Blackout Blinds or Room Darkening Shades?
Originally used during the war (through the Blitz) to stop enemy planes from knowing the location of people’s homes (which they could then drop bombs on), room darkening blinds were very effective and saved a lot of lives. Today they’re used to create total darkness inside of a room (for whatever reason – whether you’re watching a film or trying to sleep) and they’re just as useful as ever. They’re sometimes referred to as black fabric roman shades (since they’re nearly always black) and because they’re made from thick fabrics (such as velvet, satin and other thick materials).
If you’re reading this, however, then you probably already know what room darkening shades are. You’re also probably wondering what the difference between blackout blinds (also known asblackout roller blinds) and room darkening window shades is.
From the two names, you might think that they’re the same thing. Because of this, it’s important to know the key differences so that you can purchase the right one for you. So what is the main difference?
Blackout shades and blinds are a type of window treatment specifically designed to block out all of the light in a room. They’re mainly bought these days by people who work night shifts and that need to sleep in the day time. On the other hand, room darkening blinds are simply dark window shades that reduce the amount of light in a room (but rarely block it out completely). One of the problems here is that there are no standard industry terms for both dark window shades, so personal inspection before buying is a must.
When buying these kinds of window shades it’s important that you get the measurements perfect (since even a tiny gap left unaccounted for will let in unwanted light). In circumstances such as this, it’s generally better to get a blind that’s a little too big than a little too small (so factor that into your measurements if you’re unsure).
While many companies do sell both models, they are actually surprisingly easy to make (as long as you have a basic knowledge of what you’re doing and (providing you don’t want a remote controlled blind). The hardest part, it seems, is getting the right material for your room darkening shade (since you’ll need something extremely thick) and also getting supports that are strong enough to hold such a heavy device (depending on the size of it, of course).
Remote control blinds are surprising easy to find (especially if you’re shopping online), and although they might sound highly technical and complicated, they couldn’t be easier to use! If you’ve got a window that’s in an awkward place (such as high up) that needs covering, it’s well worth you considering getting one of these blinds (as opposed to having long pulley leads hanging down).
Related posts:
- Blackout Roller Blinds – The Lowdown
- Made to Measure Blinds – The Benefits of Using them in the Home
- The Role Sliding Door Blinds Play in the Modern Home
- Make your Window Treatments Fresh, Exciting & Truly Unique!
- Looking at Different Types of Cheap Window Blinds
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