Blackout Curtains vs Blackout Blinds

Home redecoration can seem intimidating, especially if you’re planning to do it yourself. Every space in your house is distinct, and therefore different sets of materials will be required to realize your dream look. Windows is one of the critical areas that you’ll be confronted with a decision to make regarding the types of coverings to use. The debate on blackout curtains vs. blackout blinds does not seem to come close to a conclusion sooner as debaters continue to disagree on which of the two is better.

Blackout curtains offer a wide range of design options, added privacy, incredible thermal regulation, and enhanced levels of noise reduction. On the other hand, blackout blinds occupy minimal space, are ideal for hot and humid areas, are relatively affordable, are easier to install and maintain, and are usually stocked with remote control.

The two room-darkening solutions provide a plethora of benefits in regard to viability and aesthetics. This article will look at what each of the solutions entails and what to consider when looking for an appropriate window treatment for your dwelling.

Definition of Blackout Curtains

Blackout curtains are soft flowing clothing that wraps the complete window wall. In addition, they contain a blackout liner that’s perfect for preventing light entry and rendering a bit of thermal insulation. Furthermore, these curtains are available in custom colors that include elegant patterns and prints. These curtains are widely used in movie theatres and luxury hotel rooms, where light can interfere with the room’s aura.

Definition of Blackout Blinds

These blinds are equipped with an opaque fabric housed in a cassette. As opposed to blackout curtains, blackout blinds feature side channels through which the materials run to hinder the entrance of any light via the edges.

However, there are limited blinds in the market that can guarantee 100 percent opacity. Hence, you need to be extremely cautious of the design aspects before opting for this room-darkening treatment.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Blackout Remedy For Your Home

Space

As said earlier, blackout curtains occupy a lot of space, and the same applies to installation. Besides the fabric, you will need a curtain box or holder brackets somewhat bigger than the window. Moreover, you will need additional space for drawing them when not in use.

Contrary, blackout blinds are suited for settings with little space. This is because the cassette holds the fabric and is flush with the window frame.

Nevertheless, the compressed nature of the blinds reduces their effectiveness in blocking light. To minimize this, shop around for blinds that contain a fabric retention system.

Design Specifications

Over the last few years, the popularity of curtains has experienced a significant decline, as many present-day property owners are gravitating towards blinds. Despite this, blackout curtains are still fashionable thanks to their wide variety of colors, fabric, patterns, and texture. As a result, distinct blackout curtains make a more incredible impression on your decor than blinds. Undoubtedly, blackout curtains add a sense of elegance to your living room.

Level of Privacy Needed

The type of room-darkening solution that is the most appropriate for your case will rest squarely on the part of the house that you intend to install. For instance, the blackout solution for a living room may not necessarily be effective for a bedroom.

As stated earlier, only a few blackout blinds are capable of providing 100 percent opacity. However, curtains are ideal when you intend to realize optimum privacy for rooms, such as the master bedroom.

On the contrary, blackout blinds can perfectly fit areas such as the kitchen and foyer that require a relative amount of natural light instead of blackout curtains that block light entirely.

Room Furnishings

This is another critical factor you need to take into account when weighing up your room-darkening solutions. Some kinds of furniture can easily get damaged when exposed to too much light. For instance, recliners and sofas with varicose clothing are vulnerable to bleaching from constant exposure to natural light.

Furthermore, houseplants need regular access to natural light to flourish. Sunlight is a requirement for plants to make food and grow healthy. Hence, blackout blinds are an excellent remedy for such areas.

Thermal Insulation

Are you domiciled in an area that endures prolonged periods of cold weather? If yes, then blackout curtains are the ideal window treatment solution for your case as they can retain the heat within your house. As a result, you will discover a significant decline in your energy bills.

In contrast, blackout blinds are highly suited for hot and humid areas. The opaque fabric used in making blackout blinds is pretty light to facilitate the loss of heat through the glass window. Therefore, it is necessary to take account of the weather when shopping for the most effective window treatment for your living quarters.

Noise Pollution

Regardless of where you live, be it in a townhouse or the countryside, none of these environments is utterly devoid of noise pollution from time to time. You may fail to notice it at times, but fabric and other soft textiles are excellent noise absorbers.

So, if minimizing noise features heavily on your redecorating plans, then blackout curtains are the first thing that should come into your mind. Blackout constitutes additional layers that play a crucial role in downing noise levels. Furthermore, furnishing your room with a few pieces of fabric furniture will also improve your room’s capacity to battle excessive noise.

Installation Costs

How much are you willing to allocate to room-darkening solutions? Your budget is critical in deciding the kind of window treatment solution to go by. With this in mind, blackout blinds are usually more affordable than curtains. This is because they exist in limited varieties and typically follow a uniform design across all types.

However, their reduced prices mean that you have to sacrifice other benefits, such as noise cancellation, opacity, and thermal regulation associated with blackout curtains.

While there are cheaper blackout curtains out there, it is improbable that they will provide similar benefits as custom-made ones. With ready-made blackout curtains, there is no assurance that they will meet your living quarters’ quality and design specs. Therefore, if you aim for an excellent solution for your windows, be prepared to allocate more funds to this exercise.

Conclusion

From the above, it is evident that determining which is better between blackout curtains and blackout blinds is an arduous task. However, with the help of the discussed above points, it is pretty easier to make your decision.