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Everyone wants some level of light control from their window treatments. Those preferences can range from sheer shades that give minimal light control all the way to room-darkening shades or full blackout shades.
Today we’re going to talk about people looking for strong light control. People seek out window treatments with strong light-control capabilities for many reasons. Some are looking for dark rooms without glare so they can better enjoy television, video gaming, or working on their computer. Others are seeking privacy—something that generally goes hand-in-hand with room darkening and blackout fabrics. And then there’s the number one reason why people are looking for blinds and shades that keep out the light: sleep. Research has shown that dark rooms can help you get better sleep.
How Dark Do You Need It?
That’s the central question of this article. As we try to answer that question, we’ll also go through the key differences between the many styles of window treatment that can help you achieve a dark room.
We will look at what kinds of shades can create dark rooms and which can create the very darkest rooms. We’ll also look at what level of darkness you need for different types of rooms—bedrooms, media rooms, living rooms, and offices. And finally, we’ll look at those shades that create the very darkest rooms—blackout shades. By the end of the article, you’ll understand whether you need this extreme level of darkness or if room-darkening fabrics, with their own unique advantages, might be the right option for you.
And no matter what level of darkness you choose—or if you still can’t decide—finding the perfect window treatment is easy when you have the help of a Graber Dealer. They have the know-how, thoughtful guidance, and premium products to give you what you need.
What is the Difference Between Blackout and Room Darkening?
Room darkening blinds and shades block enough light to create a dark room during the day and a very dark room at night. For most people, room darkening blinds and shades offer enough light control to meet all their needs. That said, a minimal amount of light does seep through room-darkening window treatments, especially during the day. And, for many people, this is an advantage—you enjoy darkness with enough light to navigate the room.
Blackout shades take it one step further. They completely block the light—even during the day. The only light that makes its way into the room is along the sides of the shade—and that can even be reduced or eliminated using room-darkening side channels. For people committed to creating very, very dark rooms, these blackout products are beloved. Many night-shift workers and other day sleepers swear by them—and this makes sense because trying to reverse day and night is not an easy task—and blackout shades are an extreme tool to give these people their essential sleep.
Recently, new parents have been seeking out blackout shades because they’ve been recommended in online forums or advertisements as the best way to get infants to fall asleep quickly and stay asleep longer. There’s a downside to this strategy for both infants as well as those day-sleeping adults: one can get so used to sleeping in these very, very dark rooms that they find it difficult to sleep anywhere else. The other disadvantage of a very, very dark room is that it can be nearly impossible to navigate in the total darkness—which can make getting to and from the baby challenging.
Taking all this into account, one thing is clear: there’s no single right answer for everyone. But your Graber Dealer has all the options—from room darkening to blackout. You’ll be able to meet your light control needs, whatever they are. With that in mind, let’s find the right room-darkening level for you—so you can create the perfect room.
The Joys of Room-Darkening Blinds and Shades
When room-darkening blinds and shades are closed during the day, they create soft ambiance—a dim, peaceful room in which to move about. It’s definitely a mood that’s conducive to sleep, but it’s also an atmosphere in which pulling out a booklight, opening a laptop, or flipping on the TV would be just as natural as crawling into bed. And if room-darkening blinds and shades are drawn shut at night, you get darkness.
Room-darkening blinds achieve this through slats that block the light (so that only a bit of light passes through the gaps in the closed blinds). Room darkening shades and drapery accomplish this through a thick fabric or by using a special fabric liner that is added to the drapery or shade. One of the simplest examples of room darkening can be found in a room-darkening roller shade. The single layer of fabric blocks most of the light so that you get just a faint glow through the shade—ideal for living rooms, dining rooms, home offices, and most bedrooms.
Using that same roller shade design, you can also create a blackout window treatment using one of dozens of outstanding blackout roller fabrics. That blackout roller shade will block virtually all incoming light, creating near-total darkness. For those parents who feel strongly that they need total darkness for their baby’s nursery, a blackout roller shade is ideal. Not only does it lack any control cords, it is simple to use and available in both cordless and motorized configurations. Adding room-darkening side channels further blocks out the light, making it one of the most powerful light-blockers of all window treatments.
But roller shades aren’t the only blackout option. Graber Cellular shades, Roman shades, natural shades, and custom drapery can all be configured as blackout window treatments. There’s a solution for every home.
Which is Better, Room Darkening or Blackout?
The advantages of blackout shades are obvious—near total darkness, day or night. There’s no worry about whether the sun is up or down. Close the shade and you have an instant sleep environment.
But room-darkening shades have their own advantages. There’s a cozy ambiance created when they are closed while the sun is still up—and many people enjoy this half-light and find it supports a natural winding down of the day. Blackout shades do not have this light-filtering quality.
The choice comes down to needs and taste. Your Graber Design Expert can help you decide what best suits your aesthetic preferences and the way you live.
Deciding Based on Room Function and Desired Ambiance
If you want a relatively dark room for sleeping, room-darkening blinds and shades are the answer. If you want to dim the light a bit to watch your favorite TV show or reduce the glare while you’re working at your laptop, room-darkening shades are the right choice.
But if you’re someone who demands a movie-theater experience when you’re watching TV or gaming—or if you want a dark, dark room for sleeping—then blackout shades are your best option, hands down.
Room-darkening blinds and shades, when closed during the day, create a relaxing ambiance. At night, they block out nearly all the light. They’re the perfect shades for living rooms, dining rooms, and pretty much any room in the home. But when you need extreme darkness, blackout shades can’t be beat. They work beautifully in media rooms as well as nurseries and bedrooms for day-sleepers. Nothing blocks light better than a blackout fabric.
Are Room Darkening Blinds Worth It?
Room-darkening blinds and shades have two primary advantages. The first is they provide excellent light control and can make a room dark enough for most people to enjoy movies, play video games, or, most importantly, sleep. The second advantage is that room darkening blinds and shades have strong aesthetics—mainly in terms of how they filter light and have a visually appealing quality because light can pass through them. On top of that, they also provide privacy and some energy efficiency through their insulating properties. They are, for most people, the best window treatment solution.
What are the Disadvantages of Blackout Blinds?
If you like to manipulate your environment and create a comforting cocoon for yourself, blackout fabrics are your best friend. Blackout fabrics are almost magical in the way they can totally change a room from day into night. And if you’re seeking the darkest of rooms, adding a blackout drapery over your blackout shade will give you incredible results. Total darkness!
If that sounds less than wonderful to you, you’re not alone. Blackout shades aren’t for everyone. But there’s a compromise: layering. If you pair a blackout shade with a light filtering or room darkening drapery, you can use your blackout shade when you want total darkness, but then open your shade and allow your drapery to filter the light. It’s a great compromise, and it can be a way to meet the needs of the different people in your household. By the way, these sort of layering combinations can benefit from motorization—the shade can be opened and closed with just the tap of your smartphone or a remote.
Graber Solutions: Tailored Light Control for Every Room
Every room in your home has its own purpose. That’s why there are different kinds of window treatments. Often the right choice for one room will not work in another. Your Graber Dealer can help you find the perfect solution for every room. Have a baby that will not sleep except in total, deep-space darkness? There are multiple solutions to that problem. Or, are you looking for shades that soften the late afternoon light but still provide some visual interest as the light fades? Your Graber Dealer can show you a dozen different solutions.
Customization for Perfect Performance
One issue that often comes when talking about blackout shades is the light gap. Gaps along the top, bottom, and sides of the shade can allow light to seep into the room. Reducing these gaps can be done before the shade is built by making precise measurements. That’s where your Graber Dealer comes in. They can measure with such precision that an inside mounted blackout shade will permit the smallest amount of light possible—so your delicately patterned Roman shade blocks the sun just as well as it delights the eye. And your Graber Dealer can also eliminate even more light seepage by measuring for room-darkening side panels. For extreme light control, your best ally is your Graber Dealer. They have all the fabrics and styles you need to create a room that looks beautiful and meets all your needs.
Expert Consultation for Your Ideal Solution
Finding the right window treatments for you home doesn’t have to be stressful—and there doesn’t have to be any risk of choosing the wrong product. That’s because Graber Dealers have the experience and design skills to find blinds, shades, shutters, or drapery that look great in your home and meet all your needs. Plus, your Graber Dealer will carefully measure your windows and install your window treatments so you get perfect fit and flawless performance.
FAQ
What’s the Difference Between Blackout and Room-Darkening Shades?
Blackout shades block nearly all light. Room-darkening shades block most of the light. Both can create excellent environments for sleeping or watching movies. The biggest difference is your own needs, particularly when it comes to sleep—do you demand absolute darkness for sleep or is a room-darkening set of blinds and shades adequate?
Which Is Better—Blackout or Room Darkening?
The question really should be which is better for me? Your choice depends on your own aesthetic sensibilities as well as the function of the room you are decorating. If you value a connection to what is happening outside your home, room-darkening window treatments are the right choice. If you want to be able to separate your interior completely from the outside—for better sleep or to create a disturbance-free environment for work or movie watching—blackout is the right choice for you. Want a cocoon-like sleep environment? Choose blackout. Looking for beautiful light that changes throughout the day? Room-darkening blinds and shades are your best option. In between these extremes is a range that makes finding the perfect solution easy. Your Graber Dealer should be your first source of advice when making these choices.
Are Room Darkening Fabrics Worth It?
Yes. Room darkening fabrics are the workhorse of the window treatment world. Not only do room darkening blinds and shades reduce glare, provide privacy, and offer some insulation, they look great. A bit of light passing through a room-darkening shade brings the fabric to life.
Do Blackout Shades Have Any Disadvantages?
The biggest disadvantage of blackout shades is that when they’re closed, it’s too dark to move around the room or do much of anything. Now that’s a huge advantage to those people who believe they need extreme darkness to sleep. Blackout fabrics also don’t have the luminosity of room-darkening fabrics—room-darkening fabrics allow that softened light that many people find so attractive. Blackout fabrics are opaque.
Which Provides Better Privacy—Room Darkening or Blackout?
Blackout provides the best privacy, both night and day, hands down. That said, room-darkening blinds and shades provide outstanding privacy—so much so that it’s hard not to say they don’t provide as much privacy as blackout shades.
How Do I Prevent Light Gaps?
The best way to prevent light gaps is to use a roller shade with room-darkening side channels. These side channels fit along the left and right sides of the shade to keep light from seeping in through the gap between the window and the shade. Another way to help reduce light gaps is by measuring precisely before ordering your blinds and shades. Precisely built blinds and shades will have minimal gaps along the sides in an inside mount configuration. And adding room darkening or blackout drapery to any window treatment can effectively reduce or eliminate light gaps.
