Not Curtains: Transform Cardboard For A Budget-Friendly Way To Cover Small Windows

You love it when the sunlight streams through your bedroom windows — except when it does so first thing in the morning, since you're not quite ready to get up for the day. Blackout curtains are one way to keep the sun from rudely waking you up in the morning, but they may not work with every window, especially small or unusually shaped ones. If you've got an arched window in your room or a short and narrow window, TikToker Tuties has a solution for you. The creator cut a piece of cardboard to fit inside an arched window, effectively blocking out the sun while adding a touch of decoration to her room.

To make the window covering, first trace a template onto brown paper bags, then transfer that to a piece of cardboard, cutting out small triangles to create the arch. Then, number the pieces, paint one side black and the other white, and attach them together. For a personalized touch, the TikToker uses a Cricut cutting machine to cut out the words, "All of me loves all of you," and glues the sentence to the cardboard.

While the creator cuts slits into the cardboard to let some light in, you can leave yours solid to completely darken a room. Making your own cardboard window covering offers a few more advantages over blackout curtains, beyond being custom fit for unusual window spaces. It helps you avoid the toxic problem with blackout curtains, namely their synthetic materials, and lets you customize the covering however you'd like.

Before you make a cardboard covering for a window, you need to measure the inside dimensions of the window frame if you want the cardboard to sit flush against the glass. Making a template from paper is an easy way to get the size and shape right, especially if you're working with a rounded window or other unusual shape. Set the template on top of the cardboard and trace it, then cut the cardboard with a pair of scissors or utility knife. If you don't have any cardboard lying around, make a window covering using the black paper hack instead.

Once you've got your cardboard cut out, it's time to go to town and personalize it. To completely camouflage the window, paint the cardboard the same color as the wall. Alternatively, make the window a focal point by painting the covering a complementary color. Add some design to the covering by printing out a favorite slogan and gluing it on or by painting flowers, geometric shapes, or another pattern on the side that faces into the room. For a wallpaper-like effect, cover the cardboard with printed contact paper or gift wrap.

Using cardboard as a window covering offers an additional benefit beyond light blocking and decoration — it can also provide a bit of insulation, blocking drafts and helping to trap some heat. However, just make sure you don't combine the cardboard with aluminum foil, as that popular room darkening hack can actually damage your windows.