Temporary Blinds Review (2026): 7 Essential, Smart Tips

Quick answer

Temporary blinds like the Maritown pleated shade are a quick, no-drill way to cover a bare window for weeks or months. The 35 x 59 inch size fits windows 24 to 35 inches wide and 39 to 47 inches high, you trim it with scissors, and a strip of double-sided tape holds it to the frame. White, blue and brown filter light; black and grey are sold as blackout. It suits renters, new move-ins and nurseries, not anyone who wants a permanent, tilt-and-lift blind.

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Our top pick:

Maritown Cordless Pleated Temporary Blinds (35 x 59 in)

Best for: Renters, new move-ins, nurseries, bathrooms and door windows

Check current price on Amazon →

Temporary blinds idea: a bright white bedroom with a light-filtering shade across a wide window

Moving day has a way of revealing every bare window in the place. The bedroom faces a streetlight, the bathroom window looks straight at the neighbors, and the blinds you ordered will not arrive for three weeks. That gap is exactly what temporary blinds are for. The Maritown cordless pleated shade is one of the most popular versions on Amazon. Below we pull together what the listing says, how to size and cut it, where it works well (and where it does not), and how it compares with window film, tension-rod curtains and real blinds.

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Maritown temporary blinds at a glance

This is a single pleated, accordion-style shade that you cut to size and stick to the top of a window or door frame with the double-sided tape already on the header. Amazon calls it a paper blind, but the brand describes the material as a thick non-woven fabric, and the spec table lists polyester. It is cordless: two small clips hold the folded stack at whatever height you want. The 35 inch wide by 59 inch long size is the one we cover here, and the listing also offers 24 x 59, 24 x 71 and 35 x 71 inch versions in white, black, blue, brown and grey.

Pick	Best for	Why it stands out
Maritown Cordless Pleated Temporary Blinds (35 x 59 in) Best No-Drill Quick Fix	Renters, new move-ins, nurseries, bathrooms and door windows	Cut to size, stick-on tape, cordless clips, light filtering or blackout colors	See photos

Our verdict on these temporary blinds

As a short-term fix, these temporary blinds do the job well: they go up in minutes, need no tools beyond scissors, and come down without holes in the frame. The light-filtering white keeps a room bright but private, and the blackout colors are a cheap way to darken a nursery or a bedroom with a streetlight outside. Treat them as a placeholder or a renter-friendly layer, though, not a ten-year window treatment.

1. Maritown Cordless Pleated Temporary Blinds (35 x 59 in): Best No-Drill Quick Fix

Best No-Drill Quick Fix

The big appeal is speed. The listing describes a three-step install: cut, peel the backing and press. The adhesive strip on the header is about 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide, and the brand says it leaves no holes and no stains when you take it down. Since you cut the shade to the exact width of the glass, it can fit odd windows that standard blinds skip, including narrow sidelights and the glass panel in a back door.

The second reason is the color choice. White, blue and brown are sold as light filtering, so the room stays bright but people outside see a soft glow instead of your living room. Black and grey are listed as blackout and UV resistant, which makes them a budget option for a baby’s room, a home office with screen glare or a bedroom for a night-shift worker. The shade is cordless, so there is no loop for a child or pet to get tangled in.

What we like

Installs in minutes with scissors and the built-in tape, no drill
Cut to any width or shape, including small door windows
Cordless clips adjust the height with no dangling pull cord
Light-filtering and blackout colors in the same design

Keep in mind

No tilting slats, so you cannot angle light like a real blind
Raising it fully means unclipping and folding by hand
Spot clean only; the pleats can crease or tear with rough use

Best for: Renters, new move-ins, nurseries, bathrooms and door windows

See photos & price on Amazon →

Temporary blinds for renters: a pleated shade above a bedroom window letting soft daylight in

Temporary blinds specs from the listing

Everything below comes from the Amazon listing for the white 35 x 59 inch version of these temporary blinds:

Spec	Listing detail
Brand	Maritown
Type	Pleated, cordless, cut-to-size stick-on shade
Size covered here	35 in wide x 59 in long (1 panel)
Fits windows	24 to 35 in wide, 39 to 47 in high
Other sizes	24 x 59, 24 x 71 and 35 x 71 in
Material	Thick non-woven fabric (listed as polyester); waterproof and dustproof
Light control	White, blue, brown: light filtering; black, grey: blackout and UV resistant
Mounting	Inside mount with 1 in (2.5 cm) double-sided tape
Height control	Two clips per shade; cordless
Care	Spot clean only
Weight	7.4 oz

Why the shade is longer than your window

The 59 inch length can look like a mistake when the window is only 39 to 47 inches tall. It is not. Pleated shades lose length when they hang in soft folds rather than pulled flat, so the brand tells you to choose a shade longer than your window height. If your window is 50 inches tall, step up to the 71 inch length.

Paper look, fabric material

Old-school paper blinds tore if you looked at them wrong. This shade has the same crisp pleats but the listing calls the material thick non-woven fabric that is waterproof, dustproof, breathable and nontoxic. That is a better fit for a bathroom or kitchen window, where steam and splashes quickly ruin true paper.

Who should buy these temporary blinds (and who should skip them)

Buy them if you:

Just moved in and need privacy tonight, not in three weeks
Rent and your lease bans drilling into window frames
Want to darken a nursery or guest room for naps without blackout curtains and a rod
Have an odd-size window, sidelight or door panel that stock blinds do not fit
Are staging a home for sale or prepping a short-term rental

Skip them if you:

Want slats you can tilt to aim light up or down through the day
Need a shade you raise and lower many times a day, like a kitchen window over the sink
Have frames with peeling paint, rough wood or vinyl that tape will not grip well
Are shopping for a long-term, high-end window treatment for a home you own

Are paper blinds good? An honest pros and cons look

So, are paper blinds good? For the job they are built for, yes. These temporary blinds give you privacy, glare control and, in the dark colors, blackout at a fraction of what custom blinds cost, with no holes to patch when you move out. They also fit odd shapes that real blinds cannot.

Where they fall short is daily handling. There is no cord or lift mechanism, so you raise them by folding the stack up and clipping it. Do that ten times a day and the pleats will wear sooner. The adhesive also depends on a clean, smooth, dry frame; textured or freshly painted surfaces are the most common reason a stick-on shade sags. Our view: paper blinds are good as a fast, low-cost layer for months, and they can last longer on a window you rarely open.

Light filtering vs blackout colors

Pick the color of your temporary blinds by the room. White is the best choice for living rooms, kitchens and home offices where you want daylight without a view in. Black or grey makes more sense for a nursery, a bedroom near a streetlight or a TV room. Light can still sneak around the edges of any inside-mount shade, so do not expect a cave-dark room from the blackout versions alone.

How to cut paper blinds to fit your window

Knowing how to cut paper blinds neatly is what separates a tidy install from a crooked one. Work with the shade still folded flat, the way it arrives.

Measure the inside width of the frame where the shade will sit at the top, middle and bottom. Use the smallest number.
Subtract about 1/4 inch so the edges do not rub the frame and the shade can hang freely.
Mark the cut on the folded stack with a pencil and a straight edge. To keep a symmetrical look, trim half the extra from each side.
Cut through the stack with sharp scissors or a fresh utility knife blade, pressing the pleats flat on a cutting board. Several slow passes beat one hard push.
Check the length by holding the shade in place. If it hangs far past the sill when fully down, trim from the bottom, keeping the bottom rail section if your shade has one.
Test-fit before you peel the tape backing, then install.

If you are covering an arched or angled window, make a paper template first and trace it onto the stack. The listing says the shade can be cut to any shape, so a slanted attic or half-moon window is fair game.

How to install it so it stays up

Most temporary blinds fail because of a dusty frame, not weak tape. Clean the top of the frame with rubbing alcohol and let it dry. Peel a few inches of backing, line up one end, then work across while pressing firmly along the full width. Hold steady pressure for 30 seconds and, if you can, wait a few hours before you pull the shade down for the first time. In a cold room, let the shade warm up indoors first; adhesive grips better at room temperature.

Stick on blinds for doors and other tricky spots

Stick on blinds for doors solve a classic headache: the glass panel in a back door, a French door or a side door with a narrow window. Standard blinds need a mounting surface deep enough for brackets, and many door frames do not have one. Because these temporary blinds stick to a flat surface and trim to any width, they can cover a half-lite or full-lite door panel.

Door glass panels: stick the header to the flat trim above the glass, then use the clips to hold the shade halfway up when you want light in.
Sidelights: the 24 inch wide size is a good starting point; trim it down to a narrow strip.
Sliding patio doors: use two shades side by side so each half can be raised on its own. For full-length glass, the 71 inch length is the safer bet.
Bathroom windows: the waterproof, dustproof material handles a steamy room better than true paper.

A tip for stick on blinds for doors that open and close all day: the motion can rattle the stack, so press the tape extra firmly and keep the clips snug. If you also want a sliding door option in fabric, our sliding glass door curtains review covers sizing for 60 and 72 inch doors.

Temporary blinds for renters: lease-friendly window tips

Temporary blinds for renters make sense because most leases ask you to leave walls and frames as you found them. A stick-on shade avoids screw holes completely. Before you move out, peel the tape off slowly at a low angle; a little warm air from a hair dryer softens the adhesive if it fights back, and the brand says it should not leave stains.

Photograph the window frames on move-in day so you can show their condition later.
Test the tape on a small hidden spot first if the trim is painted.
Pair the shades with curtains on a tension rod for a softer, finished look without tools.
Keep the original packaging; flat storage stops the pleats from bending if you take them to the next place.

If you are budgeting a move, see our apartment move-in costs guide and the first apartment checklist. For something a bit more permanent but still easy, compare our cordless mini blinds review.

Temporary blinds vs typical alternatives

Option	Install	Privacy and light	Best for
Stick-on pleated shade (these temporary blinds)	Tape, no tools, cut to size	Filtering or blackout by color	Renters, move-ins, odd windows
Privacy window film	Water or static cling on glass	Frosted day privacy, light stays	Bathrooms that need full daylight
Tension-rod curtains	No drill inside the frame	Varies with fabric	Soft, decorative look
Cordless mini blinds	Screws and brackets	Tilting slats, adjustable	Long-term, daily use

Window film keeps all the light but gives no darkness at night; read our frosted window privacy film review if that is the goal. Mini blinds give the most control but need a drill, so many people start with temporary blinds and upgrade later. Temporary blinds sit in the middle: cheap, fast and fully removable.

Care and cleaning

The listing says spot clean only. Dust the pleats with a microfiber cloth or the brush tool on a vacuum on low suction. For a mark, dab with a damp cloth and a drop of mild soap, then let it air dry fully before folding it up. Do not soak the shade or put it in the washer.

What to check before buying

Measure the inside width and height of the frame, not the glass alone.
Choose a length longer than the window so the pleats can hang properly.
Pick light filtering (white, blue, brown) or blackout (black, grey) on purpose.
Make sure the top of the frame is flat, smooth and at least about 1 inch deep for the tape.
Plan two shades for wide windows or patio doors.

See photos & price on Amazon →

How we researched these temporary blinds

We did not test these temporary blinds hands-on. We reviewed the Amazon listing details and specs, the brand’s notes on material, sizing and installation, how popular the listing is and its rating across many reviews, and we compared it with other stick-on shades, window film, tension-rod curtains and standard cordless blinds. We update this review when the listing changes.

Helpful resources: Sleep Foundation: Light and sleep and ENERGY.GOV: Tips to save energy in winter.

Temporary blinds: frequently asked questions

Are temporary blinds worth it?

For a short-term need, yes. Temporary blinds cost far less than custom blinds, install in minutes and come off without holes. They are less useful if you want tilting slats or raise and lower the shade many times a day.

Are paper blinds good for bedrooms?

Yes, especially the black or grey colors, which the listing describes as blackout and UV resistant. Some light can leak around the edges, so add curtains if the room needs to be very dark.

How to cut paper blinds without tearing them?

Keep the shade folded flat, mark the line with a straight edge, and cut with sharp scissors or a fresh utility knife in several light passes. Trim half the extra from each side to keep it centered.

Do stick on blinds for doors stay up?

They hold best on a clean, flat, dry frame. Wipe the trim with rubbing alcohol, press the tape firmly along the full width and give it a few hours before using it. Very rough or freshly painted trim can weaken the bond.

Are temporary blinds for renters easy to remove?

Yes. Peel the tape slowly at a low angle, using a hair dryer on low to soften it if needed. The brand says the tape leaves no holes or stains.

What size temporary blinds do I need?

Match the width to your window’s inside width and choose a length longer than the window. The 35 x 59 inch shade fits windows 24 to 35 inches wide and 39 to 47 inches high.