Blackout Blinds & Shades – Light only when you want it
Need custom blackout shades for your bedroom to help you sleep more soundly? Want to reduce glare on your television when watching a movie? One of the most common requests made by our customers is for products that are able to darken a room, particularly bedrooms, nurseries and media rooms. The good news is that many of the window covering products we carry are able to do just that. They can also help insulate your room by keeping the heat or air in while blocking out drafts. And they help cool your room by significantly reducing the amount of sun and heat entering your room.
Blackout blinds and shades are specifically made to darken or blackout the light in a room. The most popular choice for maximum light control are room darkening cellular shades, also known as honeycomb shades. They come in many colours, fabrics, styles, textures and price ranges for you to look at. There are side channel options available that feature a black interior surface to trap and absorb light from all angles, leaving rooms almost 100% dark. We say “almost” because these products really do darken a room but they do not entirely eliminate every last speck of light.
Another option for blocking light is a room-darkening liner, which is available on many of our window shades. The liner can be sewn directly into the face fabric, or for ultimate flexibility, may be able to operate independently. Adding a blackout lining to fabric treatments such as draperies and roman shades can be a very effective way to block light from entering a room.
There are so many options for room darkening and blackout blinds and shades that it really comes down to personal taste. If you want to block out as much light as possible, make sure to choose window treatments with maximum light-blocking qualities that are able to minimize light gaps, seams and route holes, such as the de-Light or No Holes feature offered on many venetian blinds. With so many choices these days, it’s easy to find the right blackout blinds & shades for your unique needs. Let us come to your home to show you the many products that are available to you, or stop by our showroom to see our displays.
Blackout Blinds / Curtains / Drapes / Shades FAQ
Q: What are blackout curtains?
A: Blackout curtains are draperies that have a black out lining sewn into the back of the fabric that prevents light from coming through.
Q: Do blackout curtains block sound?
A: Blackout lined draperies do help block some of the sound, but it would help to add a second treatment, such as cellular shades if this is an issue.
Q: Do blackout curtains block UV rays?
A: Yes, as the curtain itself blocks the light, but only when they are closed. You should add a light filtering screen type shade to the window to protect furnishings during the day.
Q: Are lined curtains the same as blackout curtains?
A: No. There are several different types of linings for curtains and draperies that are used for allowing light in or to help to better drape the fabric for a nicer look.
Q: Do blackout curtains work to keep heat out?
A: Yes, you are limiting the amount of light into the room and adding insulation to the windows which helps keep the heat out, or to keep your home warmer in the winter.
