6 Best Bamboo Blinds for Eco-Friendly RVs That Lower Your Footprint
Lower your RV’s footprint with sustainable bamboo blinds. Our guide covers the 6 best choices for privacy, light control, and eco-friendly style.
You pull into a scenic campsite, the sun is blazing, and your RV is quickly turning into a greenhouse. The flimsy factory-installed valances and cheap metal blinds just aren’t cutting it for privacy or temperature control. Choosing the right window coverings is one of the most impactful upgrades you can make, not just for comfort, but for creating a sustainable, energy-efficient home on wheels. Bamboo blinds are a fantastic solution, blending natural aesthetics with serious functionality that’s perfectly suited for life on the road.
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Why Bamboo Blinds Are Ideal for RV Living
The first thing you learn in a rig is that weight is everything. Every pound counts against your cargo carrying capacity, and heavy curtains or bulky blinds add up fast. Bamboo is incredibly lightweight for its strength, making it a smart choice that won’t tax your axles. It’s also surprisingly durable, holding up to the constant vibration and temperature swings that would warp or break cheaper plastic blinds.
Beyond the practical, bamboo is one of the most sustainable materials you can choose. It’s a fast-growing grass, not a wood, that requires minimal water and no pesticides to thrive. For those of us trying to lower our environmental footprint, opting for a renewable resource like bamboo over synthetic, petroleum-based plastics is a meaningful decision. It’s a small choice that aligns your living space with your values.
Finally, there’s the vibe. Bamboo brings a warm, organic texture into your space that plastic or metal simply can’t replicate. It filters light beautifully, casting a soft glow that makes a small interior feel cozy and inviting. Whether you want a bright and airy feel or a dim, private cave, there’s a bamboo blind that can help you achieve it without sacrificing style.
Arlo Blinds Cordless: Top Light-Filtering Pick
Enhance your home with these 2" cordless faux wood blinds in white, featuring a stylish crown valance for a polished look. Their durable, moisture-resistant PVC construction ensures long-lasting beauty and easy cleaning, while the cordless design offers child and pet safety.
Cordless blinds are a non-negotiable for many RVers, especially those with pets or small children. Dangling cords are a safety hazard and a general annoyance in a compact space where you’re constantly moving around. Arlo’s cordless mechanism is smooth and reliable; you just push the blind up or pull it down, and it stays exactly where you put it.
These blinds excel at light filtering. They won’t give you a pitch-black room, but they masterfully cut the harsh glare of direct sunlight while still letting in a pleasant, ambient light. This is perfect for the main living area or kitchen, where you want privacy from the neighboring campsite without making your rig feel dark and cramped during the day. They strike an excellent balance between openness and seclusion.
The main consideration with Arlo is sizing. They come in a wide range of standard widths, which often fit common RV window sizes quite well. However, if you have oddly shaped windows, you may have to opt for an outside mount or accept small light gaps on the sides. For most rigs, though, their combination of safety, style, and light control makes them a top contender.
Radiance Privacy Weave for Total Blackout
When you need absolute darkness, a standard bamboo blind won’t do. The Radiance Privacy Weave is the answer. These shades are constructed with a much tighter weave and often include a fabric backing that completely blocks light from passing through. This is essential for bedroom areas, ensuring you can sleep in even after the sun comes up or grab a nap in the middle of the day.
The real magic of blackout blinds in an RV is thermal insulation. That dense weave and backing create an air gap that helps keep solar heat out in the summer and precious warmth in during the winter. This means your air conditioner or furnace runs less, saving propane or battery power and reducing your overall energy consumption. It’s a functional upgrade that directly contributes to a more eco-friendly setup.
Because they are more densely constructed, these blinds are a bit heavier than their light-filtering counterparts. It’s not a dramatic difference, but something to be mindful of when outfitting an entire rig. The tradeoff for superior light-blocking and insulation, however, is almost always worth it for the improved comfort and efficiency.
Chicology Rustic: Best for Custom RV Sizes
Enjoy privacy and light control with CHICOLOGY's premium blackout bamboo Roman shades. These cordless window treatments offer a stylish, natural look perfect for any room.
RV windows are notoriously inconsistent. A window that’s supposed to be 24 inches wide might be 23.75 inches at the top and 24.25 at the bottom. This is where off-the-shelf blinds fail and custom-sized options from a brand like Chicology become a game-changer. They allow you to order blinds cut to the specific eighth-of-an-inch you need for a perfect fit.
A custom fit isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about performance. When a blind fits the window frame perfectly, you eliminate those annoying light gaps along the edges that ruin a blackout effect. A snug fit also maximizes the insulative properties of the blind, creating a better seal against the window pane to trap or block air. It’s the difference between a good-enough solution and a truly professional-feeling installation.
While custom sizing costs more upfront, it can save you the headache and waste of buying blinds that don’t quite work. The "Rustic" line offers a variety of textures and colors, from light birch to dark walnut, allowing you to match your interior design scheme precisely. If you’re planning to be in your rig long-term, investing in a perfect fit is a smart move.
Lewis Hyman Roll-Up for a Classic Van Vibe
Sometimes the simplest solution is the best one. The classic Lewis Hyman roll-up blind is a testament to that. It operates with a simple rope-and-pulley system—no complex internal springs or mechanisms to break on a bumpy forest service road. This straightforward design is incredibly reliable and easy to repair if a cord ever does fray.
This style of blind is perfect for achieving a classic, bohemian, or retro look, especially popular in van conversions and skoolies. It’s less about technical performance and more about creating a certain atmosphere. They provide basic privacy and shade while maintaining a casual, laid-back feel. They roll up into a neat bundle at the top of the window, staying completely out of the way when you want an unobstructed view.
The primary tradeoff is the cord system, which can be a negative for those concerned about child or pet safety. They also don’t offer the same level of light control as a roman-style shade you can position at any height. But for a simple, affordable, and durable option with timeless style, they are an unbeatable choice.
TJ Global Bamboo Shades: A Durable Budget Find
Enjoy natural light control with this cordless bamboo Roman shade. Its durable, high-quality construction filters light beautifully and includes an 8-inch valence for a clean look. Easy to install and operate, it's perfect for any indoor space.
Outfitting an entire RV with new window coverings can get expensive quickly. TJ Global offers a fantastic solution for those who need durability and style without a premium price tag. These shades are often built with thicker, flatter bamboo slats, which makes them surprisingly rugged and resistant to cracking or splitting from temperature changes.
This is the kind of blind you install and don’t have to worry about. They can handle the rigors of the road and are a great choice for high-traffic areas. While they may not have the refined, delicate weave of more expensive brands, their robust construction is a major asset in a mobile environment. They provide excellent value, delivering 90% of the function for a fraction of the cost.
You’ll likely find fewer size and color options compared to premium brands, and the mounting hardware might be more basic. However, for a full-timer on a budget or someone just starting their RV journey, TJ Global provides a reliable and attractive way to get the job done without compromising on the eco-friendly benefits of bamboo.
GoDear Design Panels for Large RV Windows
Customize your window or doorway with the GoDear Design Adjustable Sliding Panel Track Blinds. The adjustable track extends from 45.8" to 86" wide and features trimmable panels up to 96" high for a perfect fit.
What do you do with that massive picture window in the back of your fifth wheel or the sliding glass door on your toy hauler? A traditional roll-up blind would be absurdly wide and heavy. GoDear Design’s sliding bamboo panels are the elegant solution for these oversized openings. Instead of rolling up, these four or five large panels slide smoothly along a track.
This system allows you to easily control light and privacy on a large scale. You can stack all the panels to one side for a completely open view or spread them out to cover the entire window. It’s a much more practical and modern approach than wrestling with giant, heavy curtains. The panels are operated with a simple wand, keeping the bamboo free of fingerprints.
Installation is more involved than a standard blind, as you need to mount a multi-channel track to the wall or ceiling. But for those specific, hard-to-cover windows, it’s an investment that dramatically improves the functionality and look of your space. It’s a specialized solution for a common big-rig problem.
Measuring and Installing Blinds in Your Rig
Before you buy anything, grab a tape measure. Measure the width of your window at the top, middle, and bottom, and do the same for the height. RV windows are rarely perfectly square, and using the smallest of your three width measurements is key for an inside mount. Don’t skip this step; assuming a window is a standard size is the fastest way to waste money.
The DEWALT Atomic Compact 30 ft. Tape Measure offers a 13 ft. max reach for straighter, stronger measurements. Its 20% more compact grip enhances ergonomics and control, while the integrated finger brake provides superior blade management.
Next, decide between an inside mount or an outside mount.
- Inside Mount: The blind fits entirely within the window frame for a clean, built-in look. This requires very precise measurements.
- Outside Mount: The blind is mounted on the wall above the window frame and overlaps the opening. This is more forgiving on measurements and can block more light, but the blind will project into your living space slightly.
Finally, remember that RV walls are not like house walls. They are thin, and there may not be solid wood to screw into. Use a stud finder to locate the aluminum frame members around the window for the most secure mounting point. If you must mount to the thin wall paneling, use specialized hollow-wall anchors designed for thin materials. And always use short screws—you don’t want to accidentally drill through to the outside of your rig.
Choosing the right bamboo blinds is about more than just covering a window. It’s a decision that impacts your rig’s energy efficiency, its weight, and its overall feel. By matching the right type of blind—from light-filtering to blackout, custom-fit to budget-friendly—to each window’s specific need, you create a more comfortable and sustainable home on wheels, one small, eco-conscious choice at a time.
