Paper Blinds for Windows

Temporary paper blinds for windows are an increasingly popular home decoration option, especially among those people who choose to rent their accommodation. Made of a simple, pleated sheet of paper, they cost almost nothing, and they can be quickly and easily set up to cover any window. Although temporary, they usually look good enough to pass for ‘real’ blinds, and they’re durable to last for years if looked after carefully.

History of Paper Blinds

Paper blinds are actually not a recent phenomenon. They have been used for many centuries, especially in Asia.

Japanese paper blinds (also called Japanese Shoji Blinds) were first introduced in the 8th century. However, instead of being used to screen windows, they were used to divide different sections, or rooms, in Japanese houses. Usually made of rice paper attached to wooden frames, their simple and elegant design meant that they could be moved around the house to change its layout as necessary.

Paper blinds were also popular in China. Chinese paper blinds were also usually made from rice paper, and tended to be put to the same uses as in Japan. Chinese blinds can be differentiated though by their greater use of designs and colours on the paper itself, whereas Japanese blinds tend more towards the plain, minimalist look.

The introduction of paper blinds to the UK and USA is a relatively recent development, however. Modern western usage is also much different, focused on using paper blinds for windows, rather than for walls.

How do I install paper blinds?

Paper blinds are very easy to install. They usually come in kit form, but putting them up requires almost zero DIY skills.

Basically, all you have to do is take your temporary paper window blinds out of the box, cut them to fit the size of your window using scissors, peel the backing from the adhesive tape, and stick them to the wall just above your window. That’s it!

Once installed, temporary paper blinds are easy to use as well. Most of these binds are pleated blinds, they look a bit like an accordion. They come with a small plastic clip, and you simply fold the blinds to the height you want, and attach the clip to hold them in place.

Where can I buy paper window blinds?

If you are in the United Kingdom, there are a couple of major companies that sell temporary window blinds. Most well known are Blinds in a Box, who once appeared on the TV show Dragons Den. Another good choice are Redi Shade, an American company who recently entered the UK market and sell many types of temporary blinds for windows.

If you’re looking for more traditional paper blinds to use as room dividers or screens, you could also contact a company like Shoji Blinds.

Why Paper Blinds Make Great Temporary Blinds

Paper blinds have become increasingly popular over the last couple of years. There are a number of reasons for this. Not only are they cheap, but they are also easy to install, and can work very well as a temporary covering for any window.

But although the paper temporary paper blinds that you can now buy online from manufacturers like Redi are a fairly new innovation, the history of paper blinds goes back over 1000 years.

Japanese Shoji Blinds

The Japanese were one of the first to discover the beauty and efficiency of paper blinds. Around the eighth century, Shoji screens and blinds were starting to be used around the Japanese home. Made of rice paper in a wooden frame, these Shoji screens were used to separate different areas of the house. This was necessary because Japanese homes at that time rarely had internal walls. So with their simple design, the Shoji blinds could be folded and moved around, enabling them to be used as temporary window blinds as well as room partitions.

Chinese Rice Paper Blinds

The Chinese have also used rice paper blinds through the ages. Whereas the Japanese generally kept their designs fairly simple and understated, the typical Chinese rice paper blind would be much more colourful. Even now, if you were to take a trip to your nearest ChinaTown, you would see many blinds on sale with all kinds of striking designs, patterns and motifs. Although some of these blinds are factory produced, if you are looking for a hand painted paper blind, you will probably find a good selection amongst the various blinds on offer.

As a temporary solution for covering a window, or for putting in place a partition to section off a room, these paper window blinds cannot be beaten if you want something stylish and a little bit different.

Modern Paper Window Blinds

For something a little less ornate, there are now many manufacturers who produce paper window blinds that can be cut down to size and installed in a matter of minutes. These companies make blinds that are cheap (less than $10 per blind), very easy to fit, and offer a good short term solution while you’re waiting for your new curtains to arrive for example.  I have used a set in my den, where they look especially good on the window behind my leather corner settee and armchair.

Redi Shade produces a wide range of temporary blinds in both a traditional pleated design and a cellular design that is more energy efficient. They offer simple white blinds, translucent blinds with a touch of colour and black blinds which can blackout most of the light coming in through a window (great for baby and toddler rooms, for example).

In conclusion, whether you are looking for a simple covering for your window (such as the Redi shade), a tasteful partition for a section of room (such as a Japanese Shoji screen) or a more decorative feature (such as a Chinese hand painted rice paper blind), paper blinds make great temporary blinds and screens, not just in the home but also in the office. And if you’re a student on a tight budget, they can really spruce up your accommodation!