Rental Property Shades & Blinds

When you own a rental, the window coverings are part of the property, not a decorating choice. They need to suit whoever moves in next, survive a few tenancies, and be easy to replace one window at a time when something gets damaged. Rental property shades and blinds bought by size from a big box store rarely fit older or unusual windows, and mismatched replacements make a unit look tired at the next viewing. Every shade here is made to the exact width and height you measure and shipped direct, so you can outfit a unit, or several, with a consistent look.

The best shades and blinds for a rental property

Roller shades are the most practical choice for most landlords. The fabrics are 100% polyester, the mechanism is simple, and the shade sits in a closed cassette that hides the roller. Light filtering rollers work for living rooms and kitchens, and blackout rollers suit bedrooms, especially in units that face a street light or a parking lot. Because the same fabric and cassette color can be reordered later, a replacement shade matches the others in the unit.

Cellular shades are worth considering in units where tenants pay for heating and cooling, because the cell structure holds a layer of air against the glass. They come in light filtering and blackout, and a cordless version lifts from the bottom rail with nothing hanging down. Solar shades suit large living room windows and sliders where tenants want daylight and a view without glare.

Neutral colors are the safe default for a rental. Whites, creams and soft grays such as Alabaster Grain, Canvas Cream or Fogstone suit almost any tenant's furniture and photograph well for a listing. Cassettes come in white, beige, grey and black, and white or beige blends in with most window trim.

Sizes and operating options to plan around

On our squared cassette, chain operated roller shades start at 11 3/4 inches wide, which covers small bathroom and basement windows. Light filtering rollers reach 98 3/8 inches wide and blackout rollers 94 1/2 inches. Any shade over 100 inches high moves to the large cassette with a heavier 43 mm tube. Cordless rollers on the squared cassette need at least 23 5/8 inches of width. Cellular shades run cordless from 12 to 94 inches wide and up to 94 inches high.

Cordless is worth the upgrade in family units, since there is no loose cord or chain at the window. Where you do choose a chain, a chain tensioner is supplied as standard to hold the loop against the wall. A no-drill mount is available on our cellular line for windows where you would rather not add holes to the frame.

Measuring and installing it yourself

Measure each window separately, even in a building where they look identical, and record which room each measurement belongs to. For an inside mount, measure the width at the top, middle and bottom of the opening and use the smallest figure, then the height. Send us the exact numbers; the factory makes its own allowances, including 1/4 inch off the width of an inside mount cellular shade.

Roller shades hang on two cassette brackets. You need a drill with a 0.2 inch (6 mm) bit, and the brackets take screws at 1.1 inch spacing. Drywall and masonry anchors both come in the box, so use the one that matches the wall. Hook the valance onto the bracket latch, press it back until it clicks, and check that the top and rear are both locked. Between tenancies, a shade comes down by pressing the metal washer at the rear of the bracket, so you can swap a damaged one in minutes without disturbing the brackets.

If you rent rather than own, our renter friendly shades and blinds page covers options that come down cleanly at the end of a lease. For your own units, measure one window at a time and order the same fabric throughout.