Blackout Blinds - Blackout Shades

There choice between blackout blinds and other blackout coverings for the window is difficult because so many different styles and types exist. One associates blackout with window dressings that are colorless or black but this is far removed from the truth because fashionably colored blackout curtains are available. When the room is not in use the window furniture dressing should look modern and certainly not black. While the main purpose of blackening out a window from daylight is achieved by blackout shades, blinds or curtains, this does not mean that you cannot use brightly colored fabrics for the purpose. Why are windows blacked out in the first place? People on a shift rota, who work during the night, must be able to sleep during daylight hours and most of them will need a darkened room to sleep properly, hence the need for the black blinds.

Blackout blinds do not actually need to be black

A dark room is needed for children’s naps on sunny afternoons but some toddlers don’t like the room to be too black either and this is where the non black fabrics come into play. Sometimes the blinds will not fit exactly into an imperfectly proportioned window thereby allowing light to penetrate the room and this small amount of light might, in fact, comfort a child. It might cause annoyance however to an adult, who, after working a long night, desperately requires sleep during daylight hours.

Combinations

The answer here is to use the blinds in conjunction with a pair of blackout curtains. The added benefits of doubling up the light blocking curtains & blinds is that, thermally, the combination will provide better insulation properties as well as offer reduced heating bills in wintertime.

Blackout roller blinds

A roller blind can be installed as close to the window glass as possible but even then some stray light will get through. Even an expert blind fitter will have difficulty fitting the blind if the window is off-square. For best results install the blind on the flat wall surface of the room, making sure that the blind is much bigger and taller than the entire window opening recess. Once you use a good quality blind fabric the room darkening will be absolute. Using a well fitted dark colored roller blind is a cost effective way to darken a room.

Room Darkening with blackout shades

Blackout window shades stop light penetration from outside the window because the material is coupled into tubular pleated horizontal shapes similar to the honeycomb effect. Single or double thickness, fabric roller shades can be bought which not only help with darkening the room, but with the thermodynamics of the room too.

Solar shades and portable curtains

A good option is to place a temporary covering over the window which can then be removed or perhaps used in another room. Parents, years ago, pinned a blanket to the window gap to help young children to sleep, or nap, in sunny weather. You can buy suitable portable shades that are ready made for this purpose. Other window treatments are solar shades which can help to dim the amount of light entering a room through a window but they are rarely used for full blackouts needs. The solar shades are believed to block out ultra violet (UV) rays while still allowing one to look through the window.

Roman blinds / Roman shades

A roman blind will have more difficulty in achieving a blackout effect due to the make up of the material of the blind which is often a tightly woven wood or bamboo material. Bamboo blinds are quite beautiful but can have small light gaps unless they are of the premium variety. The cheaper versions can be use with other window embellishments such as thick curtains, to good effect, for darkening a room. Material effect Roman blinds perform much better against the light penetration. The material is really just starched curtain fabric and it is possible to make some of these blackout blinds at home.