Blackout screens could likely be a term you come across in your hunt for blackout window furnishings.
Window furnishings that can block light out completely are a necessity in any home. Whether you’re trying to put your little one down for their afternoon nap or sleep in yourself, they’re quite handy. Night shift workers especially find them to be highly beneficial as they need to get their sleep during the day. Sleep in general is an important part of life, with lack of it detrimental to health. In this day and age, sleep is a famously overlooked part of the day when it really shouldn’t be. Blockout window furnishings can help you get those zzz’s in so you’re well rested.
Popular blockout window solutions include blockout curtains and blinds, however blackout screens may confuse you in your search. So here we aim to set the record straight and help you better understand the differences.
1. What are blackout screens?
Blackout screens are covers that are directly fixed against your window. The side facing out is typically a reflective white, and the inside black. They do this with the help of adhesive-backed velcro fitted around the edges, which then seal when pressed. Now while they may suit as a temporary solution, they’re not an alternative to blinds or curtains. For starters, you need to remove them daily to let light in, and then roll them away for storage. Which sounds simple enough, but becomes a pain when you need to do it permanently.
If you’re moving into a home or have built and are waiting to settle in with your window furnishings, they could be useful. They’ll give you privacy and block light temporarily, and are a quick-fix option. They’re also mainly used in nurseries and greenhouses to help regulate the environment for plants.
2. Do blackout screens work?
As mentioned above, they certainly can do the job required of them. However, they’re definitely not for long-term use. Imagine having to peel off each screen on the daily in each room of your house. If you have a busy morning and find yourself rushing to get to work on time, your home will be in darkness all day. And when you come home after a tiring day, you need to go around putting them back up. If you have children and a full plate, this is simply not practical. It’ll do for a short while, but certainly not forever!
3. How do you truly blackout a window?
There are various other stylish and practical ways to blackout a window. From blinds to curtains, the options are endless as you can also pair options with each other.
You want something that suits your lifestyle and caters specifically to how you go about your day. For instance, do you work night shifts and sleep during the day? Maybe you have a baby that needs undisturbed naps? Or perhaps you just need to keep sunlight out of your home studio or media room?
There are blockout options that cater to all this and more. Blockout curtains are great for keeping light at bay thanks to their specially-lined fabric. This ensures light can’t seep through at all. While they have the same homely feeling of regular curtains, these are specific to regulating light levels in your home. They can even muffle exterior sounds to a certain degree. Great for when your little one is soundly asleep, because we all know what it’s like if they’re woken up!
If curtains aren’t really your style, there are a range of blockout blinds to choose from too. Blockout roller blinds are a simple and effective solution, not to mention one of the most popular types out there. They’re streamlined and give the room a neat, pulled-together look which many love. You can even use a blockout fabric as the top layer of a double-roller blind, with a light filtering/ sunscreen option for the bottom. This gives you the best of both worlds, allowing light and views with the option of blocking it all out.
If you’re looking for something with a little more style, Roman blinds, honeycomb blinds and Venetian blinds are also on the list. From a design perspective they have more to offer and do just as good a job when selected in blockout fabrics.
Of course each person’s needs and tastes are different, so if you feel like you can’t decide, let us know. Our consultants will be able to make suggestions tailored to your specific requirements for the best possible fit.
4. What can I use to blockout sunlight?
As you can see from the above, there are a range of ways in which you can keep sunlight out. You can also reap double the benefits when you pair options together. For instance, you can use blockout curtains with blockout roller blinds. If you have a wider space to cover like a sliding door, then curtains with panel glide blinds will do nicely.
Look at also using a headbox and side channels with roller blinds which will further seal the top and sides of your window. This gives you that extra layer of privacy and prevents even small chinks of light peeking through. With blockout curtains, consider installing a pelmet at the top as well. Not only does it hide away all the components such as the curtain rod and rings, but further assists with light blockage.
While there are alternatives to blinds and curtains such as blackout screens, we want to remind you again that they’re temporary. They wouldn’t fit our busy lifestyles, which calls for more suitable options. We hope this has helped you get a better understanding of the topic for making a decision. As always, we’re here to assist any way we can, so don’t be afraid to reach out!