Blackout curtain buying guide
How to find the best blackout curtains?
Discover all you need to know about blackout curtains with this complete and useful guide
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
- What makes a good blackout curtain?
- How do blackout curtains work?
- How are blackout curtains made?
- How to attach blackout curtains?
- Do white blackout curtains work?
- Are blackout curtains energy efficient?
- Are blackout curtains soundproof?
- What is the difference between a blackout curtain and a room darkening curtain?
- Are blackout curtains toxic?
- Are blackout curtains necessary for babies?
- Can blackout curtains be washed?
- Can blackout curtains be ironed?
- Can blackout curtains be dry cleaned?
ANSWERS:
1 - What makes a good blackout curtain?
A good blackout curtain has to block out the light. But it depends of what you’re looking for, some people want a 100% blackout effect and some prefer to have some natural light coming in, especially when they wake up.
This is why Moondream® offers different solutions: from room darkening curtains (that block out 90-95% of the light) to blackout curtains (available mainly in darker colors) to total blackout curtains that block out all light completely (available in all colors, even white). The most important is to block out all night lights from the street and our Moondream® curtains achieve that.
2 - How do blackout curtains work?
The fabric used for blackout curtains makes all the difference: our dim-out and blackout fabrics are all weaved and textile. A black yarn is inserted in the middle of the two sides of the fabric and the blackout effect (between 90 and 100%) depends on the color and the structure of the fabric.
This is why we have categorized all curtains and their performances. For example, a Moondream® dim-out curtain or blackout curtain in light colors such as eggshell or white will block out 90% to 95% of the light.
To block out 100% of the light you better choose either a blackout curtain in a dark color or a coated fabric curtain (in any color). Moondream®’s 100% total blackout curtains provide optimal protection from sunlight and offer a total blackout effect across the entire colour range.
3 - How are blackout curtains made?
Moondream® uses 2 kinds of fabrics, a 100% textile fabric weaved with a black yarn or a 3-pass coated fabric.
The performances of each curtain, as explained in point 2, are determined by the fabric itself and eventually the color.
4 - How to attach blackout curtains?
Our Moondream® light blocking curtains are mainly designed with grommets which makes it really easy to hang them. Just keep in mind when you choose your curtain rod that the inner diameter of the grommet is 1.6 inch.
5 - Do white blackout curtains work?
Our white blackout curtain blocks out the light to 90%-95%, especially if the room is east facing (where the sun rises).
But if you go with our white coated blackout curtain it will block out the light to 100%, no matter the orientation of the room.
Available in several sizes and shades of white, our white blackout curtains are suitable for all window sizes.
6 - Are blackout curtains energy efficient?
Like every curtain, a blackout curtain will also help to insulate the room to a certain degree. Keep in mind that if you really need to insulate a room, you should better choose a blackout and thermal curtain.
With this kind of curtain you’ll get a blackout as well as a thermal effect. Please see our thermal curtain buying guide for more information.
7 - Are blackout curtains soundproof?
Absolutely not, they are too thin and light weighted for that. If you are interested in a blackout curtain and sound insulation, please have a look at our 3-in-1 soundproof curtains. They insulate against noise, heat, cold and light.
8 - What is the difference between a blackout curtain and a room darkening curtain?
A blackout curtain offers blackout effect up to 100% while a room darkening curtain blocks out the light around 90% to 95%. Please see our comparison chart to understand which curtain offers the right light blocking effect for you.
9 - Are blackout curtains toxic?
At Moondream® we chose to use OEKO-TEX certified fabrics. OEKO-TEX is an independent testing and certification system for textile products that is recognized worldwide. The Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX® takes into account if the curtain fabric has been produced without the use of any harmful substances.
10 - Are blackout curtains necessary for babies?
They are not necessary but will help to create a quieter and sleep inducing atmosphere in the room.
11 - Can blackout curtains be washed?
Yes, the Moondream® blackout curtains can be washed at a low temperature and in a gentle wash cycle. The most important is to make sure that the grommets are rust proof, and ours are.
12 - Can blackout curtains be ironed?
Yes, please check the composition of the fabric and select the correct temperature.
13 - Can blackout curtains be dry cleaned?
Yes they can and it’s the cleaning method we recommend to avoid any damage and impact on the performance.