Struggling to find shades or curtains for huge windows

- My place has huge south-facing windows, and I debated battery vs. hardwired for weeks.
- Hardwired seemed like a hassle at first, but I didn’t want to be up on a ladder every few months swapping batteries.
- Only downside I’ve noticed is the install - ran into some drywall headaches.
- Curious if anyone’s tried solar-powered shades for big windows? Wondering if they’re reliable or just another thing to maintain.

Solar-powered shades are actually pretty solid for big south-facing windows, as long as you’ve got enough sun exposure (sounds like you do). I put them in for a client last year - install wasn’t too different from standard motorized, but you do need to make sure the solar panel’s placement isn’t blocked by trim or anything. They’ve held up well so far, but I’ll say the charging can be hit or miss if you get a lot of cloudy days in winter. Maintenance-wise, less hassle than swapping batteries, but you’ll want to dust the panels every now and then. If you’re comfortable running a wire or two, the hardwired route is still the most “set it and forget it” option, but solar’s a nice middle ground if you hate ladders as much as I do.

If you’re comfortable running a wire or two, the hardwired route is still the most “set it and forget it” option, but solar’s a nice middle ground if you hate ladders as much as I do.

I hear you on the ladder thing - after too many years of balancing on rickety steps to swap batteries, I’m all for anything that keeps my feet on the ground. I actually did a retrofit last spring in a mid-century place with those massive living room windows. We went solar-powered for the shades, mainly because there was no easy way to fish wires through the old plaster without tearing things up.

Honestly, they’ve been better than I expected. Even with our not-so-sunny Pacific Northwest winters, they held enough charge for daily use (though we did have one week where they slowed down - probably needed a panel wipe). The only thing I’d add is to double-check your window trim depth before mounting the panels. One client had these chunky decorative ledges that cast a shadow by midday...had to move the panels higher to catch more sun.

If wiring isn’t your thing or you’re dealing with tricky architecture, solar’s worth considering. But yeah, if you can hardwire and don’t mind the upfront hassle, nothing beats never thinking about charging again.

The only thing I’d add is to double-check your window trim depth before mounting the panels.

That’s a great point - trim depth can really mess with solar panel placement. I ran into a similar issue with deep sills in a 70s split-level. Ended up having to angle the panels out a bit, which looked odd but did the trick. Hardwiring was tempting, but fishing wires through that old insulation was a nightmare waiting to happen. Solar’s not perfect, but for awkward architecture, it’s a solid workaround.

fishing wires through that old insulation was a nightmare waiting to happen.

That’s the truth - old insulation is unforgiving. I’ve seen folks try to retrofit motorized shades and just give up halfway because of that. If you’ve got deep sills, sometimes custom brackets are worth the extra cost. Not always pretty, but way less hassle than tearing into walls.

If you’ve got deep sills, sometimes custom brackets are worth the extra cost. Not always pretty, but way less hassle than tearing into walls.

Totally agree on skipping the wall demo - been there, regretted that. I’ve also seen folks try those tension rods for big windows, but they usually sag or just look off. Curious if anyone’s tried running surface conduit for the wiring instead of fishing through insulation? Not the prettiest, but sometimes you gotta pick your battles...

Surface conduit’s a solid workaround, honestly. I’ve used it in a rental where I couldn’t open up walls, and while it’s not invisible, you can paint it to match the trim and it kind of blends in. Definitely beats fishing wires through old insulation - been there, swore I’d never do it again. Have you looked at those low-profile raceways? They’re not exactly designer, but they’re less clunky than standard conduit. Sometimes function just wins over form, especially with huge windows...

- Just went through this with our living room windows - massive, and I didn’t want to mess up the plaster.
- Looked at surface conduit but worried it’d look too industrial. Didn’t realize you could paint it to blend in, that’s a game changer.
- Tried those flat raceways for the TV wires in another room. Not pretty, but honestly, after a week, I stopped noticing them.
- Function definitely won over form for me, especially since custom shades are $$$ and I needed something up fast.
- Curious if anyone’s tried stick-on curtain rods? I’m skeptical they’d hold up with heavy fabric but tempted to try...

- Totally get the hesitation about stick-on rods. I tried them once in a guest room - light linen curtains were fine, but anything heavier and they started sagging after a month.
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Function definitely won over form for me, especially since custom shades are $$$ and I needed something up fast.

I get the appeal of quick fixes, but honestly, after I swapped out my old tension rods for properly mounted brackets, my heating bill actually dropped a bit. Heavy curtains with a real rod make a difference - especially in winter. Sometimes the hassle pays off in the long run.

That’s interesting, I actually had the opposite experience with tension rods - mine kept slipping down every few months, usually at the worst possible time (like 2am in January). I finally caved and put in wall-mounted brackets for our living room windows. Took me a Saturday afternoon and a couple of questionable holes in the drywall, but the difference is wild. Heavy curtains really do help with drafts, especially if you’ve got those old single-pane windows like we do.

I will say, figuring out the right bracket placement on oversized windows was kind of a pain. Had to hunt down extra-long rods (ended up ordering online, local stores didn’t have anything close). It’s not the most glamorous home upgrade, but my wife swears the house feels warmer now. Plus, no more middle-of-the-night rod crashes.

Anyone else notice a weird echo in big rooms before putting up curtains? Ours felt like a gym until we got them up...

Totally get what you mean about tension rods not holding up - mine never lasted more than a few months either, especially with heavier curtains. Switching to wall-mounted brackets was a bit of a headache at first (I mismeasured and had to patch a hole or two), but it’s such a relief not worrying about things crashing down in the middle of the night. Those extra-long rods are surprisingly hard to find in stores, and even when you do, they’re usually flimsy or overpriced.

I’ve noticed the echo thing too. Before we put up curtains in our dining room, it sounded like we were eating in an empty warehouse. Once the fabric went up, the whole space felt cozier and way less “boomy.” It’s wild how much difference a few panels of fabric can make, both for warmth and sound.

Honestly, I used to think curtains were just for looks, but after living with drafty old windows and bare walls, I’m sold on the practical side. Sure, it’s not the most exciting project, but sometimes the boring jobs make home life way more comfortable.

- Totally agree on tension rods being a letdown - mine bent after a week with blackout curtains.
- Wall brackets are sturdier, but yeah, drilling into plaster is a pain. I had to redo mine twice... measuring is not my strong suit.
- Finding a rod long enough for big windows is ridiculous. Ended up ordering online, paid way more than I wanted.
- Curtains do help with sound, but I still get a bit of echo. Maybe it’s the high ceilings? Not sure fabric alone solves it all.
- Used to think curtains were just for privacy, but drafty nights changed my mind real quick. Not glamorous, but definitely worth it.

I feel this. We’ve got these massive windows in our living room, and finding rods long enough was almost a project in itself. Ended up piecing two together with a connector - doesn’t look fancy, but it works. Drilling into plaster is the worst though, I swear half my wall is just patchwork now. For sound, heavy curtains helped a bit but yeah, high ceilings just bounce everything around. Has anyone tried layering with sheers or something thicker? I’m tempted but not sure if it’s worth the extra effort (or holes in the wall).

I’ve run into that plaster situation more times than I can count - patchwork city over here too. Layering can help with sound, but honestly, it’s a bit of a toss-up. I did a double rod setup for a client once: heavy velvet on the outside, linen sheers inside. It helped some with echo, but the real win was how it softened up the look. Have you considered ceiling-mount tracks? Sometimes spreading out the weight helps avoid more holes in the wall... Curious if anyone else has tried those in older homes?

Ceiling-mount tracks are definitely a solid workaround, especially if your plaster is unpredictable or brittle. I’ve installed them in a few pre-war apartments, and spreading the load across more points in the ceiling seems to cut down on cracks or crumbling. Main thing is making sure you’re hitting a joist or using toggle bolts - plaster alone won’t hold much over time. Have you run into issues with finding long enough tracks for big windows? Sometimes sourcing hardware for anything over 10 feet gets tricky...

Funny you mention the long tracks - I've been banging my head against that exact problem. Our living room windows are just shy of 12 feet across, and I thought finding a single continuous track would be easy. Turns out, not so much. Most of the big box stores tap out around 10 feet, if that. I ended up piecing two tracks together with a connector, which worked okay, but there’s a slight bump where the curtains catch sometimes. Not ideal, but better than nothing.

I’m a little skeptical about some of the online “custom” options too. They get pricey fast, and I worry about returns if something doesn’t fit right. Anyone have luck with those, or is splicing two tracks still the way to go? Also, I keep hearing about ceiling anchors and toggle bolts, but has anyone actually had the plaster crack later anyway? I’m paranoid about making it worse, honestly.

- Totally get where you're coming from - those long windows are a pain for standard tracks.
- I’ve done the splice method a couple times. The bump is annoying, but with heavier curtains or a little sanding on the connector, it’s manageable. Not perfect, but it works.
- Tried one of those “custom” online setups once. It fit well, but yeah, price was rough and shipping took forever. Return policy was more hassle than help... I’d only go that route if you’re really picky about the look.
- As for ceiling anchors: toggle bolts are strong, but old plaster can still crack around them. Happened in my 1950s place after a year - tiny hairline cracks, nothing catastrophic, but still annoying to patch.
- If you’re worried about plaster, pre-drill small pilot holes and use painter’s tape while drilling. Seems to help keep things tidy.
- Honestly, sometimes “good enough” wins over “perfect” with these projects. You’re not alone in the struggle.

That splice bump is the bane of my existence - I tried to ignore it, but my curtains catch every single time. I went with the painter’s tape trick for drilling into my 1940s plaster, and it actually saved me from a bigger mess. Not perfect, but at least I didn’t have to patch another crater. Sometimes you really do just have to settle for “good enough” and move on.

That painter’s tape trick is underrated, honestly. Drilling into old plaster feels like defusing a bomb - one wrong move and you’re patching holes for weeks. I’ve run into the same splice bump issue; tried sanding it down but then the rod started flexing more than I liked. Sometimes “good enough” really is as good as it gets, especially with these older houses. The quirks become part of the charm... or at least that’s what I tell myself when my curtains snag for the third time that week.