Category: Blog

If you’re on the lookout for a new set of blackout curtains you may have come across reviews or forum posts that talk about a distinct smell coming from the curtains after they’ve been hanging for a few days.

But why do blackout curtains smell?

And is there a way to remove the smell if you’re planning on getting a set for your home?

Let’s take a closer look.

Why Do Blackout Curtains Smell?

The primary cause of the foul smell that seemingly comes with a set of blackout curtains is the manufacturing process.

Older manufacturing processes involved coating a piece of polyester fabric with layers of acrylic foam and adhesives to achieve the blackout properties. 

Shortly after the curtains manufactured they’re sealed in plastic packaging to help protect them during transportation and aren’t opened again until the end-user has purchased the product, and brought them home.

There’s usually a very strong chemical smell when opening the packaging of a new set of blackout curtains, but this usually subsides after a few minutes.

Having a brightly lit room is an achievement until it becomes a nuisance while you’re trying to sleep. 

A good night's sleep is as crucial as eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly, and poor sleep negatively impacts your hormones and brain function. 

Cutting out light in a room has been said to aid in fast melatonin production, thus getting quality and adequate sleep with zero interruptions to the body clock. For the body to adapt and not wake up when the sun rises, it is essential to expose your body to darkness.

In the modern world, many people have jobs that require them to work for long hours or at night, meaning they have to sleep during the day. 

Light in the bedroom can hinder you from getting enough sleep and is also uncomfortable, and while permanent modifications such as adding curtain rails and blinds made to your bedroom to make it possible to sleep during the day, not everyone has the privilege of owning a house, and those who rent don’t have the freedom to do these modifications.

So, does

One of the biggest trends over the past two years is blackout curtains.  

Their popularity has risen as they have become more affordable, and they offer an easy fix solution to light and sleep problems in your home.

But what are blackout curtains used for?

What Are Blackout Curtains?

Blackout curtains are great for blocking out light and when fitted correctly they will completely darken or “blackout” a room.

Whether the lighting problem is caused by the sun’s rays throughout the early morning or the artificial glow from street lamps or car lights that is disturbing your sleep, blackout curtains will help to keep your room dark regardless of what’s happening outside.

But what many people don’t know is that blackout curtains can help you save money on your heating bills and reduce the noise from outside entering the room.

So how do they work?  

Well, it’s quite simple, our triple weave technology is used to make our proprietary 100% blackout fabrics. The special black yarns are woven tightly into the middle

Are you torn between choosing thermal or blackout curtains?

To help you make the right decision and ensure that you are completely happy with your choice, we have compared both products, so that you can select the right product for your home.

But what’s the difference between blackout and thermal curtains?

In short, blackout curtains are primarily designed to blackout a room by reducing the amount of light that can enter through the window.

Thermal curtains, on the other hand, are primarily designed to reduce heat loss from a room’s windows.

However, both types of curtains have similar properties that can make the choice between the two a little tougher.

What Are Blackout Curtains?

Blackout curtains are designed to darken a room. 

When fitted correctly they will block out unwanted light, from a bright sun beaming light into your room during early morning sunrise, through to street and car light that is disturbing your sleep.

Blackout curtains can also help to reduce noise from outside and, save you some money

It’s easy to transform any pair of standard curtains into blackout curtains with our ready-made blackout curtain linings.

Once attached you will benefit from no sunlight, no street light and no unwanted car lights shining into your room, enabling you to get a betters night sleep or some more privacy.

Blackout curtain linings are very easy to attach and can be added to a set of curtains in a matter of minutes, with no skills required, and the job can be completed from start to finish in under half an hour.

Can You Attach Blackout Linings To Curtains Without Sewing?

Ready-made blackout curtain linings can be fixed to a set of curtains without any need for sewing, and are suitable for use with both eyelet and tape heading curtains.

You simply attach the linings to the curtains using the rings and hooks supplied in the pack, following a simple three-step by step illustrated fitting instruction is enclosed with the linings.

It really couldn’t be simpler!

What You Need

Before you get started, there’s

Can’t find that pair of blackout curtains to fit your window and fancy having a go yourself?

Anyone with basic sewing skills should be able to make a pair of handmade curtains to the desired size, using a wider choice of patterns, colours and fabrics compared to ready-made curtains.

Some of the benefits of making your own blackout curtains include, they will fit the exact size of your window, block out light, thermal insulation, noise reduction, extra privacy, no additional costs for curtain alterations and you could customise to suit your own style, for example, add a bit of sparkle.

If you are new to curtain making, it is best to start with a plain material and remember: accurate measuring and cutting is vital for creating a successful pair of blackout curtains.

This guide is ideal if you have a lightweight fabric that you want to make into blackout curtains with a Taped Heading. 

Or, if you just want to use our Blackout fabric on its own to make a pair of Blackout curtains, the same approach works with standard non-blackout fabric.  

Installing a Blackout Blind is a really easy job and can make a huge difference to your home.

We've created this easy to follow step by step guide, to help you through. 

Tools required:

• Screwdriver
• Metal Tape Measure
• Pencil
• Hacksaw
• Scissors
• Small Step Ladder
• Ruler or Spirit Level
• Hand Drill (optional)
• Rawlplugs (optional)

Before you start:

Check the area where you are fitting the blind, is it a suitable surface or are there any electrical cabling nearby.

Check there are no obstructions, to opening/closing the blind.

Remember Ball chain device can be dangerous to pets and children.

Duration:

Around 1 Hour.

Step 1 - Measure The Windows

When you’re measuring your window for blackout blinds, you need to decide whether you prefer to fit the blind inside the window recess or outside the window recess.

Each position has some benefits and drawbacks, so ultimately it’s up to you to decide which you prefer.

Measuring For Blackout Blinds - Inside The Recess

If you’re looking at purchasing a set of blackout curtains or linings then you’re probably aware that blackout products will block out sunlight and unwanted light from cars and street lights, and have thermal and noise reducing properties

But one thing you probably hadn’t considered was whether there would be any potential effects on your health.

Sadly, there are some blackout products on the market that are made using harmful chemicals.

So, are all blackout linings made the same way?

What Is Blackout Lining Made Of?

Despite all helping to keep your room dark, not all blackout linings are made the same way.

Two-pass blackout lining is made by spraying a base fabric with a black opaque membrane before spraying it with a white acrylic foam. It blocks 95-100% of light and is lightweight.

Three-pass blackout lining is made by first spraying the base fabric with a white acrylic foam, then spraying with a black opaque membrane, and finally spraying it with another layer of white acrylic foam on the outside. It also blocks 100% of light,

If you’re in the market for a set of blackout blinds, it’s important to get the right fit to ensure they’re blocking out the maximum amount of light.

Here’s how to measure for blackout blinds to make sure you get the perfect fit.

Before You Start

Measuring your windows for blackout blinds shouldn’t take any more than 10-15 minutes.

Measuring correctly will help minimize any light that might be able to get through the sides, so before you start, make sure you have the following tools:

• A metal tape measure
• A small step ladder
• A pencil
• A notebook

When measuring for a blackout blind, measure the exact width across the area you want to cover, to ensure a perfect fit.

And remember - check your measurements twice - you don’t want to order the wrong size!

Where Do You Want Your Blackout Blinds to Hang?

The first decision when measuring for blackout blinds is to decide on the positioning of the blind - do you want the blind to sit inside or outside

With a wide variety of blackout products on the market now, you have plenty of options to darken any room and solve your sleeping problem.

Blackout products are ideal for those of us that are looking for a better quality of sleep, whether you are a shift worker, light sleep, or have a baby and need to darken the nursery windows, there is the right product out there for you.

However, don’t be fooled by some of the “life hacks” you see online like spraying water on your window, and covering it in tin foil. 

While some of these DIY methods offer easy, temporary, and damage-free blackout coverage, they are only a temporary solution, and should only be considered as a one-off, or a quick fix when you have no other options.

Here we guide you through the selection process with some simple steps, 

Why Blackout Your Windows?

Of course, people will choose to blackout their windows in order to darken a room, but blackout curtains, blinds, and fabric do so much more to a room than just keep the