Blackout Shades

Blackout shades are a type of window treatment used in homes and offices to prevent light from entering a room. Blackout shades are often used in apartments throughout New York City because well, it’s known as the “city that never sleeps.” If you’re looking for complete darkness in your bedroom to get a full night’s rest, consider installing blackout shades. Many times blackout shades are installed in media or home theater rooms as well, where a television or other piece of viewing technology is. Blackout shades prevent glare from the sun on televisions, computers and other viewing screens.

Material varies for blackout shades and there are different levels of “blackout.” Depending on the amount of light you want to enter, if any at all, you can decide which level of opacity you want. Here are a ways manufacturers determine which blackout shades are appropriate for which clients:

Room darkening shades

Although room darkening shades aren’t exactly “blackout” they are a level of classification. Room darkening shades can block sunlight from entering a room, but they don’t block the same level of light that other blackout shades do.

Blockout shades

Blockout shades actually block up to 99% of visible light. These shades are great for bedrooms and media rooms. Since blockout shades leave a halo of light around them, you can choose to add draperies to completely block off the light entering or allow the seepage.

Light-Tight shades

If you’re looking for full darkness, light-tight shades are the choice for you. These window shades also block up to 99% of light, but there are no seepages as all. They are snug around the edges not allowing light to enter.

Since most of these options can be customized to your personal fabric choice, it comes down to the amount of light you want to enter your room. Each option, whether it be room darkening shades, blockout shades or light-tight shades all offer similar features.