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The Best Curtains For Summer - We've Got Your Windows Covered at Spotlight
As temperatures start to climb in the latter half of the year, we begin to start looking for ways to cool our homes efficiently from the relentless summer heat. And while everyone loves a bit of air conditioning, there are ways to improve the efficiency and natural cooling of your home to reduce your power bills and revamp your home.
The best summer curtains will have your home feeling cooler while helping you save money on energy bills. Discover Spotlight's quality collection of blockout curtains which are the best choice for summer and offer exceptional light blocking and insulation properties. Our blockout curtains come in a great range of colours and header types including eyelet curtains, pencil pleat curtains, pinch pleat curtains and rod pocket curtains - so, you're sure to find a set you'll love that suits your home. And if you're wanting to test your creative skills, we also offer an incredible range of blockout curtain fabrics so you can craft unique window dressings that blockout the sun's rays. You can find more information about the best blockout curtains for summer and styling your window dressings right here.
Quick Links
- The Benefits of Blockout Curtains in Summer
- How Should I Hang Blockout Curtains?
- Blockout Curtains Vs Thermal Curtains
- Layering Blockout Curtains With Sheer Curtains For Summer
- Top Curtains and Curtain Picks For Summer
- Add A Personal Touch and Create Your Own 'DIY' Blockout Curtains
The Benefits of Blockout Curtains For Summer
Blockout curtains (also known as blackout curtains) are specially designed to almost completely block light from outside penetrating into your home. This makes them an extremely helpful summer curtains option, as they help keep your home cool - and provide a few handy benefits at the same time!
Block Light And Heat To Maintain Cool Temperatures
Strong sunlight through glass windows can heat your house up very quickly. Blocking this direct light can help keep your home cool, although you need to make sure your summer blackout curtains are drawn well before the day starts to heat up. Blocking out sunlight can also help reduce the amount of colour fading your indoor carpet and furniture may experience from the sun. White rugs, however, could benefit as the sun can bleach them to a brighter shade of white!
Keep Cool For Less: Enjoy Reduced Energy Usage
Window dressings, especially ones set close to the glass, block heat transference between the outside and inside. So, if your house is nice and cool, keeping the curtains closed will prevent the warm air from outside from intermingling with your cool air and heating it up. Blockout curtains can also be paired with your air conditioning for optimal cooling in your home. While air conditioning is a welcome relief on hotter days, it can be costly to run for long periods of time. By cooling your home with the air conditioner, drawing your blackout curtains and then turning off the air conditioner, you can trap the cool air inside and prevent it from leaching out of your windows. Alternatively, you could also keep your blackout curtains closed all day, and you may not need to turn on the air conditioning at all!
Improve the Quality of Your Sleep - Reduce Noise and Soften Acoustics
Longer days mean shorter nights, and if you need to sleep while there's daylight around, blockout curtains are your tickets to improving your sleep. They block out enough light for a dark and peaceful environment, ensuring that you can sleep comfortably at any time of day! This is especially effective for people who need to sleep at odd hours, like shift workers, or families with young babies who sleep on and off all day.
Style Curtains Your Way and Create a Calming Space For Relaxation
Blockout curtains are an excellent choice for bedrooms, living rooms and any other areas where you wish to relax and unwind during the warmer months without feeling the heat. Their light blocking properties not only block out the heat and sunlight, but also ensure privacy, blocking visibility into your home so you can enjoy calmly relaxing in your space.
How Should I Hang Blockout Curtains?
Created from a fabric with an acrylic or silicone blockout backing, our blockout curtains, when hung correctly, will block out almost all light that would otherwise come through a window. The curve of a curtain means you can hang it to block out any light that could creep through from the sides of the curtain, and hanging them from above your window (which we recommend, as it makes the room look taller) will block light from the top of the window as well! Because of their heavy make and thickness, there are a few things you need to keep in mind when hanging blackout curtains:
- Use a medium to heavy-weight curtain rail when hanging blockout curtains to ensure it won't bend under the weight of your window furnishings. We recommend a rod with a diameter of 19/22mm, up to 33mm, which can easily hold the heavier curtain weight. Curtain rods made of thick wood or metal are also ideal.
- Using sheer curtains provides daytime privacy while filtering the sun and light - they are a great way to soften your window. If you want complete control over how much of that summer sun you let into your home, consider layering your blockout curtains with sheer curtains using a double rod set or curtain track.
- Avoid hanging them in humid areas - because they are so thick, blockout curtains retain moisture easily, so avoid hanging them in areas like the kitchen and bathroom where they can become damp from steam.
Find out more on how to hang curtains by reading through our trusty guide!
Blockout Curtains Vs Thermal Curtains
Where blockout and thermal curtains offer some similarities, there are key differences that set these two types of curtains apart, making blockout curtains the optimal choice for summer curtains.
Blockout Curtains | Thermal Curtains | |
Blockout Lining | ✓ | ✕ |
Thermal Lining | ✕ | ✓ |
Prioritise light blocking | ✓ | ✕ |
Available in multiple header types | ✓ | ✓ |
Assists in temperature regulation | ✓ | ✓ |
Offer privacy benefits | ✓ | ✓ |
Layering Blockout Curtains With Sheer Curtains For Summer
Layering your blockout curtains with sheer curtains will create a luxurious look that brings a sense of depth to your windows. This also allows you to switch between functions for the desired amount of light, making it perfect for those days where you want natural light to brighten your space. Sheer Curtains are the perfect solution to soften your windows when layering with block-out curtains and blinds for a functional and beautiful space.
You may also layer blockout curtains with a blockout blind behind in order to further reduce light from entering your space. This also provides additional insulation benefits making the combination of both blockout curtains and blinds a great option for summer.
Filter sunlight and preserve your view whilst enjoying privacy with the perfect sheer curtains from Spotlight!
Gummerson Rylee Curtains
A practical and stylish way to update your home with room darkening, privacy and insulating benefits for summer. The Rylee range features essential room-darkening curtains for optimal light blocking in summer.
Caprice Urban Curtains and Urban Rod Sets
Add gorgeous draping to your windows with the Urban range from Caprice. Add texture and a modern touch to your space whilst enjoying blockout benefits to your home. The Caprice Urban curtain rod sets are designed to look sleek and be easy to install.
Gummerson Caine Blockout Curtains
Designed to bring balance, privacy, and comfort to any room, the Caine range offers a refined and effortless look.
Sheer S-Fold Curtains
S-Fold curtains are a modern and stylish option for your windows. Experience soft light filtering and privacy and the look of gentle pleats for your home.
While Spotlight offers an extensive range of ready to hang blockout curtains, you can also shop from a range of blockout curtain fabrics for you to create your own DIY blockout curtains. With fabrics for every style and space, you can shop for neutral toned blockout curtains to create timeless and minimalist designs as well as floral patterned blockout curtain fabrics for a colourful and lively window dressings. No matter your decorative theme, you can enjoy the functional benefits of blockout curtains while still adhering to your chosen decorative aesthetic with our blockout curtain fabrics. Explore our free DIY Curtains Projects for helpful and easy to follow instructions on assembling your homemade blockout curtains.
Keep Cool For Less With Our Curtains For Summer
Keep your home cool and comfortable all summer long with any of Spotlight's blockout curtains. View the entire range online or head into your local Spotlight store and check out our best curtains for summer in person! We offer ready-made curtains in all sorts of colours and styles, so you're bound to find a set that suits your home perfectly. If you're feeling up to a DIY challenge, Spotlight stocks all the blockout fabrics and extra accessories such as curtain tracks, curtain rods and curtain tiebacks, to make your own blackout curtains.
We also offer a free measure and quote with Made to Measure services that we encourage you to take advantage of if you need custom window solutions, as well as helpful curtains buying guides on everything curtain-related you need to know. Discover more great curtains content including How to Create a Summer Look With Sheer Curtains, 5 Curtain Trends to Transform Your Home and How to Choose and Style Bedroom Curtains for more curtain's information and inspiration.
