The Benefits of Blackout Curtains
If you are in the market for new drapery for your home, particularly drapes for a bedroom, you should consider the benefits of blackout drapery. Blackout drapes are a very practical choice that will provide you with better sleep while saving you money. If you have young children, these drapes are particularly important to consider. Blackout drapery will enhance any bedroom or living space.
The biggest benefit of blackout drapery is their ability to block light from entering a room. This is important for young children and people who work overnight shifts. Sleeping during the day can be difficult because of the sunlight; however, blackout drapery can stop up to 99% of sunlight from entering into a room. People who work overnight shifts are at risk for health problems due to their irregular sleeping habits. Switching to blackout drapery in your bedroom will reduce health risk by creating the ambiance of the night.
Alternatively, blackout drapes are ideal for creating the complete darkness that you desire in your TV/movie room. They will block out any light that might ruin your home theater movie night. It’s important when purchasing your blackout drapes that you make sure they are big enough, so they can fully cover your window from top to bottom.
Another benefit of blackout drapery is their ability to reduce your energy costs. In most homes, 10-25% of thermal energy loss is from windows. However, with blackout drapes, your energy bill could be reduced up to 25%. During the winter, blackout drapery will help keep the heat in the room. While in summer, they have the ability to reflect heat out of the room. Both circumstances ensure that you are saving money on your energy expenses.
Blackout Shades
Similar to blackout drapery, blackout shades and blinds are the perfect choices for covering smaller windows. The benefits of black shades and blinds are comparable to those of blackout drapes. However, blackout blinds give you control over how much light enters the room.
Blackout drapes provide a surprising difference to any room and are a worthwhile investment. Before purchasing blackout drapery, take the time to research reviews for any blackout drapery you are considering, in order to be sure they will satisfy your needs.
FAQs About Blackout Drapery, Shades & Blinds
Do Blackout Drapes Really Work?
As their name suggests, blackout drapes are fabric panels that block all light from entering a room. They are one of the most efficient ways to ensure you get your best night’s sleep. But their benefits go beyond just helping you sleep – they can actually reduce energy costs by cutting down hot sunlight that may heat up your house. Additionally, they can protect furniture and flooring from exposure to excessive sunlight and UV rays. In this case, they’re a more affordable alternative to energy-saving blinds. Blackout drapes are also perfect for people outfitting an entertainment or movie room or even a photographer creating a dark room. Blackout blinds and shades can also be very effective in blocking out unwanted daylight.
What should I Look for in Blackout Drapery?
The best blackout drapes are the ones that work. Many drapes, blinds and shades marketed as blackout do not entirely block light from entering into your home, but merely filter it. High-quality blackout shades have designs that reduce the space’s light that can enter through like seams, and have completely opaque fabric that also reduces heat. The new Duette Honeycomb shades have a Light Lock trap in pockets for insulation. The fabric has patent-pending technology that has U-shaped overlapping side channels on both sides of the shades. These side channels each have micro ridges that absorb/ or reflect light which makes these shades better at blocking light than other room darkening shades.
What is the Difference Between Room Darkening and Blackout Drapery?
Unlike blackout drapery, room darkening drapes allow minimal sunlight to shine through. This is a good option if you don’t want complete darkness during the day. Depending on the type of fabric used, shades let in some amount of light. The opaque fabrics used for blackout drapery will almost eliminate almost all of the light coming in.
What’s the Difference Between Thermal and Blackout Drapery?
The primary goal of thermal drapes is to insulate. Unlike blackout drapery, they go one step further with acrylic foam insulation built between multiple layers of fabric. This effectively cuts down on more noise and traps hot air in and cold air out (and vice versa). Blackout drapes are designed only to block outdoor light from coming in.
Innuwindow has a variety of blackout drapes, shades, and blinds that will suit your specific light sensitivity needs.