Your Questions Answered About Blackout Roller Blinds

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, roller blinds can be blackout. They're made with a special fabric, either polyester or PVC, that has a blackout lining or coating on the back. This makes them completely opaque, so they block out light and provide total privacy. Roller blinds are a great choice for blackout purposes because they have a single, uninterrupted sheet of fabric without any gaps.

Are blackout roller shades worth it?

Blackout roller shades provide excellent light control and privacy, promote better sleep, and are energy efficient. Although they may be slightly more expensive than dimout or light-filtering shades, their benefits make them worth it, especially if you're looking for a darker, more peaceful space.

Can you see through blackout roller blinds?

Blackout roller blinds are great for blocking light and giving you privacy. Due to the solid opaque fabric of the blind itself, you cannot see through them from outside at night or during the day, for that matter. As long as they fit your window properly and there are no gaps. They provide complete privacy at night and won't let either light in or out.

What are the disadvantages of blackout roller blinds?

While blackout roller blinds excel at blocking out light, they don't offer the flexibility to precisely adjust the level of light in the room. This might not be ideal for rooms where you want to adjust natural light throughout the day. Plus, some people find they prefer to wake up with some sunlight filtering in, rather than a completely dark room.

Should I fit my blackout roller blind inside or outside the window recess?

To achieve maximum blackout, fit the blind outside the window recess (Exact Fit) so the fabric overlaps the window on all sides. This will minimise light leakage around the edges. Fit the blind inside the recess if you prefer a neater, tidier appearance and want to keep the windowsill clear, but keep in mind there will be light gaps at the sides.

How wide are the gaps at the sides of a blackout roller blind?

On a standard chain sidewinder or no-drill (twist-fit) roller blind, the fabric is approximately 35mm narrower than the blind's total width. This is to accommodate the brackets and control mechanism, and this gap is where the light will leak.

Which way should a roller blind fabric 'roll' for best blackout?

The fabric should roll off the back of the roller tube (standard roll) and drop down closest to the windowpane. This is to ensure the fabric is as close to the window as possible to reduce any light gaps at the sides.

Are blackout roller blinds 100% blackout?

The fabric itself is 100% opaque, so no light will pass through it. However, on a standard roller blind, there will always be a small gap around the edges of the fabric where light can leak in, due to the brackets and operating mechanism. For a complete 100% blackout, you need a specialised system with side channels and cassettes.

How can I stop light leakage around the edges of my blinds?

The most effective solution is to fit your blind outside the window recess. Allowing the fabric to overlap the window frame by at least 10cm on all four sides will minimise light seepage around the edges. The other option is to fit the blackout roller blind inside the window recess and hang a pair of blackout curtains outside the window recess for maximum light blockage and darkness.

Are blackout blinds the same as thermal blinds?

Yes and no. They generally have distinct functions that often overlap. Thermal blinds focus on insulation, whilst blackout blinds focus on blocking light. Not all thermal blinds are blackout, but in general, most blackout blinds have thermal insulation properties. All our made to measure blackout roller blinds provide excellent thermal benefits. For the best of both worlds, choose blinds that are both thermal and blackout.

What are the Benefits of Blackout Roller Blinds?

Blackout roller blinds are designed to completely block out sunlight and all external light sources such as streetlights to create a dark and restful environment. They're ideal for bedrooms, media rooms, or any other room where total darkness is required.

By blocking out light, they help create the right conditions for better sleep. This is especially helpful for shift workers or anyone who needs to sleep during the daytime.

They give you total privacy and prevent people from being able to see into your home. Their opaque fabric completely blocks views from the outside.

Their thermal and energy-efficient backing provides an extra layer of insulation at the windows, which helps to regulate your home's temperature and reduce energy costs.

The dense blackout fabric helps muffle and absorb outside noises such as traffic. Their ability to reduce noise will contribute to a quieter and more peaceful environment. How effectively they reduce noise will depend to some degree on the type of blackout fabric you choose.

Theyâ€™re extremely stylish and versatile. They come in a wide choice of colours, patterns and designs to suit all types of interior dÃ©cor styles, whether contemporary or traditional. When closed, they create a clean, seamless and sophisticated look.

Controlling light in the home is beneficial for many rooms, such as the living room, bedroom, media room, and home office, and even for medical reasons such as migraines. Blackout roller blinds give you complete control over light and shade, all with a simple pull on the control chain.

Blackout Roller Blinds FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Benefits of Blackout Roller Blinds?

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