Blackout Curtains in the Bedroom: When You Need Them

Blackout curtains help control early sunrise, streetlights and daytime sleep. Full darkness, however, depends not only on the fabric but also on the track and the edges.

In summer the sun rises very early, and in an east-facing bedroom light wakes you long before the alarm. In the city, streetlights, advertising signs and lights from neighbouring buildings shine in all night. Some people barely notice, while others wake up tired every morning. Blackout curtains are one of the simplest solutions, but not every bedroom needs them.

When you really need them

Good reasons to choose blackout curtains include:

• the bedroom window faces east or south-east and summer light arrives early;
• there are streetlights, a car park or illuminated signs outside that stay on at night;
• someone in the family works night shifts and sleeps during the day;
• a baby or young child naps during the day;
• the bedroom is also used for watching films or with a projector;
• someone is sensitive to light and has trouble falling asleep.

On the other hand, people who like waking with natural light, or rooms facing north with open space outside, may not need full darkness. In that case, dimout fabric or a heavy lining that simply reduces light is enough.

Blackout fabric or lining

The blackout effect is achieved in two ways. The first is a fabric that is blackout in itself: a multi-layer weave or a backing coating stops light passing through. The second is a separate blackout lining sewn or hung behind any chosen face fabric.

The advantage of lining is freedom of choice: linen, velvet or patterned fabric can be combined with a darkening effect. A separately hung lining also makes care easier, since face fabric and lining are washed separately. Blackout fabric on its own is lighter and simpler, but the choice of colours and textures is more limited.

A light-coloured blackout curtain does not darken the room during the day, because when it is open, light comes in normally. When closed, it blocks light whatever its colour. So you do not have to decorate the bedroom in dark tones.

Light leaking around the edges

Even the best fabric will not give full darkness if it is hung badly. Light leaks mainly in three places:

• over the top, through the gap between track and ceiling;
• at the sides, if the curtain does not fully cover the window opening;
• in the centre, where the two panels meet.

To reduce these leaks, a ceiling track or a concealed ceiling recess, a track extending well beyond the window on both sides, overlapping panels in the centre and returns that wrap back to the wall are used. For a more precise result, a blackout roller blind fitted inside the window frame with side channels can be combined with curtains.

Daytime comfort and ventilation

If blackout curtains stay closed during the day, the room can feel dark and sometimes stuffy. That is why a two-layer solution is more comfortable in a bedroom: a sheer for the day and a blackout layer for the night. In summer, closed blackout curtains during the sunniest hours also reduce how much the room heats up.

If you keep the window open at night for ventilation, make sure the heavy curtain does not move in the breeze and let light in, and that it does not catch on the window handle.

Blackout in a child's room

For young children's daytime naps, a dark room often makes falling asleep easier. In a child's room, blackout curtain cords must be secured out of reach, and the track must be fixed firmly enough to withstand a child pulling on the curtain. Motorised or cordless systems add extra safety here.

Quick check before choosing

• Which way does the window face, and is there night lighting outside?
• Do you need full darkness or just reduced light?
• Will you choose blackout fabric or a face fabric with lining?
• Does the track prevent light leaking over the top?
• Is the curtain wide enough beyond the window?
• Is there a separate sheer or light layer for daytime?

At Pərdə Zaferoğlu you can compare different fabrics side by side and pick decor to go with them. Before buying, hold the blackout fabric or lining up to a bright lamp: pinholes and thin spots show immediately.