The level of sensitivity to light differs from person to person. According to purpose and orientation of a space, shading needs may vary.
Below listed 4 common blackout blinds/ shades, suggestions for installation measurements and tips for selection from 5 perspectives!
CONTENTS
I. What are the occasions for using blackout blinds?
1. Determine the amount of natural light based on the purpose of a space.
Many people emphasize the concept of “bright living area and dark bedrooms.” This means that living rooms and dining rooms and other public spaces for family’s and friends’ gatherings should have sufficient natural illumination.
On the other hand, spaces intended for relax and sleep have higher demands for blinds with high-level of shading function, like bedroom, guest room and nurseries.
However, for those who love watching movies at home, or have audiovisual equipment like projectors in the living room or home theaters, it is suggested to use blackout blinds to block out sunlight entirely.
It protects hardware equipment and enhances clarity of projected images, allowing the maximization of audiovisual quality and entertainment.
2. Identify blackout locations based on the orientation of a space.
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. If a space faces east in the morning, it will receive direct sunlight in the morning; if it’s west-facing, it will encounter afternoon sun in the west.
Spaces with these two orientations, especially when the windows are also oriented east-west, requires significant attention to interior shading function.
The space in the summer can be extremely hot due to direct sunlight entering the interior.
Choosing suitable blackout blinds/shades not only can prevent possible damages to furniture, but also reduce indoor temperatures and thus decreasing the substantial electricity costs associated with air conditioning usage.
II. What are the different styles of blackout blinds/ shades, and how effective are they at blocking light?
1. Blackout Zebra Blinds (Double Roller Blinds)
Zebra blinds, made by weaving alternating sheer and solid fabric stripes, have a visual effect that enhances the perception of space with their alternating transparency.
Blackout zebra blinds incorporate black sheer layers within the fabric, enhancing the light-blocking effect of the solid stripes.
Incorporate black sheer layers within the fabric, enhancing the light-blocking effect of the solid stripes.
Because of the design of zebra blinds, where the fabric is folded to create a loop, the surfaces between the folded fabric are not tightly sealed.
As a result, there may be slight light leakage between the stripes on the front and back sides of the blinds.
The light-blocking capability of blackout zebra blind is approximately around 80-90%. Indoor space can be effectively darkening during daytime.
The actual light-blocking performance can be varied based on the intensity of outdoor illumination
⭐️ Suitable space for blackout zebra blind:
Compact and small-sized spaces or individuals less sensitive to light.
2. Blackout Roller Blind
The back of these roller blinds features a heat-reflective, non-light-absorbing sunshade backing, and the fabric itself is completely opaque, effectively blocking light out light.
For nearly 100% of blackout effect, blackout roller blind can equipped with side tracks to stop the light leakage from the gaps around the window frame.
Roller blinds are the most space-efficient and easy-to-clean style of blind.
Because the blind surface is vertical to the ground, its volume is small, and its flat surface doesn’t allow dirt to accumulate and is less prone to dust mites.
Regular cleaning only requires using a dusting brush or a vacuum cleaner with a brush head.
⭐️ Suitable space for roller blind:
Compact and small-sized spaces or individuals suffer from allergy.
3. Blackout Honeycomb Shade/ Blackout Cellular Shade
Shades with a hexagonal honeycomb-like hollow structure are known as “honeycomb blinds.”
They are also sometimes referred to as “cellular shades” because they resemble the structure of a cell.
The inlaid silver coating in the hollow cells of blackout honeycomb shade can block out outdoor light completely and its light-blocking level is nearly 100%.
Their unique hollow structure helps in insulating against heat, contributing to maintaining a constant indoor temperature, making them an eco-friendly and energy-efficient window treatment.
If you wish to have a window covering product that combines both light-blocking and light-filtering capabilities, you can opt for the TDBU (Top-Down Bottom-Up) dual-opening system for honeycomb blinds.
This system allows the top part of the blind to be lowered for light and ventilation while keeping the bottom part in place.
You can also use both semi-transparent and blackout fabric, creating a “day and night shade” effect.
⭐️ Suitable space for blackout honeycomb shade:
Direct sunlight entering the room or individuals sensitive to light.
4. Blackout curtain and sheer
① Sandwich Fabric, with matte black blackout mesh on the inside
The most common blackout drape in the market, as the term suggests, there is a layer of black mesh (also named matte mesh), between the front and the back fabrics.
The density of black mesh decides the light-blocking level. The tighter black mesh are woven, more dense the pores are, and more light can be filtered out.
However, even with a tight weave, there will still be small holes between the blackout fabric. Therefore, this type of sandwich fabric typically provides a light-blocking level of around 70-95%.
Sandwich fabrics with darker colors tend to offer better light-blocking performance.
Due to the layer of blackout fabric in between, there are no pure white sandwich fabrics, and light-colored ones may appear more saturated in color.
In the category of blackout Zosen- Custom-made Curtains are all sandwich fabric with black mesh in-between.
The fabric are imported Japan and labelled with light-blocking level based on JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards).
The 3 light-blocking levels are graded as followed: 1st grade > 2nd grade> 3rd grade.
② 100% Blackout Drapery Fabric (Blackout Coating)
By applying a layer of coating to the fabric to block light, the fabric can achieve close to 100% light-blocking capability.
In the early days, “silver coating” is applied at the rear of the fabric. However, it becomes rare in the market now, and only can be found inside some parasols!
The more common light-blocking coating used today is “latex.”
It involves applying a non-heat-absorbing light-blocking backing to the back of the fabric, using the same principle as blackout roller blinds. Because of the coating, the drapery fabric appears to be stiffer.
“Heat-processed” sandwich drape is the fabric MSBT apply often in most cases, which replaces the blackout fabric with coating and sandwiches the light-blocking backing between two pieces of fabric.
Compared to curtain fabric with a backing applied to only one side, heat-pressed sandwich fabric tends to have a softer texture.
👀 For more curtains／sheer items
Light-blocking levels of Pinch Pleat Curtains v.s. Ripple Fold Curtains
Pinch pleat is the most common form of soft curtain where its header is binding into three pleats as a unit.
On the other hand, Ripple Fold Curtains are known for their wavy curves, and prominent arc-shaped fabric surfaces in the front and back, but this also means that light can seep through these areas.
Without the cover of a cornice box, light leakage of ripple fold curtain is more apparent than pinch pleat curtains.
🎥 Further reading： Basic knowledge of drapery- Custom-made curtains, drapes & sheers
⭐️ Suitable space for blackout curtains：
Big-sized spaces (Curtains take up more space though it appears to be more romantic) or individuals sensitive to light.
III. Tips for purchasing blackout blinds/curtains
Turn on the flash light on the mobile phone and flash it at the fabric, and the shading level can be immediately revealed. This method is important in choosing drapery fabrics.
You can find a great variety of drapery fabrics and different materials lead to different shading levels. Even the same material in different color has varied shading effects.
Besides many styles and patterns to choose from, the price range is wide too.
It is suggested to go through physical catalogs to select drapery fabrics. Please contact us for making appointment for in-home service.
IV. Do installation methods affect shading level?
The answer is YES! There are 2 installations: inside mount and outside mount.
Blinds and curtains are mounted on the frame opening, not the metal window frames; therefore, mounting methods do affect shading levels.
1. Inside Mount
Install the blinds/curtains inside the window frame, fitting them snugly within the frame opening.
This will result in a cleaner and more streamlined overall appearance, but it may also be more challenging to cover all around the window frame as the blinds/curtains conform tightly to the frame opening.
2. Outside Mount
Install the blinds/ curtains on the wall or ceiling outside the window opening can cover the window opening entirely.
This allows the fabric to completely cover the window without exposing the window frame, effectively reducing light leakage around the edges.
Please note that for the curtain sheers using an curtain rod for installation, there may be some distance between the curtain fabric, the curtain rod, and the wall, causing some light leakage from above.
3. Blackout Blinds/Curtains – Recommended Outside Mount Measurements
Since the blinds/curtains are already installed outside the window frame, it is suggested to increase the curtain coverage area for optimal blackout effectiveness!
The actual additional coverage area can still vary depending on the space conditions and installation results
① Blackout Zebra Blinds: Add additional 7-10cm on each side is recommended.
② Blackout Roller Blinds: Add additional 7-10cm on each side is recommended.
③ Full Blackout Honeycomb Blinds: Add an additional 5-10cm on each side is recommended.
④ Blackout Curtains: Add an additional 10-15cm on both sides and 20-30cm at the bottom is recommended.
V. How to Resolve Light Leakage Around Curtains/Window Edges?
1. Light Leakage Above the Head Rail or Track
If the blinds/curtains are installed inside the window frame, slight irregularities may result in the window space not being perfectly level or vertical, causing small gaps between the head rail or track and the concrete window frame, leading to minor light leakage from above.
This situation can be solved by installing a cornice/ curtain box or using a delicate type of head rail:
• Cornice/ Curtain Box
A cornice/ curtain box is a woodworking project in interior decoration (constructed by carpenters rather than window covering companies).
It involves creating a space above the window. While it’s called a “box,” it’s more like a cover that can hide the head rail/track and surrounding pipelines, effectively preventing sunlight from entering through the top of the window.
• Delicate Type of Head Rail
It’s not a problem if you don’t have a cornice/curtain box.
Delicate type of head rail can be used in zebra blinds or roller blinds, with a wrap-around metal cover that completely conceals the head rail.
The exclusive design of MSBT delicate metallic cover features a raised metal strip at the top, ensuring the head rail fit snugly against it, and there are no gaps at the upper edge to allow light to enter.
2. Light Leakage Around Fabric Seams
Regardless of whether you choose inside or outside mount, all blackout blind/curtain may encounter issues with light leakage on the left and right sides and at the bottom due to seams.
If space allows, it’s recommended to ensure that the blinds/curtains have sufficient coverage size to maximize light leakage reduction.
For blackout roller blinds, you can add side tracks to the blinds.
Side tracks are matte white metal tracks installed along the sides of the window (similar in appearance to the left and right tracks of a garage door).
Side tracks can perfectly encase the window frame and block small gaps between the blind and the wall, effectively preventing light leakage from the edges of the roller blind fabric.
• Inside Mount for Side Tracks
The side tracks installed along the inside of the window frame fit snugly against the frame opening.
This installation method provides a seamless appearance with the window frame.
• Outside Mount for Side Tracks
When side tracks are installed on the outside of the window frame, they extend the fabric coverage area beyond the frame and perfectly encase the fabric edges, effectively preventing light leakage.
【MSBT Maison Boutique】Your best assistant to customize your blinds!
We offer overseas delivery across the globe at consumers’ expenses, please contact our english customer service for more details.
Service area: Taipei／New Taipei city center／Taoyuan／Hsinchu／Miaoli／Taichung city center／Tainan／Kaohsiung／Pintung city center. There is no area limitation on online shopping and home delivery.