When it comes to curtains, you have many options. You can choose what type of material, how long they should be, and even the color. However, there are two types that people often get confused about: room darkening curtains vs blackout drapes. They sound similar but offer different benefits for your home or office space. Let’s take a look at what sets them apart!
Room darkening curtains are great for people who want to sleep in a little bit on the weekends. These curtains block out light, but not too much.
The material is often thin and lightweight which means you can use them all year long without overheating or struggling with weighty materials. They also have some energy-efficient features like thermal insulation that keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in summer.
Blackout curtains are what you want for a bedroom or office space that needs complete darkness to sleep, work, meditate or just relax.
They typically have heavy material with a lining on both sides so light doesn’t creep through any inch of the drapes. Blackout curtains are great for small children with light sensitivities and adults who just need complete darkness to sleep.
The choice between blackout curtains or room darkening curtains is up to you, but it’s important to know what kind of material your home needs to have a relaxing evening inside!
So what type of curtain would be best for your home? If you want total darkness, blackout curtains are perfect! But if you need some sunlight filtering inside and don’t want to be completely in the dark, room darkening curtains are your best bet.
Benefits of Blackout curtain
- Blackout curtains are designed to keep light from coming in, while still allowing some natural daylight through the fabric.
- Blackout curtains features
- Keeps your home in total darkness
- Have a heavy material with lining on both sides so light doesn’t creep through any inch of the drapes.
- The material is typically thicker and less see-through than what you might find for typical drapery panels which prevents glare from outside shining into your room.
- The blackout curtain will also absorb more sound which is great if you live close to a busy street or in an apartment complex.
Benefits of Room Darkening curtains
- A room darkening curtain won’t keep light from outside completely out but will allow some natural daylight into the room and help with glare on your TV screen or computer monitor.
- The lighter material of the room’s darkening curtain will allow a bit more sound to come in from outside.
Room Darkening curtains features
- The fabric is usually thin and semi-transparent which allows for some light to enter but still provides an insulating layer so that you can have your windows open on cold or hot days without too much heat or cold coming in.
- The thin fabric of a room darkening curtain is less likely to cause the window glass to fog up and will not distort your view as much when looking out from inside.
- The fabric is typically thicker and less see-through than what you might find for typical drapery panels, which prevents glare from outside from shining in.
- The material will shield you from light coming in from outside but allow a small amount of natural daylight to come through the curtains into your room.
Room Darkening curtains fabric material
Room darkening curtains are often made of thicker, more opaque fabric than blackout drapes so that you can have your windows open during the day without seeing everything outside.
The fabric is typically black or a deep charcoal color to block out light and allow only filtered daylight in at nighttime hours.
Blackout Curtains Fabric Material
Blackout curtains are typically made of thicker, more opaque fabric than room darkening drapes so that you can have your windows open during the day without seeing everything outside.
The fabric is either black or a deep charcoal color to block out light and allow only filtered daylight in at nighttime hours.
Room Darkening Curtains vs Blackout Drapes
Room darkening curtains keep your room darker during the day and are often made of thicker, more opaque fabric to block light.
If you want to have your windows open during the day without seeing everything outside or at nighttime hours when it is too bright for sleeping, then blackout curtains are the best option.
How to Care for Room Darkening Curtains
Room darkening curtains should be dry cleaned only so that the fabric retains its color and does not show wear.
The colors of room darkening curtains are typically darker than other fabrics to block out light.
You can also buy room darkening curtains in a variety of colors to match your decor, but keep the light-blocking qualities as an important consideration.
How to Care for Blackout Drapes
Blackout drapes are made from thicker fabric and typically have grommets on each side so you can tie them in place.
Blackout drapes are typically lined with a thermal layer to provide additional insulation and warmth for the winter months.
What sets blackout curtains apart from room darkening curtains?
Blackout curtains are made from thicker fabric and will block out all light.
Room darkening curtains do not provide complete darkness, but they can be a good option for reducing skyglow or street lights at night.
Why Should you use Blackout Curtains?
If your goal is to sleep late on the weekends, block out street lights while watching TV or have an afternoon nap. If you need to sleep during the day and don’t want any light seeping in from outside.