackout curtains as well. Our kids also bought inexpensive blackout curtains online, both when in college and since.
You could get a sheet at a thrift shop. Of course going the cheap/ugly route is probably a way to guarantee that your windows and coverings will get back ordered and take forever.
I think beach towels were a common temporary window covering for the new homes in our neighborhood. Not sure how they hung them, maybe the bought curtain rods first?
I still have a piece of fabric my SIL gave me for Christmas one year. Still mystified by what she thought I was supposed to do with it. I think she thought beach wrap? I have it hung in my office window where binder clips and a couple of nails hold the top corners and I roll it up or down and hold it in place with another binder clip. I keep thinking I should do something more permanent, but the last time I had shades there it didn’t work at all. It’s a six foot wide window with a three foot drafting table in front of it so it’s hard to reach a shade cord. But it faces due west, so get too bright in the late afternoon. In bathrooms I’ve found a ready made sheer curtain on a rod with a tension rod is pretty effective.
Can you move these up and down? Might they last say a couple of months? D is looking for something to use in her bedroom alt window to help block sun out in the hot summer months. Can’t use anything “permanent” - doesn’t want curtains
@abasket - we used the temporary paper shades for several months. They are a bit of a pain to move up and down, in that you have to fold up the accordian pleats and clip them. Not terrible though!
Cost $0.