Blinds and window film without drilling

A blind is usually screwed above the window or into its frame, and a tenancy agreement often forbids drilling the window frames. There are, however, blinds and films that go up without a drill to keep out sun, heat or prying eyes in a rented home. This guide covers the three ways they hold, helps you choose between softening and blocking the light, and explains how to measure. Every product mentioned is in our selection of blinds without drilling, where you can filter by width.

Three ways to hold without drilling

Clamp brackets

The blind hangs from brackets that clip onto the opening sash of the window, with no screws. They only suit a certain sash thickness, stated by the manufacturer: measure it before you buy.

• Gardinia EASYFIX Uni roller blind that clamps onto the sash and the other Gardinia EASYFIX roller blinds: 15 to 22 mm sash, 40 to 120 cm wide depending on the model.
• Gardinia EASYFIX Katy clamp-on pleated blind: about 4 to 24 mm, 50 to 100 cm wide; it cannot be glued or fitted in the rebate.
• Lichtblick Nizza pleated blind that clamps onto the frame: 5 to 24 mm frame; Lichtblick Helsingborg clamp-on blackout pleated blind: 5 to 30 mm.
• Madeco no-drill blackout roller blind: clips onto a compatible sash, 41 to 111 cm wide. Madeco advises against no-drill blinds on wooden windows.

Suction cups

Suction cups hold on the glass itself, which leaves the frame untouched. The Gardinia SOLO pleated blind with suction cups goes at the height you want, 40 to 100 cm wide; Gardinia says to choose its width from the full width of the glazing. The Lichtblick Dublin pleated blind with suction cups runs from 50 to 90 cm wide.

For a roof window, the Gardinia roof window pleated blind with suction cups and the Lichtblick Toronto thermal screen for roof windows come in the sizes of Velux models: note the reference on the window’s plate.

Static film

A static film clings to the glass with no glue and is cut to the size of the pane. The Gardinia Privacy static window film, no glue and the Vénilia Vitrostatic frosted glass effect static film block the view and let light through; the Vénilia Vitrostatic tinted static window film is tinted. The manufacturers say they come off without marks and can be reused.

Vénilia says to check compatibility with the window’s manufacturer: an unsuitable film can damage the glass or the seals.

Soften or block the light?

A light-filtering blind softens the light and blocks the view, but the room stays bright: this is the case for the Gardinia EASYFIX Uni, Katy and SOLO blinds and the Lichtblick Nizza and Dublin pleated blinds. To sleep in the dark you need a blackout blind: the Gardinia EASYFIX Thermo clamp-on blackout roller blind, the Madeco blind, stated as 100% blackout, or the Lichtblick Helsingborg pleated blind. The Lichtblick Toronto screen only darkens slightly, according to its manufacturer.

The Gardinia EASYFIX clamp-on day and night roller blind alternates clear and opaque stripes to adjust the light and the view.

Against summer heat

Several products send part of the sunlight back before it heats the room. The Gardinia EASYFIX Thermo blind has an aluminised back, and the Helsingborg pleated blind and the Toronto screen a silver thermal back. Among films, the Gardinia anti-UV mirror static film, silver or black slows down how fast the room heats up; its mirror effect reverses as soon as it is darker outside than inside. The Vénilia tinted film also reduces how much rooms heat up, according to its manufacturer.

With a portable air conditioner, the hose has to go out through a slightly open window. The Trotec PAC shutter panel for a portable air conditioner is wedged between the roller shutter and the frame, without tools, for a 150 mm hose: so you need a roller shutter.

Measure before you buy

1. Find where the product goes: on the sash for a clamp-on blind, on the glass for a suction blind or a film. The instructions say what the sizes refer to.
2. Measure the width and height there, in centimetres. For a clamp-on blind, also measure the thickness of the sash.
3. Compare with the product’s sizes: a blind has a fixed width or a range, and a film can be cut down but not made bigger.

In our selection, just enter the width to cover: the list keeps only the products whose sizes, as stated by the manufacturer, fit.

Fitting and taking down

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions: preparing the glass, fitting a film with water and adjusting the brackets depend on them.
• Take everything down before the check-out inspection, following the instructions. For a blind whose manufacturer does not state residue-free removal, check the frame once the brackets are off.

If you are unsure what your tenancy agreement allows, ask your landlord or letting agent before fitting anything.