Inexpensive paper blinds for window treatments

For many years, drapes were the preferred window treatment. Today, however, there are many options for window treatments these days. The other day, our family discovered paper blinds as an inexpensive but very nice looking window treatment, more or less by accident. We had just moved into a new home that had no window coverings. Feeling quite exposed, we made a trip to the local discount store and found these blinds for under four dollars each. Our thought was that they would work well until we could find a more permanent solution. These blinds are very simple in construction. They are made of heavyweight paper, and the ones we chose were in an off-white color. The paper has been fan folded in about 1 1/4 inch strips. There are no cords on the blinds. If you wish to raise a blind you fan fold it to the desired height and use two plastic clips that are shaped much like a spring cloths pin to hold it into place. Installation of the paper blinds is very simple. They can be cut to length simply by using a utility knife. Measure the blind against your window to determine where to cut. Use a ruler to be sure to cut everything straight. To attach the blinds to the window, there is a wax paper strip over the adhesive strip. Peal off the strip and stick it to the window. We found that due to the humidity in our area the adhesive was not adequate to hold the weight of the blind. Therefore, I used four flat thumbtacks to assist the adhesive strip in holding the blind in place. These paper blinds were more than adequate for blocking the sunlight for viewing television without glare. Once the blinds were in place, we liked them so well that we decided to leave them there even after installing gold drapes over the window. Our drapes have a valance and the bottom panels have tiebacks. When the drapes are tied back, the folded blinds show in the center of the drapes and complement them quite well. Since we live in an older home that requires window air conditioners, we find that the blinds are useful in allowing us to maintain privacy while having drapes pulled back to allow the cool air into the room. These blinds could also be modified quite easily to fit in the arch windows that have become popular in recent years. Since they are paper, a desktop stapler could be used to staple one end together. The remaining end could then be unfolded into an arch that would fit beautifully in an arch window. While we found these blinds to be quite elegant under drapes, you may find that in bedrooms, the paper blinds may be all the window treatment that you will want to use. If you are looking for a quick inexpensive window treatment in a cabin or vacation home, they may not need other treatments. At the price of these blinds, you may think of many other decorator ideas in which you could use them. Annie Deakin is an expert furniture and interior design writer who is currently interested in daybed, dining chairs and sideboard.