These Customizable, No-Drill Shades Are the Easiest Thing I’ve Ever Installed in My Apartment

I don’t have a good track record with blinds. In several Missouri and NYC apartments, they’ve broken unceremoniously. When I did actually try to treat myself to a set of blinds at The Home Depot, I got the wrong measurements, and they sat in my apartment for a month before I returned them. I’ve watched in awe as my boyfriend has installed blinds in his apartment, which I would never attempt in fear of my landlord using it as an excuse to withhold my security deposit. When I’ve needed a window covering, I’ve turned to cheap curtains and curtain rods. This wasn’t an option in my most recent apartment, though. Sick of having tension rods fall in the middle of the night near my head, I decided to find a shade I could peel-and-stick. My parents had something similar in my Illinois home when I was a teenager, so I knew it existed.

I quickly found the Redi Shade on Amazon, which is a peel-and-stick shade that you can customize by cutting. It seemed like the perfect fit for the small window in my bedroom. The window overlooked my apartment building’s trash and recycling area, which was very brightly lit at night (not to mention that you could see directly into my room from other apartment units). My window measured at 30 in. by 64 in., so it seemed like it was going to be a perfect fit. If it doesn’t fit your window, you can trim the shade with a knife. The shade also requires 1.25 in. of depth for installation.

I dislike anything involving installation or building. I once built my IKEA dresser drawers inside out and nearly burst into tears. I’ve gotten savvier over the years, but I knew I would only be staying in this apartment for a year, so I didn’t want to spend a ton of time or money on a shade that I would have to take down. When I unboxed the $33 Redi Shade, I just took the strip covering the adhesive off and carefully stuck it on. That was it!

Unlike other peel-and-stick shades, you can retract or pull down the Redi Shade to the height you desire. When I was originally shopping for cheap shades, I was worried that it would be permanently in front of my window and I’d never get any natural light. This shade pulls up and down easily — I’m not afraid of accidentally pulling it off the wall; it’s pretty sturdy.

To be clear, this isn’t a blackout shade. I can still see a little bit of light come through at night but it does block out the majority of the outdoor light. There is a blackout version of the Redi Shade that is $58.59, if you prefer that option. I sleep more soundly with this shade and won’t feel guilty when it comes time to unstick it from the wall and dispose of it. Maybe I’ll even leave it for the next tenant. I recommend this to all of my friends and to any renters. It is truly stress-free, saved me money, and kept me from making a trip to The Home Depot or Bed Bath & Beyond.

Buy: Redi Shade Cordless Pleated Shade, $32.55