The fabric is only half of the story
Many customers begin a bedroom blind by looking at the fabric, which is a lovely place to start. A dark, dense fabric is a good beginning, but the light that wakes you at five in the morning usually does not come through the fabric. It comes round it. Gaps at the sides, the top and the bottom let in a bright outline that can be more noticeable than a faintly lit room.
That's why a darker bedroom works well as a small project in three parts: the covering, the fit, and how you layer it.
Part one: the covering
Blinds sold for bedrooms generally fall into three groups.
- Light-filtering. Softens daylight but is not designed to shut it out. Lovely for living rooms, and lighter sleepers may want to look at the other groups.
- Dim-out. Reduces light noticeably but does not aim to remove it.
- Blackout. Designed to block most light through the fabric. Look at our blackout blinds page. Different ranges perform differently, and no blind gives total darkness, so we're happy to talk through what to expect from each one.
Types differ too. A roller blind in a blackout fabric is a popular starting point. Roman blinds can be lined with a blackout layer, depending on the fabric. Day and night blinds are made for flexibility, not for the darkest result. Wooden slats are designed for light control, not for a fully dark room.
Part two: the fit
This is where a blind really earns its place.
Inside the recess or outside it?
A blind fitted inside the recess looks neat but leaves small gaps either side so it can move freely. A blind fitted outside the recess, overlapping the wall, can cover more of the edges and reduce the bright outline. If you want the darkest result, tell us at the measure, as outside fitting often helps.
Side channels
Some ranges offer side channels, which are tracks that guide the fabric down each edge and reduce the light gap. Ask whether they are available with the blind you like.
Top and bottom
Gaps at the top can be reduced by a pelmet, a cassette or a fascia, depending on the range. At the bottom, a blind that sits close to the sill helps. A blind that stops short of the sill leaves a bright strip.
The window itself
Some windows have trickle vents, handles or deep reveals that stop a blind sitting flat. Our guide to awkward windows explains how these affect fitting.
Part three: layering
A well-hung curtain over a blackout blind covers the edges, adds a second layer of fabric and softens the look. Many customers like a roller blind for daylight control and a curtain for the finishing touch. If you're weighing both, read curtain or Roman blind.
A step-by-step way to decide
- Work out how dark you need it. Are you a shift worker sleeping in the day, a child who wakes at first light, or someone who only needs the street lamp softened?
- Note what is outside. A street light, a sunny east-facing wall or a neighbour's security light all behave differently.
- Look at the edges. Stand in the room in daylight with the curtains open and see how much frame, wall or sill is around the glass.
- Pick the covering. A blackout roller for simplicity, or a lined Roman blind if you want a softer look.
- Decide on layering. Do you want a curtain over the top?
- Ask for the measure. The recess or overlap decision is easier at the window.
Children's bedrooms and cords
Bedrooms are where cord safety matters most. Keep beds, cots and climbable furniture away from the window, and keep cords and chains out of reach. A cordless or motorised blind removes the cord problem, depending on the range. We cover this in child-safe blind choices and motorised blind basics.
Heat and glare
A dark fabric can absorb heat, and a light-coloured backing can help reflect it, depending on the range. If heat matters to you, please ask us what the blind is designed to do.
Happy to help with your bedroom
Describe your bedroom and what wakes you, and we'll happily talk through what to expect from each blind. Book a free measure and we can check the window edges while we are there.
