Looking for advice - easy-to-install blinds

RainbowsInTheSpray

Hi guys

I have a pair of small windows in my newly updated bathroom. The finishing touch would be to install some blinds, as the morning sun can be annoying.

Is there such a thing as a small, lightweight blind which can be trimmed WIDTH-wise easily and installed without any drilling or hammering? This seems a big ask to me - the online information I've seen seems inconclusive. Most of the things using adhesive seem bespoke  - where you have to send measurements away and pay a fancy price.

Any type of blind considered, the simpler, the better.

grumpy_codger

I wouldn't rely on any adhesive. The blinds will fall off together with the paint that you glue them to.

inthedepthsofthesea

Yes, we have these for exactly the reasons you listed. £3 each from IKEA and can be cut to size with kitchen scissors. The first set lasted a good few years before the adhesive lost some stickiness, so now we have another pair for the grand sum of £6. They're stuck to the uPVC, so no risk of paint damage.

FrugaiMacDugal

Maybe this is what inthedepthsofthesea is referring to.

vic_sf49

Edited to add... Soz, just noticed where you said "bespoke and fancy price" so maybe skip to my last paragraph. Will leave the post as is though, in case any one else wants info about "no drill" blinds. 

I've been a customer of Blinds2go for years, and I recently bought one of their "no drill" roller blinds for my kitchen, which they've brought out, since I last bought some blinds from them. 

It's not a million miles away from a shower rail, that stays up with suction / force, except this has much more oomph behind it. 

You depress one end, which has some sort of spring mechanism in it, put the blind in place, release the end, then there's a wheel to tighten, to ensure even more force holds it in place

Mine hasn't moved a millimeter. Very impressed with it. 

I'm not sure any of that makes much sense though, but videos and instructions available on their web page. Similar products are available from other companies too, but I went with who I knew. 

But if you want easier and cheaper solution, would some of the static cling fablon / privacy type stuff work. If you got it in a nice colour or design, it might just cut some glare out?

Emmia

RainbowsInTheSpray said:

Hi guys

I have a pair of small windows in my newly updated bathroom. The finishing touch would be to install some blinds, as the morning sun can be annoying.

Is there such a thing as a small, lightweight blind which can be trimmed WIDTH-wise easily and installed without any drilling or hammering? This seems a big ask to me - the online information I've seen seems inconclusive. Most of the things using adhesive seem bespoke  - where you have to send measurements away and pay a fancy price.

Any type of blind considered, the simpler, the better.

As it's a bathroom do the windows have privacy glass fitted? I normally find this cuts out a fair amount of glare.

TheNorthStar

Started using Blinds2go this year and have had no issues. We’ve ordered about seven different blinds and they’ve all been good. (Both wooden and fabric) The cased versions are a little larger than I’d like. Not tried the  no-drill option yet by suspect the quality will be the same.

TheNorthStar

Also bought a designer fabric blind from Crosby Blinds (Liverpool). The quality was at least as good as Blinds2go, possibly a touch better. Delivery took about two weeks and arrived a few days after I chased, compared with a few days from Blinds2go. I would use them again.

ic

Dunelm sell this, which it says can be fitted to any of their roller blinds.  You'll be able to trim roller blinds to size.  https://www.dunelm.com/product/simply-fit-standalone-roller-blind-kit-1000269450

Otherwise I'd say the likes of blinds2go do a good range - however once postage is accounted for a single blind can cost upward of £60.  So depends what you mean by "fancy price".  They have various no-drill blinds, as well as the perfect fit style that clip to the window.

CliveOfIndia

RainbowsInTheSpray said:

Is there such a thing as a small, lightweight blind which can be trimmed WIDTH-wise easily 

Absolutely.  Places like The Range, Dunelm, B&Q and many others have a variety of cheap 'n' cheerful blinds for not much money.  Just buy one that's almost the size you want (obviously a bit wider than you need is better than too narrow!), and they contain instructions on how to cut them to size using scissors (for the fabric) and a junior hacksaw (for the aluminium roller).  It's not at all difficult to do.  The old maxim applies - measure twice and cut once.  Ideally make sure you use a good sharp pair of scissors to get a clean cut on the fabric.

RainbowsInTheSpray said:

and installed without any drilling or hammering? 

That's the only downside - they usually rely on drilling some holes to install the brackets at either end.  To be honest, I'm not sure I'd trust a blind that's held on with only adhesive - the first time you pull on it to roll/unroll, it's more than likely to fall down.  But it's not difficult to secure it with screws - whether you drill directly into the wall, or to a pre-attached wooden batten.

KittenChops

vic_sf49 said:

Edited to add... Soz, just noticed where you said "bespoke and fancy price" so maybe skip to my last paragraph. Will leave the post as is though, in case any one else wants info about "no drill" blinds. 

I've been a customer of Blinds2go for years, and I recently bought one of their "no drill" roller blinds for my kitchen, which they've brought out, since I last bought some blinds from them. 

It's not a million miles away from a shower rail, that stays up with suction / force, except this has much more oomph behind it. 

You depress one end, which has some sort of spring mechanism in it, put the blind in place, release the end, then there's a wheel to tighten, to ensure even more force holds it in place

Mine hasn't moved a millimeter. Very impressed with it. 

I'm not sure any of that makes much sense though, but videos and instructions available on their web page. Similar products are available from other companies too, but I went with who I knew. 

But if you want easier and cheaper solution, would some of the static cling fablon / privacy type stuff work. If you got it in a nice colour or design, it might just cut some glare out?

Oooh!  I am also looking for something like this for our bathroom (my bolding above) - can I ask what is the width of your window please?  I think ours is about 117cm so I was worried about it staying put