Review on Achim Darkening Temporary Pleated Shades Home Decor by Laura Church

I bought these for my living room windows which face east and get direct light from sunrise to sunset. I'd say these blinds block 90% of that direct light, which is enough to "darken a room" while only letting in a very small amount of light. They appear to be good for rooms that need protection from fading and other damaging effects of direct sunlight. This is not a real neutral white, but a "cold" white with a very slight gray cast. The quality of these blinds falls somewhere between the cheap paper versions with plastic clips and the more expensive metal versions with a pulley system. Vinyl is lightly textured and more durable than paper blinds, but is easily cut with a sharp utility blade or household scissors. The simple cord pull mechanism in the center is a nice touch - remember blinds should be trimmed with that in mind. So, for example, if your windows are 32 inches wide, subtract 2 inches from each side to keep the drawstrings centered. All in all a solid value if you are looking for blinds that don't cost money, are easy to trim but are still very functional and aesthetically pleasing.