Concerns with Blackout Lined Draperies/Curtains

Let’s talk about the concerns with blackout lined draperies/curtains and the common issues with trying to blackout a room. First you cannot totally blackout a room with just blinds, roman shades and draperies lined with blackout lining. On the other hand, you can create a room darkening during the day. While at night that depends on the amount of light coming in from street lights, porch lights etc.

When I’m out in the field measuring and the client/designer brings up “I want blackout”. In most cased the customer has expectations that his/her room will be blacked out when saying the word “Blackout”. I always explain that I can get you “room darkening”.  I further explain to them, “Think of light as water, where ever there is leak that’s where light will seep through”. It’s best to use the words “room darkening” vs “blackout” when discussing with the customer.

With draperies/curtains, the light will seep out thought the top of the rod, bottom of the drapery, and even the returns and overlaps. This especially applies to blinds/fabric shades inside mounted as the light will show on the edges. The closer the shade/fabric shade is to the frame of the window the less light seepage will be reviled, however some light will seep always through.

The picture below shows example of seepage areas.

Top: Even though the drapery is mounted to hide the rod when closed, light still seep along the top edges

Bottom: ½” off floor caused seepage along the bottom

Overlaps: seepage in areas

Returns (left & right): We used a product called Right-angle Hook Velcro strips with loop Velcro on the drapery. “The seepage spot on the left we left an opening for the draw cord. The seepage on the right is where we left a small gap between the Right-angle Velcro strips  as they are only available in 8’ lengths. Any gaps will produce light leakages

Same photo drawn during the day

Few other examples:

A sample of top down-bottom up blind mounted inside. Notice the light gaps along all the edges.

Use caution when using One-way draw draperies the overlap edge is exposed causing the light to leak outward.  In this example the draperies on either side of the T.V. are one-way draws and light is reflecting onto the T.V edges. 

Thank you;
Kirk Axelson
Precision Draperies, LLC