Just imagine those long summer evenings and early sunrises.
Wonderful, don’t you agree? That is, until you want an early night, lie in or you are a shift worker, you simply need to block out the light.
When that’s the case, blackout curtains are the ideal solution.
What Are Blackout Curtains?
While standard curtains are made from one layer of fabric, which allows light through, blackout curtains are made in a special blackout fabric that works to completely block out light from entering a room.
We have a range of curtains here at Blackouts Direct, and our 100% Blackout Curtains are the only product of their kind, able to create total darkness in a room with the only way for light to enter the room being through a gap in the curtains.
How Do Blackout Curtains Work?
Blackout curtains are made differently to standard curtains.
Special yarns are woven tightly into a multiple layered backing, and it is this backing that enables the curtains to block out the light, provide insulation, increase privacy and there is no need to purchase additional curtain lining.
They use triple weave technology to provide a triple layer approach to functional curtains. Black yarns are woven into the middle of a unique thermal lining, and it is the middle yarns that deliver block out properties to a room.
What Are Blackout Curtains Used For?
Blackout curtains are typically used to avert any sort of light, such as sunlight, street lights, and car lights from entering a room.
They are most commonly used in bedrooms to help create a dark and relaxing environment for better sleep.
Who Can Benefit From Blackout Curtains?
If you are a shift worker, have young children who go to bed early, or if you live in an area with bright street lights a set of blackout curtains can be a very welcome addition to your bedroom.
In addition to blocking out light, blackout curtains are also used to block noise and reduce energy costs by blocking out the sun to keep out the heat throughout the summer months and trap heat within a room during the colder winter months.
Some benefits of having blackout curtains are:
They’re Energy Efficient
Blackout Curtains can help to improve energy efficiency by insulating a room during colder winter days, keeping you comfortable, snug, and cosy, then repel the heat in summer, keeping your room cool, fresh, and comfy.
They Help To Reduce Noise
Blackout curtains are thick, so they also help reduce outside noise.
This is especially important in towns and city areas or neighbourhoods with a high population density and busy roads. You are more likely to sleep more deeply if outside noises are muffled.
They Offer Additional Privacy
If you want to separate your home from the outside world, or you just live in a busy area, changing to blackout curtains is a quick fix solution to your living spaces. They can prevent the outside from looking in.
They Block Out Light
Blackout curtains block the sun rays within a room, which can help to prevent surfaces from fading due to sunlight.
Overexposure to UV Rays can increase the need to repaint and refinish your home interior, so keeping the sunlight out during peak hours will help reduce these costs, and you always have the option of using tiebacks, to tie the curtains back, once the room is no longer in direct sunlight.
They Reduce Glare
Blackout curtains can also help to eliminate glare on monitors and TV screens, giving you a better viewing experience.
Imagine it is a bright sunny day, you’re sat at home watching the footie or movie, the sunlight glares through the window and reflects onto the screen just at the moment something important happens – not ideal!
The added thickness of the blackout curtains helps block out sunlight and reduce glare during those important moments.
Better Quality Sleep
Sleep gives our bodies the chance to repair themselves and quality blackout curtains block everything, from street lights, car headlights, building lights to sunlight; helping ease your transition from day to night and improve your overall sleep quality.
Whether you’re a shift worker, a light sleeper, irregular sleeper, or you’re using in your childs bedroom, a darkened room is key when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep.
Should You Sleep With Blackout Curtains?
Blackout curtains can be a great option if you are having trouble getting quality shut-eye.
Fabrics enforced with light-blocking properties can make it easy to take back the darkness and get some deep, restorative sleep, and for the busy homeowner, they are machine washable so no trips to the dry cleaners are required.
Although blackout curtains generally make superb choices for bedrooms or additional rooms where we rest and relax, they might not be the best option for everyone.
Because they’re so effective, blackout curtains can make a room pitch black, which means you will have to rely on electric light sources to see, otherwise it could lead you to being injured bumping into furniture.
Blackout curtains aren’t typically available in a wide range of colours and patterns, so it might be tough to find a specific design. While there are a range of accessories, such as tie-backs, or voile panels that can help jazz up your décor, if you’re set on a certain design it might be simpler to make your own blackout curtains.
Although many people use blackout curtains in their children’s bedrooms and nurseries, having a dark room may also have an impact on the sleeping habits of younger children, so you might end up dealing with naughty and noisy behaviour resulting from not being woken up by natural sunlight.
The Bottom Line
While Blackout curtains might be slightly more expensive than standard curtains, they can be a great investment for both your health and your home.
Overall the benefits of Blackout curtains far outweigh the disadvantages, but if you still feel uncertain, and are unable to decide whether Blackout curtains are the right choice for your home, contact the sales office and they will be able to assist you in making the right choice.