Ikea.

What about room-darkening pull down vinyl shades? I love mine. They're inexpensive, and you can get them at places like Home Depot, Walmart, Ikea, etc. They'll cut them to size, and they're super easy to install. Alternately, mini blinds? I personally hate them because I live in a dusty house and they're hard to keep clean, but lots of people love them.

As for the shades, room darkening shades are the thickest, and will make it look like dusk in your room during the day when they're pulled down. Regular shades, which are a little thinner, cover the whole window, but allow some light to filter in, to make the room sunnier. With both the shades and the blinds, you can install them and leave them as is, or cover them with a curtain or valance or something as an accent, if you feel like it.

Aluminum foil man.

And black electrician's tape.

cmonkey, I can help you pick out somethin' good lookin'...

On preview: porpoise! What did he just say!

Oh, shades + curtains is an idea I didn't think of. It's the intersection of "reflecting light" and "keeping the room dark" that I'm confused about. I assume that dark curtains block out light, but soak up the heat. And light curtains let people see in. I've made a vow to stop living like a squatter, so my days of free-boxed bedsheets up over the window are totally over.

Specklet, you should totally come over. We have a giant porch. And a backyard. My phone still doesn't work and I don't have internet until this weekend, though.

There's insulated curtains, too. They're light colored on the inside, the outside is whatever color can match you're decor. The plus side of the curtains is that you can have shades or miniblinds that you can leave open or that will allow more light in, but the shades will cut the light dramatically. They help in cold or hot weather.

cmonkey, can you call? Also, there is a small bbq thing happening today in my back yard. Seven-ish.

Also, I'd do pull-down shades and curtains. Cheap and nice looking. I can sew, too, if asked nicely.

Incidentally, what matters more than the color of curtains is the density of the fabric 'n' stuff.

OK, I'll do shades & curtains. Thanks!

Specklet: I need to have an early night this evening, so no going out for me.
And I can use the telephone, I think, but no text messages. It's very weird.

Well, for the record, I texted you a couple times over the weekend to ask how the move went... Wait, didn't I get a texct or two from you?

Stupid phones.

I sent you some on Saturday & Sunday, and I think it's just recieving them that's broken. Stupid phones.

5 windows! That's awesome!

Specklet, can I teleport down to your BBQ?