I have the Hunter Douglas Duette honeycomb shades window covering in my theater. The only problem I have is that light shines through along the edges of the blinds. I have thought of purchasing some type of L-shaped insert I could screw to the inside of the window frame to prevent light from entering, but I don't know where to purchase it. Any suggestions?

Example: This would work if it wasn't arched.
http://www.designerblinds.com/CSTips/CSTips_184.htm

I still think the most simple solution would be something L-shaped. I'm just looking for a simple solution that works.

Do you care what it looks like form the outside ?

HD sells black plastic that's thick (don't recall the mills)...we cut it to size and blac duct taped it to the return area of the window box, put the shade back down, done.
$20, and balcked out day or night....just didn't look to nice from the outside....he didn't care (no wife, just him and his PJ).

If you still want to be able to use the window just make an L shaped bracket out of wood and either paint it or better yet if you have up accoustic treatments the same fabric that is on them. Either way you could cheaply make some and attach the tops and bottoms with L-brackets or cleats. I'll be doing something very similar to this for my room as well.

Last week I installed some 1x2 trim boards on both sides of the windows in a home theater room. It was inexpensive trim from Home Depot. I used a few finish nails to attach the trim just behind the blinds. It cut the light leakage more than 50% and looks neat. The owner is going to paint the entire room, including the trim boards, a dark color. I expect that should reduce the light leakage another 50%. If you want 100% blockage of the light leakage you should use some type of u-channel on both sides of the blinds and don't forget to paint the channel flat black.

Randy

Plasma George,
The Duettes are covered by drapes (light still leaks out the sides because material isn’t thick), so it doesn't have too look perfect, but I do want it to look decent.


Someone else mentioned that Lowes sells 1 inch "L" shaped aluminum in the isle that has all-thread and perforated steel. I will take a look at it.

Thanks

I've seen blinds created for skylights that have tracks on both sides to hold the blinds in. The blind is tucked into the tracks. I would imagine that this would eliminate light.

http://www.blinds.com/control/product/productID,8710 Hover over the words SKYTRACK SKYLIGHT

I use foam rubber from Joanne's hobby shop cut one inch larger than the inside frame of the window. I covered the foam in black felt. You then place the panel inside the frame of the window for complete light control. The panel can be removed at anytime.

Ron

You could put cloth or dark paint in the window frame to cut down on light reflected by the frame. That in addition to wood trim or an L shaped bracket would cut down on light getting around the window shades.

Or you could put blackout draperies over the shades.

How about some nice dark window tint to help? tinting a few windows usually doesn’t run all that much!

How about some nice dark window tint to help? tinting a few windows usually doesn’t run all that much!


Dims the light. Those that suggested black out shades...again helps...but unless you completely cover every inch of the window with something/material that allow light through...you are going to have stray light coming through the edges.

Rboster,

Think you cold take a pic of exactly what you're doing for light control on your window? Foam rubber 1" larger than window frame... do you basically jam it into the window frame to make sure there is no leakage, or hang it with velcro or the like to make sure you have overlap past the frame. I'll need a solution in about 6-8 weeks. I have 1 door and 2 windows. I hope to blackout the door permanently with tint or something, but windows I'd like option to have black or open.

Wade

Sure, I could take a photo. Basically, I used black out shades and had the same problem as the OP....light leakage.

The foam rubber panels are cut an inch larger than the interior of the frame to do exactly as you guessed, which is stuff them into place. The foam molds inself into the shape of the window....so no light gets through. The felt also helps to absorb the light...without it you get a dark/dim green glow (the foam I bought was green)....so the felt absorbs the remainder of the light.

You can then use any kind of shade or window treatment that helps the decor of the room.

There are alot of other DIY options that others have come up with that can be found by using the search engine. One person made poster frames that fit into the window...blocked the light and served that dual purpose for hanging posters.