Blackout Blinds

Blackout blinds are extremely effective at blocking out the light and darkening a room. Whilst their opaque material blocks 100% of the light, their effectiveness depends on the type of blind and how it's installed. If it is installed inside the window recess, there will be light leakage around the sides of the blind. This can be overcome to a large degree by hanging the blind outside of the window recess and ordering a blind that’s bigger than the recess by a reasonably generous margin on all four sides. Blackout roller blinds and Roman blinds with blackout lining are generally the most effective options for most windows.

Yes, blackout blinds do help keep a room cool during the summer. They’re completely opaque so they’re perfect for blocking out the sunlight, which is the major source of heat. Their thick fabric also acts as an insulator and thermal barrier preventing heat transfer through the window. Blackout blinds with a lighter-coloured backing will also reflect the sunlight rather than absorb it, helping to make the room a more comfortable temperature.

Blackout blinds help you to sleep by blocking out the light signalling to your body that it’s time to rest. They’re particularly helpful for people who struggle to get off to sleep when it’s light, shift workers, people with irregular sleep schedules, parents of young children and children themselves. They can however make it harder to wake up naturally by keeping the room dark in the morning, so consider using a sunrise alarm clock for a gentler wake-up call.

No, you cannot see through blackout blinds from outside either during the day or at night, as the fabric is completely opaque. They’re designed to provide privacy as well as block out external light. The only time it may be possible to see inside is if they don’t fit the window properly and have gaps at the sides. This is more likely with ready-made blinds that haven’t been trimmed to the correct size. Made-to-measure blackout blinds are made to precisely fit the window, so there will be no gaps.

Their lifespan will vary greatly depending on the materials used, usage, and overall quality. High-quality, made-to-measure blackout blinds typically last about 12-15 years, whereas lower-quality readymade ones may only last up to 5 years. Regular cleaning, maintenance and proper care will help extend their life.

Dimout blinds filter or reduce the amount of light entering a room but do not block it out entirely, whereas blackout blinds are designed to completely block out the light. The amount of light that dimout blinds let in will vary significantly depending on the fabric and its density. Some dimout blinds can create an almost blackout effect, whilst others will diffuse or just soften the light.

Various types of blinds are available with blackout options including roller blinds, Roman blinds and vertical blinds. The most popular, effective and budget-friendly are blackout roller blinds followed by blackout vertical blinds then blackout Roman blinds.

It depends on how much sunlight the bedroom receives, if there is artificial light outside at night or if you find that the rising sun wakes you up before you need or want to. If any of these are true, you probably do need blackout blinds. Blackout blinds are not for everyone, some people find waking up in a dark room a little disorienting. Alternatives like dimout blinds made from thicker fabric may be more suitable if this is the case.

Blackout blinds can be both waterproof and not, depending on the material they’re made from. PVC and vinyl blackout blinds are 100% waterproof and ideal for bathrooms, kitchens and shower rooms. Blackout blinds made from polyester are not waterproof and are better suited to bedrooms, living rooms and dining rooms.

Blackout blinds excel at blocking out the light, their design does however limit precision light control. Unlike venetian blinds, whose slats can be raised, lowered and tilted to almost any angle, creating the perfect balance of light and shade, blackout blinds are either up, down or somewhere in between.