Who else loves to nap during the day, but are blinded by the sunlight streaming through those cheap camper blinds, and swear you’ll buy the fancy black out blinds for your camper next time??
But if you’re like me, and super cheap, you probably never do! I have a TON of things in my “Save for Later” section of my Amazon cart, and I can tell you, nice blackout blinds are one of them!
This is especially true after our first camp trip of the year with all 3 kids in a new sleep set up – my son moved to the top bunk (no window!) but my twins are now in the bottom where there is both a window and blinds… and the blinds seem especially fun when they are going to sleep! I imagine it’s like some fun crunchy baby toy in their eyes for them!
Anyways, I wanted a quick and cheap way to do a couple of things – block out the light, help regulate the temperature a bit in our camper, as well as hopefully reduce the need to have those crunchy, cheap blinds that little kids love to wreck!
And I got it!
These cost around 5 dollars to make each, and you can bump up their quality with additional material (or even the actual black out material they sell at the store!)
Here we go!
Make your own DIY RV window blackout covers for cheap with just a few materials! You can modify this to make it more "blackout" as needed!
Materials
- Tissue paper, contact paper, or some other thin, see through paper for tracing your window shape onto
- Tape
- Foam Board (You can get it at the dollar store)
- Material enough to cover board (get enough for both sides if you want more black out and temp control power!)
- Marker to trace
Tools
- Hot glue gun
- Exacto knife
Instructions
- Tape your see through paper over your window.
- Trace the contours of the window (you should be able to use the frame of the window as a guide) Remember, this is to be placed INSIDE the frame, so trace the inside, not the outside! (see pic)
- Remove see through paper and tape it to your foam board
- Start cutting out the window shape with an exacto knife Leave a small notch so that it's easy removable!
- Once cut, make sure it fits by testing it in your window. It's good to fit snug!
- Bring it in the house to prepare to glue the material to the foam board. A note on materials - Mine was thin, so isn't as "blackout" as some desire (and I only had enough for one side!), so make sure to pick a thick enough / dark enough material for your needs! They do sell black out material near the curtain fabric section in walmart!
- Trace around your foam board window, leaving an inch or two extra around it for gluing over the edge
- Glue all straight edges first
- Go back and do your corners (I'm no seamstress, but I found cutting them a bit helped to make them lay flat better!)
- Done!
How did it go? Send me a picture!
These work perfect for the windows that don’t open, such as our kitchen window in our camper. I do have an issue with our kids bunk window, as the slide handle sticks out and makes it not lay flat (don’t worry, I have a solution!) I think more of a traditional curtain style might be best, but instead we would use velcro to secure it all in place.
Anyways, I’d love to see if you did it, or of any cool recommendations you have to make this even better! Now go on and enjoy that mid day nap so that I may live vicariously through you (with 3 kids 3 and under, it ain’t happening for awhile for me! =P )
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Cathie says
May 12, 2019 at 1:17 pmHi,
Thanks for this idea for the camper window! I might use it for blackouts someday, but I think you inspired me to do something else with the idea. I want to have removable screens for the little no see ems. Those teeny tiny little bugs that get through the regular screening! I think I will use your idea but modify the screen. I’ll use 2 pieces of foam board that are identically cut like a screen shape would be. So, I’d cut like you did, but then cut inside to make the screen frame. I’ll use fine sheer curtain material hot glued between the two pieces. Then I can pot it in and out whenever the no see ems are getting into the camper. Then when I’m not using them I can lay they flat under a mattress. I was trying to figure out how to do this and your idea is the answer! Thank you!
The Crazy Outdoor Mama says
May 13, 2019 at 7:09 amHi Cathie!
That sounds like an AMAZING idea! I might try that too, those little guys are so annoying! I’d love to see a picture of it when you’re done if you get the chance! Other people might be inspired by you! I’m so happy you found this useful – you’re welcome! -Stacy
Online Sunshine says
May 27, 2019 at 4:45 pmI like this idea. I just went car-camping in my Toyota RAV4 and had seen a YT video showing someone using black construction paper to cover their windows…complete with a little peek hole just in case someone comes knocking on your window. It worked well for short-term usage, but was not easily removed if I needed to drive. I think I will use your basic idea of using the foam core board, but I will paint it black and then put pieces of velcro on it to stick to the ceiling of my car when I’m not using it. 🙂
The Crazy Outdoor Mama says
May 27, 2019 at 7:32 pmCar camping is the best! We used to do that with our son (until two more came along :P) Yes, the foam board might help insulate a little better and will definitely make it easier to reuse! Let me know how it goes! (P.S. that’s genius to use velcro on the ceiling – I would have never thought of that!) – Stacy
Teresa says
June 9, 2019 at 4:38 amOut trailer is a rockwood which has the whole front of the bedroom is one large window. I purchased black foam board from Hobby Lobby so there was no need to do both sides ( my window has black tint on it). I used a navy blue sheet and made 3 covers across the window. It looks like I have a padded headboard now. I used command velcro to attach it and whola…no light comes through and they have never fallen down while traveling the country.
The Crazy Outdoor Mama says
June 9, 2019 at 8:54 amTeresa,
Holy cow, that’s genius! I always wondered how I would modify this to work for a large window… and you did it! AND it sounds like it looks good too! I’m hoping to upgrade our camper next year to one that has either a large back or front window… I have to keep this in mind! Thanks so much for sharing! -Stacy