Innovations in the world of curtains: blackout fabrics

What are blackout curtains

These are curtains that cut off light by 90-100%. Such curtains are indispensable in home theaters; bedrooms and children's rooms facing well-lit streets; in northern latitudes during “white nights” and other similar situations.

Blackout curtains in the interior

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Unlike conventional curtain fabrics, blackout consists of three layers:

• the outer one is white and reflects the sun's rays;
• medium - the thickest and densest, retains the remaining light;
• internal - decorative, made from different materials, including textured or with patterns.

Such curtains will blend harmoniously with the space without contrasting with the surrounding environment.
Impregnation and acrylic foam provide additional durability and shading. The material is dense and smooth to the touch (the decorative side can be textured). Three layers are clearly visible at the incision site. If you look through the fabric at a window or lamp, no light will pass through. By this feature, blackout can be easily distinguished from other materials.

Blackout fabric is made using special technology

What is blackout fabric

In the land of bright nights - Finland - to create favorable conditions for relaxation, a new technology for darkening living rooms and public spaces has been invented - blackout curtains... The light absorption mechanism is ensured by the complex and functional composition of the fabric for these purposes. It is a three-layer structure, each component of which performs its assigned function.

The first layer, facing the street, is made of reflective fabric. It is predominantly light in color and is characterized by increased strength and practicality. Its purpose is to absorb the sun's rays and prevent fading and heating of the inner layers.

The middle layer is dense textile based on a special weave of threads. It is the main barrier to the penetration of sunlight into the room. The view is unsightly, but residents of the apartment, as well as pedestrians on the street, cannot see it. The so-called “gray cardinal” curtains, which have a light-proof characteristic. This is a kind of shield, which has the main function of light absorption.

The inner layer is an aesthetic coating that acts as an interior design. The fabric for this layer is selected according to the taste of the buyer. The arsenal of colors, patterns and design tricks is quite diverse and will satisfy the tastes of the most discerning consumer.

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Thus, curtains that do not allow sunlight to pass through are characterized by the ability to create an atmosphere of relaxation or other settings that require complete darkness.

Advantages and disadvantages of Blackout curtains

In addition to complete shading, the structure of the fabric provides other advantages:

• does not allow cold and heat to pass through, creating a comfortable microclimate in the room;
• do not fade over time, as they are resistant to sunlight;
• dampen extraneous sounds from the street due to their dense structure;
• drape beautifully;
• do not stretch or “shrink” after washing;
• do not wrinkle and do not require smoothing, just hang on the windows;
• do not burn and are therefore suitable for premises with special safety requirements;
• do not absorb foreign odors, dust and dirt;
• serve for a long time;
• hypoallergenic;
• have a variety of appearance, types and sizes.

These are dense fabrics that do not transmit light, and feel similar to rubberized ones.
But there are also disadvantages:

• due to the complex production technology, the price is quite high;
• the design has some limitations, so not all ideas can be realized;
• the fabric mainly consists of synthetics, which fans of natural materials do not like.

Advantages of curtains made of blackout fabric

Fabric that regulates the intensity of light in a room has found application for home and industrial purposes. It has a number of clear advantages over traditional thick curtain fabrics. These include:

• Long-term protection from sun rays;
• Practicality, ease of washing, no need for ironing;
• Durability;
• Choice of colors;
• Soundproofing;

• Fire safety (fire resistance indicator is above average);
• Suitable for use in rooms of an apartment or house;
• Options made from hypoallergenic materials are possible, which is important for a children's room. The fabric is valuable for offices equipped with computers. Shading windows is important to prevent glare on your monitor.

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Life does not stand still, humanity comes up with new details that make our lives more comfortable and modern. The use of light-absorbing fabric to create a positive microclimate is already today with the prospect of tomorrow.

Types of blackout curtains

Curtains of different types are sewn from this fabric:

• classic to the floor, with or without lambrequins;
• roll (roll up);
• similar to them are Roman (gathered in beautiful horizontal folds);
• pleated curtains (accordion-shaped, reminiscent of fabric blinds);
• Japanese (stripes of fabric stretched across the entire wall, moved to the sides);
• French, or scalloped, sagging in beautiful waves;
• day-night (with inserts made of translucent materials - tulle or lace, allowing for complete or partial darkening).

Lightproof blackout fabric was invented in Finland

Fastenings

There are different options depending on the type of curtains.

Curtain fastenings are:

• If the cornice is round, the curtains are hung on rings or eyelets. Ribbons and loops are suitable for some styles (they are made from the same material or in a contrasting color). With a string cornice, tape or braid is used in combination with hooks and various clips. An unusual and modern option is magnetic fastenings.
• Pleated, Roman and scalloped curtains have their own fastening and lifting systems. The fastening can be open or closed. The first option is hung directly in the window opening or on the sash. In the second case, the roll is closed with a box, and the curtain slides along the guides along the window.
• For Japanese curtains, a special curtain rod is also made - from several sections that can slide to the sides. The fabric is hung on small hooks and clothespins.
• A drawstring is suitable for car curtains (the top of the fabric is folded and sewn). Magnets and suction cups are used, which are sufficient for light weight.

What fabrics are they made from?

Original blackout curtains are made entirely of polyester. Now other materials are used for the inner decorative layer: linen (gives curtains texture), satin (with increased shine), satin, moiré, etc. There are also double-sided materials: the front and back sides look the same. They can be used for zoning space.

Original blackout curtains are made entirely of polyester

Advice! If you couldn’t find a suitable option, you can order or sew double curtains: the back side is made of blackout fabric, and the front side is made of any regular one.

The “street” option is suitable for outdoor use. This is a denser fabric, additionally protected from precipitation and bright sun. Fire-resistant textiles are also produced - with additional impregnation.

A similar type of fabric is dimout. The material consists of two or three layers, but without special impregnation and acrylic foam. The density is slightly lower, and the curtains transmit about 75-90% of the light. In some situations this is enough, and the fabric is cheaper.

A real blackout is a dimout with additional layers of acrylic foam, which, after hardening, forms a surface

Dimensions

There are several options for opaque curtains in height:

• narrow - from 140 to 150 cm (sometimes up to 160-170);
• average — 240-250;
• wide - 280-300 cm.

If other sizes are required, curtains can be made to order. But it will be more expensive than standard options.

Color variety

Curtains are available in plain, two-color and with many shades, dyed or with convex jacquard weaving.

Orange blackout curtains

There are white, black and colored curtains:

• beige;
• brown (including coffee and reddish shades);
• gray (from light to dark);
• blue, blue, turquoise;
• pink;
• lilac and violet;
• green (light, dark, emerald, mint, pistachio);
• yellow (from pale to rich);
• orange, red, terracotta.

Blackout nickel curtains
There are designs in the form of classic designs (flowers, gold patterns, etc.). There are also more modern curtains, three-color or with a large number of shades: stripes, diamonds, zigzags, inscriptions, marbled. Some manufacturers produce curtains for children with funny designs. An unusual and beautiful option is an image printed using thermal printing. Such curtains are a modern replacement for photo wallpaper.

Red blackout curtains in the interior

Types of curtains made of blackout fabric

Three-layer blackout fabric is not the only option from which light-proof curtains are created.

The varieties of the latter include:

• Double-layer blackout curtains, which do not have an internal coating and are used to enhance the light-absorbing effect of already decorated curtains;
• Four-layer options, equipped with interchangeable sets of internal curtains, which can be attached in turn to the main product. Such options are acceptable in cases where the situation or purpose of the room periodically changes.

Curtains can also be classified according to the method of their manufacture. Modern manufacturers use the latest technologies that give the expected results. These include:

1. Spraying;
2. Special weave of fibers, providing high density of the material.

In the first case, the spraying technology consists of applying a thin layer of a reflective element to blackout fabric for curtains. The durability of this layer depends on the quality of the base material and the composition for light reflection. The thicker the base, the longer the products will last and vice versa: thin fabric quickly fades, fades and requires replacement.

Two-layer model

The second option for blackout is to weave three or more threads into one: dark, which serves as the middle layer, and colored, which give the main color to the fabric. Such products are more durable, but less aesthetically pleasing, since they do not always fit harmoniously into the overall color scheme. Their overall color is made up of the color of each component, which affects the richness of the shades and their harmonious combination.

How much do Blackout curtains cost and where to buy

The price of curtains depends on the type of fastening and material. The cost of roller blinds is from 700 to 1,500 rubles. Classic ones made of pure polyester with fastening with tape and eyelets (depending on size) - from 1 to 5 thousand. Combined options with the inclusion of noble materials (jacquard, velvet, flocked) will cost more - up to 15 thousand per set.

Reflective curtains can be ordered in salons or purchased ready-made. Among the popular stores with the ability to order online, it is worth noting:

• Hoff has a large selection of plain curtains and several with floral patterns.
• Wildberries has a large selection of colors, there are unusual color options - space, zigzag, diamonds, inscriptions, comic book characters for the nursery, etc. There are several options for curtains with thermal printing.
• Tom House offers new designs: curtains with unusual prints. The interior can be complemented with pillows made of the same fabric.
• The Sima-Land store offers both plain curtains and curtains with a variety of patterns, classic and modern.
• “Your House” has a wide selection of roller blind colors with convenient fastening (no need to drill the window). The price is higher - up to 4 thousand.
• Ikea has several options for simple curtains for 2,500-4,000, as well as pleated blinds for 500 rubles.

Curtains Blackout
Features! If made individually, the cost will be higher. It consists of fabric prices per meter and labor.

Using blackout curtains in the interior

Reflective curtains are in demand in any room where protection from the scorching sun or too bright night lights is required. The appearance is selected depending on the room, its purpose and design.

For the living room, heavy floor-length curtains, plain or classic colors, are suitable. Roller blinds or short curtains are often hung in the kitchen. The design can be neutral or more bold (striped, zigzag, etc.). In the bedroom use light or dark shades, and it is advisable to avoid bright ones. For children, they select a collection with cheerful designs or neutral options to match the color of the furniture.

Green curtains are a great option to refresh the interior space of the living room

Special blackout curtains are also produced for cars. By protecting from blinding sun and headlights, they add comfort and safety. Available for cabins of various passenger cars and trucks (for example, KAMAZ) models. There are also curtains for motorhome sleeping areas.

Car sliding fabric curtains

Blackout curtains are created using special technology and do not allow light to pass through. Such curtains also have other advantages compared to conventional ones. Curtains of different types with several types of fastenings are sewn from fabric. The base is artificial fabric, but natural threads are often added.

Blackout curtains are available in several sizes and a variety of colors. They are made to order and purchased ready-made, including in popular online stores. Reflective curtains are used in all types of rooms and even in cars.

Roller blinds

The opposite of curtains are roller blinds - not a classic option, but very convenient, functional and, most importantly, do not take up the space of the room given its small size.

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Blackout roller blinds are, so to speak, a fashionable feature of home decoration. A universal option for combating excess light, suitable for any window opening, securely fastened.

The models consist of a functional and easy-to-use design: guide strips are included, and a bottom weighting system is equipped. Very convenient for periodic use, for example, attaching only for the summer period.

Blackout roller blinds, available in a variety of colors, can be used to decorate any interior, create a cozy atmosphere specific to a particular room, and delight the hostess and her guests on a sunny summer day or severe winter cold.

Lightproof roller blinds can also serve an aesthetic function. Thus, made in Japanese style, they will create a unique oriental flavor, and a country pattern will give the room extravagance and originality.

Lightproof blackout roller blinds, just like blackout blinds, come in closed and open versions. In the first case, it is a simple standard design that does not have a protective block. It gets dirty quickly and is not durable. In the second, the structure is additionally equipped with a protective shaft, which is made of durable, hygienic material, easy to clean and tightly attached to the window opening. The presence of automatic lifting of curtains makes the models more expensive, but guarantees against damage due to incorrect movements when opening or closing.