Advice on inexpensive blinds/shutters/curtains for my awkward window please!

trayjul71

Hello everyone!
I am moving into a new build flat in the next couple of months and the window comes with a very awkward box in the middle (I think it is some sort of ventilation system). Can someone give advice on whether blinds, shutters or curtains would be most suitable for my window? I think curtains are almost definitely out of the question because it would be difficult to fit a simple curtain rod so perhaps blinds/shutters are more better? I would appreciate any advice and ideally would like the measurements/fittings to be at a reasonable price.
Thank you very much!

knightstyle

If it were me I would put a board over the bottom part of the left hand window, make it look like the wall with a ledge on top of it then standard blinds will fit. Or perhaps cover the whole left window if there is enough light from the remaining three.

Jonesya

Tricky one, just thinking out loud:
Does the box go all the way to the window, or is there a gap that a blind could fit between?

You could have several Venetian blinds to fit around the box at the top, but then you'd need to do something else with the diagonal at the bottom left as I can't see how you could cut a venetian blind like that. But that's assuming you had the blinds inside the window frame. If you mounted them outside the frame, you could square off the diagonal.

You could use vertical blinds, several of them to fit around the top box and shortened to fit around the diagonal?

Shutters could work, but unlike blinds they don't provide any privacy during the day and looking at those windows facing directly onto the street I'd want something, either a coating or film on the windows or possibly something like voile or net curtains to obscure it a bit.

Le_Kirk

If it is part of a ventilation system, where does the air exit; is it towards the window, towards the room or downwards.  If towards  the window, you would be unwise to cover it.

trayjul71

Thank you all for your responses!
Yes I hadn't even considered the left window being a problem also due to its diagonal bottom so thanks for flagging that. Unfortunately I'm not sure where the air exits although I think it's towards the window.
The box goes all the way to the window unfortunately. I would ideally like the blinds/shutters to be within the window frame. I heard that shutters are more versatile than blinds and therefore they could be measured to fit my awkward window, is this correct? I am concerned about the price of shutters as I think they can be quite expensive due to the cost of measurements and fittings. And I am also concerned about the privacy aspect too.

carefullycautious

Are the window frames Metal or wood?
If you google 'Dressing unusual shaped windows' and click on images you will see what others have done to solve this problem and there are companies who specialise in this
https://www.appealshading.com/made-to-measure-blinds/custom-blinds-non-standard-shapes/

trayjul71

@carefullycautious I'm not too sure what the frames are made out of unfortunately. I will have to check it when I view the property next. Thanks for sending through this link, I've seen that they do free consultations and specialise in awkward windows so this will be very helpful in solving my problem. Thank you!

Snuggles

I would go for perfect fit blinds. It wouldn't be cheap as you'd need four separate blinds and the diagonal window is awkward, but it would give you total flexibility and privacy, and would be far less expensive than shutters. 

rach_k

If you want a cheap option to tide you over when you first move in, you could apply frosted film to the windows so they still let in light but people outside can't see in, then you can either leave it like that or add purely decorative curtains (not to be closed) at each side.  

Instead of film, you could use voiles/nets on a curtain wire, with a lower section of wire underneath the box, or something like this: https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/schottis-pleated-blind-white-20242282/  (We got those blinds as a temporary measure a few years ago and haven't needed to replace them yet.  You cut them to size with scissors and fit them with tape/velcro as they're very light.  I wouldn't recommend opening and closing them though, they're best just left closed).

trayjul71

Thanks so much for all of your responses, you've given me lots of great ideas on how to tackle this problem.

JIL

Are the windows double glazed?
Would blinds inside the glass be an option?