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Home Decorating

Need ideas for a different kind of window treatment - a boat

6 years ago

I am looking for ideas for window treatments for our boat windows. They are odd shapes and sizes, and I hope there is a relatively inexpensive solution.

The curtains there now drive me crazy. They are simple, something like a rod pocket. But they have snaps along the top and bottom edge, and the receiving end of the snaps fit on a track. They don't stay snapped, and they don't slide very well, and I hate them.

Some boats use mini blinds, which are OK. They will serve the purpose. I've seen them in wood, which are gorgeous, but I don't find them anywhere other than 2" slats. That's too big. Whatever I use needs to be fixed top and bottom, so it doesn't swing and flop around. A cafe rod would work, but I'd like something less ruffly than rod pockets. We want to be able to see out, so nothing solid. I would consider a roman shade or pleated blind if it could be drawn up enough to be out of the way.

Here is one of the windows. It is roughly 50" x 13". I have sewing skills, so I could make something if I had an idea and instructions. Sorry the picture is so dark, but it was bright outside.

Any ideas? Thanks!

Featured Answer

My3dogs ME zone 5A

6 years ago

Velcro? Get the type that has one side that is peel and stick, and put that on the 'boat wall', and the other part on the top edge of whatever you make. I assume it doesn't have to be the shape of the window, and you could just make a rectangular shape.

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Comments (15)

chickadee2_gw
6 years ago
These look nice and neat.

http://commutercruiser.com/peek-a-boooo-boat-blinds-that-work/
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Voila .. Thanks so much for the ideas and help. We are actually at the boat today, so I will try to get full pics of the side windows to show what we are working with. Thanks for the kind comments .. This is a smaller boat, 36 foot ..good for a vacation/weekend type of thing. Eventually we'd like to upgrade to a 46 to 48 foot trawler. Would love a sailboat, but I have an ear injury and can't take being up on keel. Emmarene, the furniture is all built in stuff and it is being redone in a tough marine vinyl .. I know, not all that pretty .. But very, very practical and what you see in most marine furniture. It's cleanable and resists mildew.
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With a tension rod and not wanting to cover the bottom half, you don't have many options. A valance should only come down about 1/5th of the window. To the middle would look out of proportion. A mock roman is actually a valance. A sheer non working Roman would be nice. The rings can be tied up to wherever you want it to stop, but not sure if you can find that in readymades. You didn't say if you were going custom, readymade or making them yourself.
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My expertise is selling real estate, not interior design. To me, the function is most important then style. You have very beautiful wall of windows, and it is great to step out onto the deck out of the bedroom surrounded by the trees. Roman shades would look good, and provide privacy when needed, and you may retract them when you want light. Not sure about the door though. May be it could work as well. Another option is wood blinds. We have off white painted wood blinds and love them.
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aok27502
Original Author
6 years ago
No, they don't have to be the shape of the window, just rectangular. Hmm, possibly roman shades, I'd not considered the Velcro option. Will ponder.

I'd completely forgotten about the peek-a-boo shades! We saw them somewhere, and they did seem like a great idea. Will have to see if they're anywhere near affordable. And thanks for that link, I will have to browse around on the commutercruiser.com site.
Olychick
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago

I like these....not diy but they seem carefree and I like how they
look..no flopping around. You can see out but also close for privacy at
night, if needed. No fabric to mildew.

http://www.zarcor.com/products/clozures/#gal-image-1

eta: I think these are the same or very similar to what chickadee posted...it took me a while to get the pics and so I didn't see her post.
PRO
Ryan Olivieri, Inc.
6 years ago
Check out the Sailrite website
aok27502
Original Author
6 years ago
I looked at the peek-a-boo site. That one window I posted will be over $200. Gulp.

I will see what Sailrite has. I've used a few of their ideas already.
User
6 years ago
Why do you need window treatments??
PRO
Ryan Olivieri, Inc.
6 years ago
What about limo tint?
aok27502
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
We need window treatments for privacy in the marina, and mostly for sun suppression. The amount of heat from the sun shining in is tremendous. Light colored window treatments will reflect quite a lot.

Limo tint. You mean like they use on auto windows so you can't see in? Can you see out?
User
6 years ago
Okay, I was also going to suggest getting them tinted.
PRO
Ryan Olivieri, Inc.
6 years ago
They have hundreds of different tint films that make whatever is on the darker side of the glass invisible. At night when you have the lights on they don't work as well. People use tint in any case to help keep the cabin cooler
PRO
Ryan Olivieri, Inc.
6 years ago
They have really strong little magnets you could sew around the perimeter of your curtains. You might have to attach some metal plates to the window surround to make magnets stick. Apexmagnets.com or something
aok27502
Original Author
6 years ago
I haven't had a chance to search, but I really like the idea of the window tint. We might have to do that anyway, even if we still need something for privacy. And the magnets are a great idea, the windows have a metal edge, although I guess it might be aluminum. I'll check!
roarah
6 years ago
I used strait valances on cafe rods my sailboat Windows until I could afford the custom blinds made for boats.
aok27502
Original Author
6 years ago
Yep, I expect that's what it will come down to. If only the current ones would actually stay on the wall ...

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