Guess Those Blinds: Taking Decor Advice From Unlikely Places

Welcome back to Guess Those Blinds and a whole new round of interior design sleuthing. If you missed our last episode–check it out here–let’s recap the rules. Contestants are going to be shown images of windows from iconic animated TV shows. One of the images is going to have the original window treatment, while the other will be edited. All our team has to do is guess which is which!  

SpongeBob, Kim Possible, Fairly OddParents, Family Guy, and The Powerpuff Girls—each setting is a time capsule of its era. The fun isn’t just in spotting the details but in remembering how we felt watching these worlds as kids. Did we ever think twice about what hung over those windows? Probably not. But now? We can’t stop looking at them (or thinking about which would look best in our houses). 

You would think that anyone who lives in a pineapple under the sea would infuse some whimsy into the rest of their home design, but somehow SpongeBob’s tiny cafe curtains still surprised us. Our contestants light up at the sight of “that cute little cafe curtain.” They argue passionately over whether it was ever there, dissecting the logic of underwater textiles with the seriousness of art critics. (“You wouldn’t have a wood blind underwater,” one notes fairly.) That little piece of fabric has everyone rooting for it. It’s sweet, domestic, homey — the kind of detail that makes even a cartoon sponge feel real. When it turns out the curtain was indeed part of the show, it’s pure vindication. 

Sure, animated sets don’t require blackout shades or UV protection, but the principle remains: window treatments set the mood. SpongeBob’s cheerful stripes, Kim Possible's high-tech but make it high school bedroom, or the open, airy chaos of the Powerpuff Girls’ penthouse. Each tells a story about the world inside. Window treatments define a space’s personality. They hint at who lives there—organized or chaotic, minimalist or sentimental. They filter light, frame views, and in the case of the Mystery Machine, hide whatever mystery is lurking inside. 

The Great Debate: What Feels Right

Midway through, the Mystery Machine takes center stage. The options: beaded curtain, cafe curtain, or nothing. Our contestants want it to be the beaded curtain; a perfect 70s touch. But alas, when the answer is revealed, it’s...nothing. The contestants’ disbelief (“They’re just letting anyone peek in!”) is both hilarious and relatable. Because deep down, we wanted that van to have some personality. It’s a reminder that even fictional worlds feel more real when they have texture — when they’re dressed up with care. 

Here’s the secret magic of Guess Those Blinds: it makes you want to redecorate.