Blackout blinds

Help make bedrooms feel darker

If you're dreaming of a darker bedroom or simply want to soften the early-morning sun, we'd be happy to help. The right fabric makes a difference, but the way a blind fits around the window matters just as much. We'll talk you through both so you know what to expect.

Blackout blinds use a densely backed or heavily coated fabric that blocks most of the light passing through it. They are the usual choice for bedrooms, children's rooms and any room where you want to sleep while it is light outside, whether that is early summer mornings or a day after a night shift.

We say most of the light because no blind on its own gives a completely dark room, and we want you to know that from the start. The fabric is only half the story. The other half is what happens at the edges.

Fabric versus light gaps

You can have an excellent blackout fabric and still see a bright halo around the blind. Light slips in at the sides, under the bottom, over the top and through the gap between the headrail and the wall. The fabric blocks what hits it, and light will find its way through any gap.

Some things reduce the leakage:

• Fit outside the recess. A blind that overlaps the window opening by a few centimetres on each side covers more than one fitted tight inside it.
• Choose side channels where offered. Some systems use side tracks or channels that hold the fabric close, depending on the range.
• Add a pelmet or cover above. This helps with the gap at the top.
• Pair with curtains. Curtains with a good lining over a blind is a common belt-and-braces approach. See our curtains page.

Ask us about the fitting options for the type of blind you like, as what is possible varies from range to range.

Which blind style

Roller blinds are the most common blackout choice. They are simple, flat and neat, and blackout fabrics are available for them in plain colours and a few patterns. Roman blinds can be made with a blackout lining, which gives a softer, more finished look but with the stack of folded fabric at the top when raised. Perfect fit blinds sit inside a frame in a way that can leave smaller gaps at the sides on suitable windows, and are worth considering where the window type allows it.

For a wider look at your choices, our guide to bedroom light control goes through the trade-offs.

Who tends to choose them

• Shift workers. If you sleep in the day, even a thin strip of light can break up your rest, so the edge details matter as much as the fabric.
• Parents and nurseries. Many parents like a darker room for naps and early summer mornings. Safety comes first: keep cords and chains well out of reach, and ideally choose a cordless or motorised control.
• Light sleepers near street lighting. A blackout blind can help cut the glow from outside, although some will still get in at the edges.
• Media rooms and home offices. To control glare on screens.

Safety around cots and beds

Keep cords and chains out of reach of babies and young children, and use a cord tidy or safety device to secure them. It is best to keep cots, beds and climbable furniture well away from a window with a corded blind. Cordless or motorised blinds reduce the risk, and are worth asking about for a child's room. BS EN 13120 is the UK standard for the safety of internal blinds. Our child-safe blind choices guide has more.

Good to know before you order

Blackout fabrics can feel heavier and less flexible than standard ones, and some have a coated back that may mark if folded or creased. Colours on the room-facing side are chosen as usual. Let us know if you prefer a lighter shade facing out for appearance from the street.

Blackout blinds can also trap warmth and moisture on the glass in some rooms, so opening them during the day lets the window air. Care is usually light dusting or spot cleaning with a damp cloth, following the fabric's own guidance.

We can measure for the right fitting and talk through the edge gaps in your room. Book a free measure and we will show you samples at the window itself.