That’s basically my situation too—none of my windows are quite the same size, and I’m convinced some are off by more than half an inch. I did try custom ordering cellular shades for two rooms, but honestly, even with the “made to measure” stuff, the fit wasn’t perfect. Maybe it’s just the walls shifting over time? I keep wondering if all those little gaps are killing my heating bill or if I’m overthinking it. Anyone actually notice a difference in draftiness after swapping out old window treatments?
I hear you on the weird window sizes—old houses just do their own thing. I’ve measured the same window three times and still ended up with shades that fit “mostly.” I’ve swapped out some old drapes for cellular shades in my place (built in the ‘40s), and yeah, it helped a bit with drafts, but not as much as I hoped. The real game changer for me was adding a bit of weatherstripping around the frames. It’s not fancy, but it cut down on the cold air sneaking in. Those gaps can add up, but sometimes it’s more about the window frames themselves than the treatments.
Weatherstripping definitely helps, but honestly, I found the biggest improvement came when I put up those old-school heavy curtains in the winter. They’re not pretty, but the thick fabric really blocks drafts better than any of the modern shades I tried. Sometimes old problems need old solutions, I guess.
Heavy curtains definitely work, but have you tried layering them with a thermal liner? I did that in my 1920s place and it made a bigger difference than I expected. Still, it’s frustrating how none of the “standard” curtain sizes fit those weird window shapes—ended up hemming everything myself. Ever run into issues with condensation behind the curtains, or is that just me?
Ever run into issues with condensation behind the curtains, or is that just me?
Yeah, condensation’s a pain. Happens a lot in winter for me, especially with those thick liners. I’ve found cracking the window just a bit helps, but then you lose some heat. Have you ever tried using magnetic tape to get curtains flush to the wall? Makes a difference for drafts, but not sure it helps with the moisture.