Why You Need Blockout Curtains This Summer

As temperatures start to climb in the latter half of the year, we begin to start looking for ways to cool our homes from the relentless Australian summer heat. And while everyone loves a bit of air conditioning, it's not the most cost-effective way to cool your home - especially with the cost of living rising. You can help save money instead by cooling your home with any of Spotlight's quality blockout curtains or blackout blinds! 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. Our roller blockout blinds come in a great range of neutral shades that will suit any space, and they are a clean and modern choice of window furnishings.

What Are Blockout Curtains And Blockout Blinds?

Blockout curtains (also known as blackout curtains) are specially designed to almost completely block light from outside penetrating into your home. 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!

Blockout blinds (also known as blackout blinds) are made out of a thick and durable fabric in a tight weave that, like blackout curtains, is designed to prevent outside light from penetrating your home. For maximum effectiveness, blockout blinds must be hung from inside the recess of your window, but even then a little light may come through from the top and sides of the blind. Still, they are very effective at preventing light from shining through and are easy to operate via a pull chain.

How Can Blockout Curtains And Blinds Help Me In Summer?

Blockout curtains and blinds are extremely helpful during summer, as they help keep your home cool - and provide a few handy benefits at the same time!

• Block light and heat: Strong sunlight through glass windows can heat your house up very quickly - there's a reason your pets love to lounge in a sunny spot indoors! Blocking this direct light can help keep your home cool, although you need to make sure your blackout curtains or blinds 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 may benefit though, as the sun can bleach them to a brighter shade of white!
• Contain cool air: Window furnishings, 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 and blinds closed will prevent the warm air from outside from intermingling with your cool air and heating it up.
• Save energy from cooling: While air conditioning is expensive and a welcome relief on hotter days, it can be costly to run for long periods of time. By cooling your home, 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. Keep your blackout curtains and blinds closed all day, and you may not need to turn on the air conditioning at all!
• Sleep better: Longer days mean shorter nights, and if you need to sleep while there's daylight around, blockout curtains and blinds are your tickets to a good night's sleep. They block out enough light 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.

How Should I Hang Blockout Curtains?

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.

How To Hang Blockout Blinds

Hanging blinds can seem tricky due to all the hardware, but Spotlight's blockout blinds are designed to be easy to install for anyone! When installing blackout blinds:

• Use a pencil to measure where you want to attach your brackets - it will help you install them evenly at the same height and depth.
• Make sure to secure the cord to the window so it doesn't become a hazard. The cords from both curtains and blinds can be tripping hazards and choking hazards for young children and pets.
• Pair blockout blinds with a second bracket if you want to add sheer blinds for better light control and privacy. This combination of window furnishings ensures you can make the most of the natural light during the day while still maintaining your privacy.

Blockout Curtains & Blinds FAQs

Blockout curtains vs thermal curtains

These two types of window furnishings are very similar - the difference is that blockout curtains block out light as well as offer insulating benefits. Thermal curtains can be light-filtering but will not fully block out light.

Which rooms are blockout curtains suitable for?

Blockout curtains are an excellent choice for bedrooms and living rooms where you need insulation as well as light blocking. Opt for blockout blinds in the kitchen area to minimise fire hazards.

How to layer blockout curtains

You can layer your blockout curtains with sheer curtains to create a luxurious look and allow light to come through in the daytime.

What are dual blockout blinds?

Dual blockout blinds are also known as day/night blockout blinds and are an innovative double blinds system that has one blockout layer and one light filtering layer. This allows you to precisely control the amount of light in your room and adjust the insulation depending on seasons.

Find Ready To Hang Blockout Curtains And Blinds At Spotlight

Keep your home cool and comfortable all summer long with any of Spotlight's blockout curtains or blackout blinds. View the entire range online or head into your local Spotlight store and check out our blockout window furnishings 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 you need 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, as well as helpful buying guides on everything curtain-related you need to know.