Trying to make your bedroom dark for a good night’s sleep? It can be very difficult to keep light out in the morning! Various sources of light can include street lights and early summer sun. Also, your neighbors may have light in their homes that can come into your bedroom through your windows. If you are a light sleeper, the type of blinds you have can definitely make a difference.
When looking at blackout blinds and traditional blinds, the main difference is how much light the material of the blinds allow to go through the material. Additionally, other factors such as appearance and how much they let in or block out heat, privacy, and how they are fitted can also impact your decision.
Overall, blackout blinds can be a great option if you are trying to block light from entering your room. Traditional blinds may let in a little light. Again, depending on your needs and your windows, one option may work better than the other.
What are Blackout Blinds and How do they Work?
Blackout blinds use materials that block all light from entering the room. These materials are completely opaque. Ordinary, light-filtering materials do not completely block light.
In bedrooms that have street lights or early morning sun, these blackout blinds can be of great use. Blackout blinds can also be used to allow complete darkness in a room that has many sources of light.
Many styles of blinds (i.e. roller blinds and Roman blinds) have blackout lining and can be used to completely block light from entering a room.
One important thing to know is that complete blackout of light from a fabric doesn’t guarantee complete blackout in a bedroom. Small gaps around the sides, top and bottom of the fabric can allow light to enter.
For homeowners who want complete blackout, the fit of the fabric is almost as important as the fabric itself.
What are Regular Blinds?
Regular blinds are window coverings that do not fully block out light. They can soften or filter the daylight, reduce glare, or provide some level of privacy.
For example, a standard roller blind made of light filtering fabric can create a pleasant, soft, diffused light in a room. Venetian blinds work differently, and the degree of light control is determined by the angle of the slats.
Some regular blinds have relatively opaque fabrics that provide a good level of privacy, while others can be nearly transparent.
The main benefit is that regular blinds allow some level of light in a room and can create a lighter environment. If complete darkness is not required in a bedroom, regular blinds can be used. However, they may not work for people who are bothered by light, especially if it is artificial.
Blackout Blinds vs Regular Blinds: Key Differences
Although both cover windows, blackout blinds will block out all outside light and keep a total black environment, whereas regular blinds will not.
Blackout Blinds
- Blackout material blocks light from passing through the fabric.
- How well it does this depends on the material and design.
- Better at preventing light from entering the room. Still may have gaps along the edges.
- Allows more light into a room.
- Privacy at night.
- Really good if fully closed and fitted correctly.
- Depends on the slats and how closed they are.
- If fully closed, it blocks light from entering the room.
- May need to be closed to keep out light.
- Having these blinds raised or opened lets light in.
- Block out the room from light.
- May need to be closed to keep light out.
- May need to be closed to prevent light from disturbing sleep.
- Depends on construction and fabric.
- Generally, it costs more.
Standard blinds are more basic, but blackout blinds have a wider range of options.
Blackout blinds are designed to stop light from passing through fabric. Standard blinds allow varying degrees of light to enter the room.
Blackout blinds are better for blocking out light.
Neither is necessarily better for controlling temperature or ease of maintenance. Those depend on the product.
Because the fabric is usually slightly narrower than the entire blind mechanism, small gaps can occur on the sides.
The amount of light that comes in depends on several factors such as the window, the design of the blind, and how it is fitted.
Light gaps become noticeable at certain angles of incidence during the summer, and especially during early mornings.
To lessen light gaps, there are several fitting methods that can be used in combination, such as:
- Accurate Measurements.
- Fitting outside the recess, also known as outside-recess fitting.
- Compatible blackout systems can use side channels to eliminate light gaps.
- Blind design, as some systems offer better coverage than standard roller blinds.
The cover and fit of the blind can be improved through made-to-measure methods, but the exact result depends on the blind and window systems.
Before assuming that blackout fabric will eliminate light gaps, it is advisable to check for light gaps with the manufacturer or installer, to eliminate possible misunderstandings.
Besides helping block out light, blackout blinds can also assist in maintaining a sleep environment. This is because, as mentioned by Herxheimer, light is one of the environmental stimuli that impact the body’s natural sleep-wake rhythm. So, keeping the environment as dark as possible can also help.
Thus, blackout blinds can be useful for:
- People who find it hard to sleep when sunlight enters the bedroom.
- People who work at night, or who need to sleep during the day.
- People who have a street or well-lit building outside their window.
- People who need a dark room in which to sleep.
- Of course, not everyone needs blackout blinds.
- Some people prefer to use blinds that allow some light to enter the room, for example so they can wake up with the sun.
- The best option is the one that meets your needs.
Are Blackout Blinds Suitable for Children’s Bedrooms?
Using blackout blinds can assist in creating a darker environment for naps during the day.
During the summer when children go to bed before the sun sets, they can assist in closing out the light.
There are many considerations when choosing the right blinds for children’s rooms, the safety of children using the room should always be the foremost consideration.
Are Blackout Blinds Safe?
Cordless or safely secured operating mechanisms may assist in reducing safety hazards.
A properly fitted blackout blind can assist in a number of situations but should not put window or child safety at risk.
Which Blinds Offer Better Bedroom Privacy?
Blackout blinds can be an excellent option for ground floor and neighboring bedrooms because they typically provide good privacy when fully lowered.
They are a great option to use at night to provide privacy when the lights are on.
Regular blinds may provide minimal privacy.
Tightly woven roller blinds can provide good coverage. But sheer or translucent blinds can reveal shapes and movements when illuminated from the inside.
Venetian blinds provide a different option. Their slats can be tilted to provide varying degrees of coverage while still allowing daylight. Depending on the angle, some slats can provide good privacy.
Blackout Blinds vs Thermal Blinds: What’s the Difference?
- The main difference is the priority of each blind.
- Blackout blinds prioritize blocking light from passing through.
- Thermal blinds prioritize blocking heat flow by using insulating or reflective materials.
- While some products do have both features, the terms are not interchangeable.
- If your bedroom gets too warm in the summer or too cold in the winter, it may help to look at the thermal features of the blinds in addition to the blackout features.
Blackout Roller Blinds vs Standard Roller Blinds
Roller blinds are quick and easy to use and aren’t tough on space like some other blinds.
The operation of both standard and blackout roller blinds is the same. A Fabric panel rolls up on a tube mounted to the wall above the window.
The main difference is in the fabric.
A standard roller blind allows partial light to filter through, while a blackout roller blind uses a fabric that blocks light from passing through it.
Blackout blinds can also create a better sleeping environment during the day for someone who works the night shift.
Light-filtering roller blinds may offer enough privacy and light control for an occasional guest bedroom, avoiding the feeling of being in a dark room.
Fabric color can be deceiving. A blackout fabric can be designed to be pale or a medium color and still block light better than a dark fabric designed for no other purpose than to be decorative.
If you’re looking for a simple covering for your bedroom window, take a look at Amira Blinds’s made-to-measure roller blinds to find some options that may work for you.
How Much Are Blackout Blinds in the UK?
The price for blackout blinds in the UK can be decided by the size of the window, the material used, the mechanism used to operate the blinds and how it will be fitted.
A standard ready-made blackout roller blind will generally cost less than a custom-made blind with special fittings.
The price can vary depending on:
Size of the window: The more fabric there is, the heavier and stronger the operating system will need to be.
Type of blind: Roman blinds with blackout lining can be heavy and large, involving a lot of fabric, and be priced differently than a simple roller blind.
Quality of fabric: The price can vary with the type of materials used, backing or coatings.
Operating mechanism: Manual, cordless or motorized operation can increase the cost.
Installation: Measuring and fitting the blinds can increase the cost, depending on the service provided.
Special Fittings: The use of side channels and other systems that reduce light can increase the cost.
Instead of focusing on the price of a product, consider the level of darkness, coverage, and privacy you need. For a true comparison, you need to evaluate the size of the window and see the style of blind you prefer.
Blackout Blinds vs. Regular Blinds
The decision becomes easier when you know what disturbs you in the room.
Blackout blinds:
- Early morning sunlight regularly wakes you?
- Do you work shifts and sleep during the day?
- Your bedroom faces strong street lighting?
- Do you prefer a darker environment for sleeping?
- Do your children need a darker room for daytime naps?
- Otherwise regular blinds would be a better choice:
- Do you like waking up naturally in the daylight?
- Complete darkness is not a must?
- You want to keep some daylight while lowering the blind?
- Do you prefer adjustable slats for light and privacy during the day?
- Your bedroom is not exposed to lots of unwanted outside light?
There is also no need to have the same blinds in all bedrooms. Blackout roller blinds could be useful in the main bedrooms while a guest bedroom could work well with a lighter blind.
For homeowners wanting a softer, more decorative finish, Roman Blinds may be a better option, as long as a lining is used.
From a practical point of view, the best type of blinds for a bedroom are the ones most suited to the room’s purpose.
What is the Difference Between Blackout and Regular Blinds?
Blackout blinds are constructed from materials that don’t allow any light to pass through the fabric. Regular blinds can’t totally block out daylight, but can reduce, soften, or partially block incoming light, depending on how they are made. Blackout blinds block out more light than regular blinds, and light-filtering and slatted blinds can block light out during the day.
Do Blackout Blinds Block out All Light?
No, not always. While light can’t pass through blackout fabric, it can come in around the edges. The best way to reduce light coming in around the edges is with a perfect measurement and an appropriate side channel system, but this varies from window to window.
Are Blackout Blinds Good for Sleeping During the Day?
Yes. Blackout blinds can help block out light for shift workers and people who need to sleep during the day. Just pay attention to how well the blinds fit and if there are light gaps.
Do Blackout Blinds Cost More?
There is a cost associated with the type of fabric and fittings used in blackout blinds that can drive the cost of blackout blinds up relative to standard blinds. The main determinant of price, however, is the type of style, dimensions and material of the blinds and the installation costs. When comparing prices, it is usually better to compare blackout blinds to blinds of the same style.
Final Thoughts
Blackout blinds and standard blinds both serve different functions in the bedroom.
For those who don’t need total blackout and wish to have some level of control over the amount of light in the room throughout the day, regular blinds might work best.
When choosing between the two, consider how the position of your window relates to the direction you face when sleeping, the level of privacy you need, and the amount of darkness required.
For window coverings for your bedroom, contact Amira Blinds for made-to-measure solutions.