apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

If you opt to stick with the honeycombs - they do have the top down bottom up feature that can allow the black out shades on 1 side and a sheer or opaque fabric on the other end of the blind. You could adjust to whichever density you prefer :) Picture this - but with black out on one end.
http://www.3dayblinds.com/Products/ImagePop.aspx?l=http://img.3day.com/web1/categories/honey/ult/phe_3d00076.jpg

I would buy whatever you think will work best aesthetically and then buy some black out roller shades to fit inside the window and behind your other choice for daytime looks.

I agree with homebody. I've installed plantation shutters for a client who still was bothered by the light coming through the closed slats. We installed blackout roller shades underneath and it's perfect. You don't even see them when the shutters are open because they are hidden behind the frame.

Yes, rollershades if you have the room, or curtains, in addition to whatever blinds you like. A single window treatment isn't the only option.

I vote for the natural venetian wooden blinds, layered beneath proper draperies.

I've got the honeycomb blinds throughout my condo and can't wait to get rid of them for the same reason (already there when I got the place.) As soon as I can afford to replace them all with wooden blinds I'll be very happy.

you're going to think this is jerky.... but here goes:

I too suddenly have big security lights from the new apartment bldg next door flooding my bedroom... I could black out but it gives me claustrophobia and impedes airflow (hate air conditioning)

so I've decided to pretend it's moonlight

and make it PRETTY

I have felt curtains that glow when light hits them... okay keep those...

now outside the part of the window that stays open I have hung a bunch of bushy and variegated hanging plants very close together... they break up the light and cast beautiful shadow shapes

I am also negotiating with the owners of the new bldg to tone down the lights a little with weaker bulbs (fat chance? well, I'm trying...)


if the spots are from yr own bldg, talk to your landlord about redirecting them or mitigating them in some way

if all else fails, I am willing to hanging a flashing neon sign outside my window and go for FILM NOIR

ut0piaseeker - Good point about top-down shade options, but the photo above sure looks like the honeycombs Soye already has are the top-down variety.

I've had this problem in two different places -- but it was the ridiculously bright and unfocused DC streetlights, not a neighbor's security light, that needed to be blocked out. For street-facing rooms, I've used plantations hsutters (picked up on sale). But a similar and much cheaper option is to use wide-slatted wood or fake-wood venetian blinds. (I think HD sells "GranWood" or something like that.) The faux-wood version end up looking a lot like shutters, and do a better job of blocking light than the shutters I've got.

Another (perhaps more expensive) option might be the venetian blinds that have cloth "slats" and a sheer fabric attached to the outside, like the Hunter Douglas "Silhouette." Blinds.com has them and calls them "Horizontal Shadings." They go from sheer sort-of lightdiffusing to something more light-blocking (although they don't really block all the light). Smith and Noble also makes their part-honeycomb, part-venetian blind "Trilogy" shades.

You can get the wide (2") venetian blinds in white. I have these in my bed room and they block light well (we, too, have a spotlight shining in on us courtesy of our neighbors). These also have a very similar look to plantation shutters and are a fraction of the cost (and are no more difficult to clean).

Another thought -- grass/bamboo roman shades with a black-out lining. We have those in our living room and I love the look (up or down) and the light control is wonderful.

If you really want to block light with blinds, you can get the kind with cloth or ribbons running down the front. Nice look & it blocks any holes.

I have two-inch wooden blinds in my bedroom - they were my affordable choice instead of plantation shades. The look is similar with a significantly lower price - particularly if you have standard size windows.

i would agree with mear - 2" blinds will work with tapes (the technical term for ribbons) which will block out the light. The faux wood just like the wood but cheaper and the tapes look really clean! I have had them installed in a number of clients homes and everyone is impressed about how nice they look. And you can totally manage the light - which is perfect for your needs.

The Silhouettes mentioned above are another option but these tend to be a bit pricey...although I have access to a lesser known brand which are priced lower (Not 3 day or Next Day) with the same functionality.
Good luck!

I hope this isn't weird, but if you decide to go with the 2" slat venetian blinds, I happen to be selling two. I bought them for my DC row house, but they're just a little wide for my windows. Maybe they would work for you. My add is on the AT DC classifieds.

I like the idea of keeping what you have and adding drapes to soften during the day.