Sticker shock from getting quotes for new blinds and curtains

- Definitely seeing the same thing with older homes—my ‘62 split-level has no two window frames the same size. Measuring is half the battle.
- Tried custom blinds once for the living room bay window. The fit was nice, but honestly, the price was hard to swallow. Didn’t feel like it made a huge difference in comfort or appearance.
- For the rest of the house, I went with off-the-shelf options and just adjusted with a bit of foam tape and patience. Not perfect, but way more budget-friendly.
- The only spot I splurged was on a weird-shaped bathroom window—nothing else would work there. Otherwise, I agree, mid-range stuff plus a little DIY usually does the trick.
- One thing I’d add: if you’re in a drafty area or have old single-pane glass, sometimes it’s worth spending more on insulation, but for most rooms, I’d rather save the cash.
- It’s easy to get caught up in “perfect fit” thinking, but a good enough solution plus a little creativity usually wins out for me.