looks marvelous :/

looks marvelous :/

Well, sometimes you just have to accept functionality over form, Moonbase Alphan. Besides, it's a temporary installation anyway since the author says she only uses it occasionally and she can always hang some curtains in front of the foil.

It beats my usual maneuver of ripping the flaps off cardboard boxes and duct taping them... I'm putting my unit up this weekend and you can bet I'll be trying this! @ Moonbase: Embrace ghetto-ness from time to time, you'll live longer!

I've done that before but I covered the inside-facing part with snowflake wrapping paper.

@kirstenwi Hahah! Yeah this does seem amazing. I'm currently using copious amounts of duct tape to seal off the gaps. I wonder, maybe if it bugs peoples visual aesthetic so much, what about putting some fancy paper like at PaperSource on the side facing the room? curtains are also a good idea to frame it. I have curtains and a pull down shade that I use to keep the sun out in the morning.

For our window air conditioner unit, we measured that block of open space, had a piece of plywood cut to size, and painted the outward facing side of the plywood to match the house color and the inside to match the room color. My hope was that it would not add to the ugliness factor of the air conditioner.

??? Why is the aluminum foil on the interior?

Cutting a small piece of plywood/poster board to the exact dimension from the A/C unit to the window sill, covering it with fabric in from of the cardboard cut out would help with the appearance. You can use a little put of glue to hold it in place to the cardboard, so the duct take doesn't show.

You lose more cool air than heat gain with a sheet of cardboard. You should also duct tape a piece of batt insulation to the inside face of that cardboard.

Hmm, not quite the brilliant idea I was hoping for, as I am facing this problem as well. I was thinking more of the Toothlesspoodle route, but then I'm looking for a solution that could stay in place through winter. Maybe even cut double the wood needed and sandwich some insulation between, then screw together and paint.

This is the reason I do not, and will not, ever have window units. I'd rather be uncomfortably warm in a good looking apartment than have that eyesore sitting in my window. No thank you.

foil ... number 1 sign of a drug house.

Skip the wings and the cardboard. Those wings are useless. You can cut a piece of insulating foam- either the pink kind or the blue kind- and put that in the gap. Not only does it insulate better than cardboard wrapped in aluminum foil, but it looks nicer too. Very clean. If you have access to the white foam (I work in museums, so we use that foam to pack artwork) it looks super nice because it's translucent and the light comes through.

Also- this way you can store it with your air unit, and it becomes less waste for the next year.

My one recommendation would be not to use duct tape. Duct tape melts into a gooey mess. Get yourself some Gaffer's tape as it can easily be removed when you need to take the AC unit out.

I also find the hate here quite funny.

If I want "ghetto-ness" I'll look for a blog called Ghetto Therapy...many of the above comments have far more creative ideas than the original article! Ya can't even put the duct tape on neatly? I would expect AT LEAST THAT from apartment therapy!

Wow, I have to agree with the other posters on this, it does look ghetto! I have used clear plexi glass to make it look like part of a window when i install my window air conditioner. I use moldable fingertip rope caulk to keep the plexi glass in place and it comes out looking wonderful. I've stopped using the accordian shades completely because this way looks so much nicer. Everything can be bought at home depot or lowe's. You really just need to have an exacto knife to cut the plexi glass to the right size.

I thought you were going to give a unique suggestion, not take a page from the crackhouse handbook. Someone should write an article about Bakerjen's solution.

Oh, for heaven's sake. Even if you can't find an extra-long accordion panel that would fit exactly, the garden-variety accordion panels cost less than $10. You could easily frankenstein a couple of them together with just one discreet strip of white plastic tape, for a result that nobody in the world would bat an eye at. I have never been more shocked at AT than I am by seeing "Smart and Simple" applied to this clumsy effort. The only smart thing about it is that we are seeing duct tape and reused-looking foil instead of the actual front of the cut-up box of Lucky Charms, which I admit would be even worse.

This looks absolutely awful. Useful? Maybe - I don't know how much heat .75 sq ft of foil will actually reflect. But I'd rather have the sterile-looking included wings next to my A/C than melted duct tape and foil.

I don't understand....why wouldn't you just get a piece of plexi-glass cut and affixed with that double sided foamy tape? That's what I do, it looks neat and lets some light in despite the ugly A/C. This option looks so ugly. I would at least take a tasteful print, laminate it and use it to cover the aluminum/ghetto look?

I never comment unless I have something good to say as almost all the ideas and projects here are subjective, this however is an insult to all your readers and something I'd expect to see on an April Fools post. 

I have window units and when I've had to to similar things to them I've cut cardboard to fit the entire space between the unit and frame and covered it with fabric or paper for a seemless, co-ordinates look. Now I own my place I'm cutting plywood, painting it and installing it flush. I'm going to put insulation behind the plywood to help in both summer and winter.  I was hoping to see something along those lines in this post. 

Wow. The comments on AT are getting to be as vicious as the comments in certain other corners of the web. Sad.

(And for those of us who live in cooler climates, particularly in older buildings, getting anything *other* than an in-window unit can be prohibitively expensive, especially when you only need to turn the thing on a dozen non-consecutive days a year -- but those few days, you're really, really glad you have it. But that's neither here nor there; my comment about the comments would hold regardless.)

Hey people - I discovered something that really helps with sealing the gaps... clay. Yes, I had some putty-colored clay from the crafts store, and just rolled it into snakes, and then was able to plug the gaps without any gaff tape or rags or any of the ugly things we have all tried before. No air gets thru, and it's quite tidy looking.

@ Lemondrop,

It may not about the heat only, it may about humidity as well. If you had to deal humidity as high as we routinely have in the Great Lakes area maybe you would prefer to look at a piece not so pretty aluminum/duct tape then slowly melting.

PS of course I'm talking about how to fill the edges in, not how to plug a big gap!

PPS the "mean" comments are actually funny, aren't they? Lucky Charms box? Even if it were my window being insulted, I'd laugh!

Do you really think this a "great solution" worthy of being posted on a blog about home decor? I don't have a problem with you doing this--I've certainly turned to fixes like this. Usually my thought process was "Eh, good enough" or "Eh, I'm not putting real money/energy into solving this small problem." But I never thought they were attractive or "great." And why on earth wouldn't the guy at the hardware store tell you to use plywood, which could be painted, or Plexiglas? It's just kind of astonishing all around. Makes me wonder about Apartment Therapy's editorial process.

LOL at the comments in the post. Ghetto at it's finest! hahahahahahahahaha

living in an APARTMENT means you don't always have a choice about how you cool your space and if you live in a climate where heat and humidity conspire to nearly kill everyone believe me, you wouldn't be so snooty about window units. as to the original design, blech. it's ugly. regardless of which of the many solutions one chose, this one is really at the bottom of the pile. gotta agree that this post reads like a fill-in on a really slow post day. the only useful bit for me was the reflective aspect and the alternate suggestions. love the plexi idea with the clay as a stopper.

I have done a variation on this... with the added feature that my summer curtains (yes, I have summer and winter curtains for around the A/C) are pulled in to cover the sides of the A/C.

I get that form follows function... but in the heat and humidity of a midwest summer I care about function a heck of a lot more than form.

My issue is more along the lines of getting the A/C in the window without dropping the thing on some poor, unsuspecting passer by below. The previous renter of my apartment left behind a newish, heavy and large window unit which I am happy to use whilst I reside here. After a terrifying afternoon of my boyfriend and I performing the amazing feat of A/C installation, it seems to fit just fine Phew! Does anyone have any good advice as to how to install these things easily?

you could buy two picture frames that fit approximately. paint the glass white. glue them back to back. put them in the sill and fill the gaps with the clay putty snakes someone described above. wouldn't that be like a double-paned window with caulking??

I'm lucky. The maintence staff at my apartment install my window AC for a nominal charge. I've always wondered how a heavy AC stays secure without falling out of the window. Especially with flimsy materials like cardboard surrounding it... how does that work?

@rachel c brooklyn

I second that question - I put off installing my AC for as long as possible because it's so heavy and awkward, especially in a tiny window like mine. Fortunately, even if I did drop it out the window, the likelihood of hitting someone is probably next to nil, due to location. Still, I don't relish having to buy a new one if that happens.

I thought there might be a tip that I'd be willing to put in my home. I'm all for the a/c but that looks hideous!

Oh, and HAHAHAH @moonbase alphan

I'm lucky enough that my boyfriend works with a lot plexi glass and lexon, he cut out pieces that fit perfectly into our window frames and secures our air conditioners.. the best part is it doesn't block out any natural light and it looks great

It's simple, but as many others have said, you could prrrrrobably find something a little bit more attractive.

I just have to thank this article and all the comments for giving one of the best laughs I've had in a while!

I cut down some thick, scrap plywood to fit the gaps on either side of my AC, wrapped it in batting (on the inside-facing side and on the edges) and then a nice piece of fabric that matched our drapes. On the back side I wrapped it in plastic (cut from a heavy-duty garbage bag) to keep water out. This worked remarkably well, made installation easier and looked great. The batting helped create a very snug fit to minimize gaps. You could cut strips of foam for around the edges of the board if you can't get the board perfectly snug or are worried about gaps.

I thought that photo was a "before" picture and there would be a "solution" to make it prettier. oops.

We have portable units, instead of in-window units, which take up even less of your window. We have used either plexiglass cut to size or a piece of 1/2" foamcore to fill in the space. That plus duct-tape works like a charm. We don't secure the side where the window slides in, so we can open the window when we don't need the a/c.

First I was smiling, grinning as if deranged and finally laughing hysterically. Thanks so much. I needed some comic relief. OBTW, in Texas in the summer it's a bit more than uncomfortably warm w/out ac! Houston had now power for 3 weeks after Hurricane Ike and we almost died.

Wow! That's worse than my current (temporary) solution. I used white duct tape (to match the frame) and tightly sealed the gaps with plastic wrap until I have time to cut some wood and cover it with pretty paper or fabric. At least mine lets a little light in and resembles a window pane! I thought MY idea was embarrassing...but this is just WRONG. ;)

I used wood when I used window units in a previous life.
The upside is that you can screw metal brackets into the wood and window frame for security. And you can always paint the wood to make it less noticeable...or even more noticeable as in abstract designs, etc.

This seems unsafe to me, not to mention unsightly. Lexan or plexiglass (ideally screwed or wedged into the frame) would be a much better and more secure solution. My dad put in Lexan for me, and we sanded the surface for a frosted look so that added to the privacy factor. Wood is certainly safer than cardboard, and I think Home Depot will cut small pieces for a fee. A glass seller could probably also cut the Lexan for you, if need be.

I just moved into a second floor apartment with no central air (which will be missed from my last apartment) that I've been obsessed with decorating. I also just installed a hand-me-down AC unit with broken knobs, broken side panels, etc and sealed it up with bright blue painters tape. I don't care how ugly the thing is... I still plan to stare at it lovingly as it blows cool air gently into my bedroom lulling me to sleep.

@canadianmango,

I'm on the fourth floor of an all brick walk-up in Chicago. I've got a handle on dealing with the humidity, and as window units are my only option, I've happily opted out for the past eight summers.

Surprised manufacturers haven't picked up on this and made a product to solve these issues. Like extra wings that you can buy.

They make indoor portable room air conditioners now that sit in the room and be moved about, no more ugly windows.

The silver foil may be efficient, but if my landlady drove by and saw that, she'd have kittens! :-0 (I'm not in an apartment, but a tiny rental house in a fairly posh neighborhood.)

I have side to side sliding windows, which are horrible for air conditioner installation, so I go the plexiglass route. It's just way too big a gap to fill with anything else.

That said, if I lived in an apartment where "street aesthetics" weren't an issue, I'd use silver insulation batting with no shame. When it's hot out, you gotta do what you gotta do!

This is hilarious. It's something I'd do myself (not having a DIY bone in my body), look at with hatred for a week, then post to a blog like AT begging for a better solution.

Yeah, this isn't a solution - it's more of a problem. (Note that I've done similar hack jobs with window fans in the past...but really...)

In NYC, you have to anchor a window AC so it doesn't fall. A common solution is to get a steel bar and anchor it to the sides of the window above the AC.

I have very large windows and an 18,000 BTU AC, and the metal bar is quite heavy.

And I have window ACs because there are no sleeves in my loft building (1905) nor are their aCs in the size I need for sleeves.

Clear plexiglas is fine - but if you leave the AC in year round, the cold leak in the winter is awful.