When we put in the projector system, we knew that being able to block out light was paramount for our ability to watch TV in the daytime. So we purchased enough Tupplr shades from IKEA to outfit the living and dining room. The shades are blackout material, so we can easily turn into vampires if we want to watch a Sunday afternoon movie or we've had too many drinks the night before to really deal with sunlight at that moment.

And the price point is great, too. They're considerably less expensive than similar shades found at other stores. The only problem with these shades is that we have irregular-sized windows, so the width of the shade never fit the width of the window. Not to fear! With just a few tools, some careful measurements and a couple of hours we customized the shades to fit our windows.

Here are the tools required:

Note: You can use a non-electric hacksaw or a Dremel with a saw bit, too. Anything, so long as it can go through thin metal--about the consistency of a tin can.

The first step is to take measurements of everything. Measure the inside of the window casing where you'll actually be putting the shades. This tells you exactly how long the shade (plus hardware) needs to be.

Be sure to measure the width of exactly where you'll be mounting the shades.

Next, you need to figure out exactly how much you'll need to cut from your shade (both in the fabric and in the metal cylindrical casing that the fabric wraps around. One of the most important steps is measuring the hardware the will mount to the window casing and hold the shade. You need to know this number to that you can subtract it from the total width needed and find out how wide the shade itself needs to be.

Since the hardware is a half-inch for each piece, you'll need to subtract one inch from your total width to figure the width of the shade itself.

Next, measure the width of the fabric shade. Take this number and subtract the width needed. The number that you're left with is the total number of inched that you'll need to cut. (It's a lot easier to measure, say, three inches from the edge of the shade [the total amount that you have to cut] than, say, 30 inches from the edge [the total amount that you need])

Roll your shade out completely, measuring and marking where you need to cut every six or so inches. Use your straightedge to trace a line between these measurements and create a line for you to cut along.

Measure twice, cut once!

Once you get to the top, just use your Exacto knife to cut the glued-on shade from the pipe.

 Next, it's time to trim the pipe. We used a saw so there was some spark action. Protect your eyes. Protect your skin. And protect the shade! rolling it up and affixing it with the masking tape will save you a whole mess of trouble.

We used a cardboard box to block the sparks. We are nothing if not inventive.

Next, just cut the wooden dowel insert for the bottom of the shade to the same width as the shade. After that you can install the hardware and pop the shade into place.

Dogs and boyfriends can be very helpful in this process.

Next, just repeat for however many shades you have and enjoy a reflection-free TV viewing experience!

And voila! The finished product!