How to cover the bedroom and bathroom windows before the first night
Before move-in night, put up temporary window coverings in the bedroom and bathroom, such as stick-up paper shades or a sheet on a tension rod. Measure every window while the house is empty, then order real coverings. Once the lights are on after dark, an uncovered window shows the whole room to the street.
Temporary window coverings for tonight, real ones for later
Think in two stages: something tonight, something good later.
For tonight, pack a window kit in the box that travels with you, along with sheets and a tape measure. Pleated paper shades with an adhesive strip go up without tools. Spare sheets or towels work on a tension rod or with removable hooks. Frosted film is a good stopgap for a bathroom, because it lets daylight in.
For the long term, choose by room:
| Room | Good fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Bedroom | Blackout cellular shades or blackout roller shades | Block light for sleep; cellular cells also insulate |
| Bathroom | Faux wood or aluminum blinds | Handle humidity well |
| Kitchen | Faux wood or aluminum blinds | Same reason, plus easy to wipe down |
| Home office or street-facing rooms | Light-filtering roller shades | Let in daylight and cut glare |
| Sliding doors and large windows | Vertical blinds | Suit wide openings |
Don't choose shades for looks alone. A U.S. Department of Energy fact sheet says cellular shades achieve higher energy savings than other shading devices in simulations. It also says well-fitted window attachments can save about 15% of a home's yearly heating and cooling energy compared with vinyl blinds. Solar shades are a poor privacy choice, because they're made to let you see through them.
Where temporary window coverings go first
Do the rooms where you undress and sleep first, then bathrooms, then anything facing the street or a neighbor's window. Ground-floor rooms come ahead of upper ones if you have to choose.
Decide on the mount when you measure. An inside mount sits within the window frame for a snug look. An outside mount reaches past the frame and can block drafts at the edges. Standard big-box sizes often leave gaps along the sides, so you may see light and lose heat there. Measure width and height for each window separately. Old houses in particular aren't square, so don't assume two windows match.
Leave at least one window per room usable for escape, as CPSC advises. Don't nail or screw a sheet across the only window in a bedroom, and keep fabric away from heaters and lamps.
With babies or toddlers, skip corded blinds altogether. The Window Covering Safety Council says only cordless coverings belong in those homes, and cribs and beds should sit away from windows and cords.
How to cover windows temporarily before the first night
- Measure during the final walkthrough
Record width and height for each window, inside the frame and outside it. Note the room on the same line.
- Order the real coverings
Start with bedrooms and bathrooms. Check lead times before closing, since custom orders can take a while.
- Pack a first-night window kit
Include stick-up shades or sheets, a tension rod, removable hooks and scissors. Keep it with your essentials, not on the truck.
- Cover the bedrooms before dark
Hang the stopgaps while you still have daylight to work.
- Cover the bathrooms
Use film or a shade on any window at eye level from outside.
- Check from outside after dark
Turn the lights on, walk to the street and look back. Fix any gap you can see through.
What temporary window coverings cost
| Option | What it costs | How long it lasts |
|---|---|---|
| Sheets you already own | Nothing | A few nights |
| Paper or vinyl stick-up shades | Low; varies by size | Weeks to months |
| Frosted window film | Varies by window size | Until you remove it |
| Stock blinds and shades | Varies by size and material | Years |
| Custom-fitted shades | Most expensive | Years, with a better fit |
Mistakes with temporary blinds and stick-up shades
- Waiting until you've moved in to measure, when furniture blocks the windows.
- Stapling into painted trim you plan to keep. Removable hooks or a tension rod leave no marks.
- Measuring one window and buying for every room.
- Buying corded blinds to save money in a home with young children.
- Forgetting the bathroom door glass or a small window over the tub.
What can I use as a temporary window covering?
What can I use as a temporary window covering?
Stick-up paper shades, a sheet on a tension rod or frosted film all work for a few nights or weeks. Pick something you can remove without damaging the trim.
What window covering works best in a bathroom?
Faux wood and aluminum blinds handle humidity well. Frosted film is another option if you want daylight without a view in.
Do cellular shades really save energy?
Department of Energy research found they outperformed other shading devices in simulations. A close fit matters, since gaps at the edges let air move around the shade.
Sources: U.S. Department of Energy, blindster.com, windowcoverings.org, CPSC
General guidance for U.S. homes, not professional advice. For gas, electrical and structural work, call a licensed pro.