Why you should consider black out curtains for your home

Black out curtains are thick, tightly woven curtains which prevent light from penetrating a room. They are often associated with their use during World War II when they were used to prevent enemies from finding targets for night time bomb drops. Today, however people are using them in their homes for several reasons such as; aiding sleep, conserving energy and reducing noise.

Aiding Sleep

One of the most common reasons people buy black out curtains is to block out light to aid sleep. People sleep better in the dark because light can disrupt the production of melatonin and serotonin which are critical chemicals for human well being. Typically black out curtains can reduce 90-100% of light depending on the quality and installation techniques employed.

There are several reasons why you might want to block light to aid sleep. If you work nights or shift work they can help you to get regular sleep. In summer daylight can begin to break just before 5am which can interrupt the last few hours of sleep. Sleeping babies and infants who nap throughout the day will sleep much better in a darkened room. People with sleeping difficulties will find any light source impairs their sleep, for example streetlight or headlight beams.

Energy conservation

Research indicates that over 30% of the energy we consume in heating or cooling a home is lost through the windows. Black out curtains can prevent all but a few percent of this loss. Many black out curtains are thermal lined to help maintain temperature. In many cases they can increase or decrease the temperature of a room by up to a few degrees, which means you can reduce your dependence on heating and cooling systems.

Home theatre viewing

Most people have experienced the annoyance of glare on their television screen. If you are going to spend a lot of money on electronics to set up a home theatre then it is a good idea to install black out curtains to ensure you get the clearest viewing picture possible. Black out curtains are particularly effective for projectors and plasma screens which are highly susceptible to the effects of glare and light interference.

Noise Reduction

Black out curtains are thicker then standard curtains so they can also help reduce the amount of noise which travels into a home. The effect may be minimal, but any reduction is good if you find the noise disruptive.

Privacy

If you live in a very busy area or are only a meter or so from the next apartments window then privacy might be an issue. Well fitted block out curtains afford complete privacy from prying eyes.  

Other uses

There are several other less common uses for black out curtains in a home. If you develop photographs they are a necessary fixture, if you grow plants which are sensitive to sunlight they are necessary for aiding growth and if you do any form of scientific research which may need to be completed in the dark you’ll need to install black out curtains.

Advice on selecting and installing black out curtains

If the benefits of black out curtains appeal to you, but you are concerned about how they might look, stop worrying. Black out curtains do not have to be black and they do not significantly differ in appearance to ordinary curtains. They come in a wide range of colors and prints.

The key to effectively installing black out curtains is to make sure there are no gaps where light can penetrate. This means you need to make sure the curtains extend well past the rod at the top and the window frames at the sides. This allows the curtain to sit flat against the walls preventing gaps. Allow for at least a 10cm overlap.

You will also want to make sure your curtains stay joined in the center. You can purchase magnetic closure systems which will ensure the curtains do not part. Make sure you have sturdy curtain rods and good quality brackets/mountings for black out curtains because they are quite heavy.

There are several different options when it comes to black out window treatments. If you want to keep your existing curtains you can add a black out lining to your current curtain rail. There is also black out film which can be applied to the windows directly.

If you want something which is versatile in allowing light into the room at regular intervals then black out shades are a good option. Shades are easy to pull up and store out of the way when you want to let light in. There are even electronic black out shades which you can raise or lower by simply pressing a button. If you want to achieve the darkest room possible the combination of a black out shade and curtains provides the most effective solution.

Black out shades are slightly more expensive then regular curtains, but the benefits they provide are definitely worth the money!