The last few months, Hubby and I have spent time down in Florida setting up our new condo. Not only were we painting and buying furnishings, but we had to replace all the windows as well as the sliding door in the unit. That meant we had to wait on installing window coverings. There was no sense installing window coverings only to have to take it down for the window installers, and then have whatever it was we purchased get dirty or dusty during the window install process.
Still, we needed something for the windows unless we wanted to give the neighbors an excuse for therapy. Then too, the sun rising over the ocean makes for a very bright morning in our bedroom, and I can’t say I relish getting up before 7am every day. Some sort of covering was necessary.
In our room coverings were easy. The people we bought the place from left some ugly, privacy blinds on the front window. That didn’t interfere with the window installation, and we honestly didn’t care if they got dirty or ruined. The side window (that neighbors could see through) had sheers left behind. We left them up until the new windows were installed, at which time Hubby took down the rod and patched the rod-holes, did dry wall repair around the window casing, primed and pained. The new blinds were not going to need that hardware, so all old holes could be patched. That meant the sheers weren’t going to be hung again, yet we still needed something for privacy.
So, what to do? Hubby came up with this ingenious idea:
Those are big binder clips he bought at a dollar store. We used three per side, lined up the three sheers one on top of the other, and clipped them to the top of the window! These are double-hung casings, so they have a lip at the top. We honestly only needed one binder clip at each end, but Hubby insisted I clip the other two clips, so I did. No one said I had to catch the sheers in those other clips. 😉
My brother came to visit us a few weeks ago, prior to the new windows being installed, and there was nothing left behind for window coverings in the guest room.
Again it was a dollar store to the rescue! Hubby went and purchased two colored plastic shower curtains, and we taped them to the window with clear packing tape. The dollar store plastic shower curtains are extremely thin, so light-weight and tape held them in place. A plastic picnic table cover would also work, just make certain it is light-weight.
And of course, the old stand by that Hubby uses at his rentals: glass wax or window snow (like the kids spray the windows with at Christmas time).
While we didn’t use any at this place, Hubby has used them in lieu of window coverings when he is working on rehabbing a house. Basically anything to give privacy, and discourage a walk-by opportunity theft. The bonus to using glass wax is your windows are clean when you wipe it off!
Clearly none of these are for long-term use. These are just temporary solutions when having windows installed, between new drapery installation, during a move, or while installing new windows.
What inexpensive, temporary window coverings have you used?
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Barb says
Very clever and resourceful. Aren’t dollar stores lifesavers?
Ann says
Hubby loves dollar stores, Barb! This time, he hit a home run.
Ann
Shell says
The glass wax idea is genius! Sounds like a great job on all windows, bravo!
Ann says
When they finish (the slider is a week out), I hope to do a post. Window installation down here was VERY different than up north!
Ann
Barbee says
Perfect. Thanks!
We plan on hiring someone to come in and do the window coverings in the new house-all 17 of them-your ideas will make that chore less urgent. I’m thinking about Home Depot or Lowes as the installer-you have any experience w/ them?
Looking forward to that window installation post.
Ann says
We had Lowes install one of our side doors. They contract out, so it is hit or miss. The screen door he put back on (we had it there before the side door install) has never closed correctly since that time. But, it was one guy and that could happen with any installer.
Home Depot was interesting. We needed a new upstairs bathroom window. Unlike our living room and dining room windows, custom wasn’t necessary – that window opening was standard. We of course, went back to the place where we got the downstairs windows wanting them all to match. This dinky-twinky window was going to be $3500 installed!! For a STANDARD window! So, off to Lowes and Home Depot we went.
Now we needed a wood window to match the rest of those in the house. Only Home Depot’s store brand JELD-WEN was paint-ready wood, and they wouldn’t install that brand! AND to make matters more interesting, Lowes was now installing JELD-WEN too. I don’t recall exactly what happened with Lowes, but we did end up ordering from Home Depot and finding someone to install for us. All in I think we paid $1200 from window to installation.
I don’t know if you would use wood in Texas, Barbee. I will say that Anderson had a cool new line that you never had to paint with a wood-look finish. I do know that all the window guys we have talked to have recommended Pella or Marvin, and said Anderson is living off their reputation. You may want to do some research on that.
Good luck!
Ann
Barbee says
You’re right about the wood in Texas. It’s risky.
You can use wood for the interior trim or maybe PAINTED wood for exterior trim-bur other than that we have no other option but to go w/ plastic or vinyl. Or aluminum-which is not weather efficient.
Thanks for the info-I have cards at both and they frequently offer that -0- % interest promotion.
Lynn B. says
Hi, Ann,
Just wondering what you finally decided for window coverings. I had told you about our experience with plantation shutters and how much we love them. How and what are you doing?
Ann says
Oh thank you for asking, Lynn. The man that came out discouraged us from plantation shutters… he said (as you suspected) that it would cover too much of the window and we would be unhappy. He lead us to something else, which were installed this past week, and I will be posting about in two weeks. Absolutely nothing we had planned on!
Ann
Michelle says
2018 and just wanted to let you know we loved your husbands idea of using the binder clips. Had some work done in our house where a single window became a double window. Not ready for the window treatment solution yet so tried duct tape and sheets, this barely lasted an hour. We have company coming to stay for a few days and came across you binder clip post, it worked perfect!! THANK YOU
Deborah says
This is great. How did you make your binder clips stay up? All I can think of are small nails. Is that what you used? We are getting 17 windows replaced in a couple of months and will be losing all the coverings in the process, so I am thinking remaindered fabric cut to size and binder clips.
Sara G. says
Thumb tacks are always a good thing to keep on hand in a junk drawer for times like this! They leave a much smaller hole than the typical nail or screw and you don’t need tools!! Win win! Plus they’ll hold up the binder clips!!