Blackout Window Curtains

How to choose the right blackout curtains

What are blackout curtains and how do they work?

Choose blackout curtains when you want to block outside light almost completely, unlike sheers that only filter it. Use them in bedrooms, nurseries, and media rooms, anywhere you want true darkness for sleep or screen time. Count on the denser fabric to insulate against heat and cold and dampen outside noise too, which is why they are sometimes called thermal curtains.

Do blackout curtains block heat?

Yes. The same density that blocks light also slows heat transfer through the window, keeping rooms cooler in summer and warmer in winter. For the strongest effect, choose panels that extend beyond the window frame on all sides and reach the floor, so less light and air sneak around the edges. Hang blackout curtains in west-facing or street-facing rooms to get the most benefit.

What colour blackout curtains should I choose?

Choose by style, since the blackout performance comes from the lining, not the colour. Reach for versatile neutrals from Bouclair's curtain palette, white, ivory, grey, and taupe, to suit almost any room. Pick darker shades for drama, or lighter neutrals to keep a bedroom calm and airy even when the curtains are open.

How do I install and layer blackout curtains?

Mount the curtain rod high and wide, and layer a sheer underneath for soft daytime light with full darkness at night. If you want something between sheer and full blackout, compare our room-darkening and light-filtering options, or let our designers do the pairing in a curated collection.