What are Blackout Curtains?

Looking for blackout curtains for your home? We can help! Keep reading to learn what blackout curtains are and how to find the right ones for you.

What Are Blackout Curtains?

Blackout curtains differ from regular curtains – they are specifically manufactured to block out UV light and the sun’s rays by tightly weaving heavy fabrics, or by putting a layer of foam or an acrylic coating in between layers of fabric. They are perfect for bedrooms or living rooms that get a lot of sun, or any room that you want to make much darker.

Why Choose Blackout Curtains?

There are many reasons for blackout curtains. Love sleeping in? Blackout curtains. Need to adjust your circadian rhythm? Blackout curtains. Want to reduce irritating street noise? That’s right – blackout curtains.

How to Choose Blackout Curtains

Picking the best blackout curtains for your home is completely dependent on how you plan to use them. There are three types of blackout curtains and light filtration options: room darkening, blackout, and max blackout.

Room Darkening: While room darkening curtains are not technically the same as blackout curtains, they may be exactly what you are looking for. Room darkening curtains will block most light, so they are perfect for a napping child in the daytime, protecting your floors and furnishings from sun damage, and preventing a reflective glare on your TV.

Blackout: Regular blackout curtains significantly reduce light, provide privacy, reduce outside noise pollution, and help insulate a room. They are great for sleeping in or media rooms.

Max Blackout: Max blackout curtains promise a 99% light-blocking performance. These are the best blackout curtains for you if you intend to use them for a total, encompassing darkness. With max blackout curtains, a peaceful sleep is inevitable, no matter the time of day (perfect if you work the night shift and need to get your shut-eye during the day). These are also great for ensuring darkness in a media or darkroom, or shutting out the sun if you sleep in on weekends.

Thermal: High density blackout curtains may come with an additional feature: thermal insulation. Save some money on heating and cooling as these insulated curtains utilize foam lining to block out sun in the warmer months and keep in heat during the cooler ones.

Noise Reducing: These curtains are made with heavy materials combined with insulating materials to reduce noise.

Tip!

If you have a pair of non-blackout curtains that you already love, you can add a blackout liner to get the same effect!