The curtains you choose depend on your room’s requirements. Regular curtains work well in spaces you want to be light and airy, but they’re not so good when darkness is a priority. This buying guide covers everything you need to understand about day and night curtains. You’ll learn whether you need blockout curtains, how to choose a set, some of their benefits and features, available colours, and materials.
What Type Of Curtains Do You Need?
Regular curtains use dense weaves that block out some of the sun’s incoming light. Rooms usually remain bright enough to walk around without bumping into anything.
Laced curtains let in even more light. Their main job is to provide privacy.
By contrast, blackout curtains use a denser weave that prevents light from penetrating. Rooms remain dark when you close them, even on bright sunny days.
If privacy is your goal, but you still want plenty of light to enter the room during the day, choose regular curtains. These will prevent people passing by on the street from looking into your home while providing plenty of natural daylight.
However, if darkness is your aim, then choose light-blocking curtains. These are ideal for shift workers who want to sleep during the day or people living in areas with light pollution at night. They are also excellent at keeping the heat in your home and reducing noise from outside.
How To Layer Sheer and Blackout Curtains
Of course, you don’t need to choose between one and the other. You can fit both curtains in your rooms, giving you privacy and darkness.
The first step is to choose how you will order your layers. Most people put their blackout curtains closest to the window and drape their sheer behind. However, you can also do it the other way around for a less conventional look.
Generally, you should pair blackout curtains with solid or patterned sheer, which you’ll find on our website. Make sure the heading styles match if sheer curtains are your top layer. (If they are not, then drawing the blackout curtains shouldn’t reveal the fittings).
When mounting your curtains, put them on a pole or track around 8 to 12 inches above the window frame. This configuration prevents the sun from dipping in over the top, letting light into your room. Also, ensure the poles or hanging mechanism extends on either side of the window when closed. Again, this arrangement prevents unwanted light from coming in through the sides.
How To Choose The Right Blockout Curtain Colour
Interestingly, spotlight blackout curtains aren’t always black, despite the name. You can get them in a host of vibrant colours. What matters is the density of the fibre. Blackout curtains don’t rely on the black thread to block out light but on the weave.
However, colour can still play a role in how far light penetrates. For example, white blackout curtains may allow up to 5 per cent of light into the room, while black alternatives may only let 1 per cent enter.
Our recommendation is to choose the colour that best suits your room’s décor and how you will use it. Choose darker shades for the bedrooms and lighter ones for the reception rooms.
How To Choose The Right Blockout Curtain Material
Day and night curtains are available in various materials, each offering different textures and light-blocking abilities.
Velvet is a traditional material offering a fuzzy, slightly decadent aesthetic. The fabric is excellent at blocking out light and trapping warm air in your rooms.
Linen is another popular material for day curtains. It allows some light to enter while providing privacy. It’s a suitable choice for the living room or the study.
Cotton curtains are another sensible blackout curtain option. It prevents light from penetrating but absorbs incoming heat, dissipating it into the room. It also offers sound-insulating properties, helping to block out street noise.
Polyester is the most common curtain fabric. This material is made from crude oil and reflects incoming light instead of absorbing it, keeping rooms dark and cool in the summer. It is easy to clean because it is made of plastic.
Get The Best Blockout Curtains in Australia
To learn more about our blackout curtains and regular curtains, browse the products on our site. Get in contact with us to get more information and discover how we can help.
