5 Good Reasons to Use Blackout Curtains in Your Home

How many times has this happened to you? You reach home after a tiring 8-hour shift at work, take a cool shower and sit down to have your dinner. Just when you get to your bed and start dozing off, you’re awakened by the sound of laughter next door, dogs barking outside or a car honking somewhere close. If you’re back home after a night shift and are trying to get some sleep by the day, a stream of sunlight coming in from your windows might disrupt your sleep.

Fortunately, there are ways to avoid these inconveniences and enjoy good sleep. With complete light and sound blockage capacity, blackout curtains are the best option to take. These are soft and durable window treatments with several benefits like room darkening, noise reduction, thermal insulation, energy saving and privacy protection. Here are some top reasons to use these thick, dark drapes in your home.

5 Reasons Why You Need Blackout Curtains

1. Blocks Out Light

Humans need darkness to sleep comfortably. Darkness stimulates the pineal gland to produce and release the hormone melatonin. This hormone helps the body to relax, so it can fall asleep. Made from extra tightly woven fabrics, blackout curtains can stop the sunlight and streetlights from entering your room. This is particularly important for those with kids, sick family members or who work night shifts and need sleep during the day. Blackout curtains block almost 99% of light and ensure that the room is as dark and comfortable as possible.

2. Reduces Noise Pollution

Outside noise can disturb your sleep. Thankfully, blackout drapes are effective at blocking that out. The thick fabric and additional black lining dampen and absorb the sound before it enters the room. This is particularly important in high-traffic cities or busy neighbourhoods where there’s a lot of commotion going on.

3. Helps You Save on Energy Bills

About 30% of a home’s heating energy is lost through its windows. This results in additional energy consumption through the cooling and heating system. Blackout curtains control the insulation of your house, regulating the thermal loss. The drapes act as a guarding membrane between your house and the exteriors. During the winter season, the warm air is trapped indoors by the curtain, which means the HVAC system won’t have to work as hard to keep your room warm. During the summers, these curtains block the sunlight from entering your home, and thus, keep the interiors cool and comfortable. This significantly reduces your energy bills and carbon footprint.

4. Gives You 100% Privacy

The dark, opaque-lined panels of blackout curtains act as a protecting shield from the prying eyes of the outside world. Usually made from woven and thick fabric like velvet, felt or suede, these curtains block the entry of any kind of external light, thus offering 100% privacy even during the day. Blackout curtains are the best choice for bedrooms and bathrooms, where privacy is a primary concern.

5. Good Investment

Made from thick and tightly woven fabrics, blackout curtains last longer than regular curtains.  You can either buy the readymade ones or go for customization. Of course, they’re costlier than other types of draperies and curtains, but they’re worth the money. Apart from providing insulation and helping you save money on your energy bills; blackout curtains improve the aesthetics of your home. Their versatility and aesthetic properties make blackout curtains a great investment.

Choosing the right window treatment has a big impact on the look of your home, as well as the comfort of the inmates. There are many drapery stores that deal in blackout curtains in Toronto, but not all of them are reliable. A genuine drapery professional will guide you to make a clear choice between ready-made and custom blackout curtains. They’ll help you with everything from measurement to installation.