5 Reasons Why You Should Invest In Blockout Blinds & Curtains This Winter

As temperatures swing from hot to cold and with electricity bills on the rise, many Australian families are looking for cost-effective solutions to control the temperature in their homes. An easy and practical way to do this is to install either blockout blinds or blockout curtains across the windows in your house - also known as blackout blinds and blackout curtains, these handy window furnishings have a whole range of benefits for your home and come in a variety of styles to suit your desired home decor. As winter curtains, blockouts work well to keep your home warm and cosy even on the coldest and windiest of nights. Through rain, hail or even snow, you can rely on Spotlight's range of blackout curtains and blinds to help you maintain a comfortable temperature in your home!

Here are our top five reasons to invest in blockout blinds and curtains this winter.

Darkness - Indulge Your Body Clock With Room Darkening Blackout Curtains & Blinds

Shift workers, frequent flyers and restless sleepers can all agree on one thing - sometimes you need total darkness to have a good sleep, even during the day. But if complete darkness is what you need to snooze, sometimes regular curtains and blinds won't cut it… you need blackouts. Blockout blinds and curtains are designed to hang as close to the window as possible and are made of thick layers of acrylic material that keep the light from penetrating into your home.

While winter days tend to be shorter, giving you more dark hours to work with, you still may have noticed that the sun comes in at just the wrong angle in the morning, or maybe you have an unfortunately-placed streetlamp outside your house. If this sounds familiar, then blockout curtains and blinds may be your ticket to a good night's sleep! Blackout blinds and curtains will also be your best friend when trying to get restless kids to bed - hack their circadian rhythm to help them get to sleep faster and you can enjoy more sleep for yourself afterwards.

Thermal Control - Keep Warm In Winter (And Cool In Summer) With Thick Blockout Curtains & Blinds

Australian weather loves to keep you on your toes, and installing a good pair of blockout blinds or curtains is key to keeping your home at optimal temperature. The thick material of blockout blinds will help insulate your home in winter when they're closed, keeping the warmth in and preventing chilly drafts from entering your home. You can quickly heat up your home with central heating or a space heater, then switch it off and enjoy the warmth knowing your winter curtains will prevent it from going anywhere.

Blockout curtains also work the same way in summer - when closed they will keep the sun from penetrating through, acting as a valuable cooling agent in your home and helping you beat the heat.

Energy-Saving - Keep Costs Down With Insulating Blockout Blinds And Curtains

Blockout curtains and blinds can also be cleverly used to help keep your power bills down, which will both save you money and be better for the environment. The obvious way is through heating and cooling as mentioned above, allowing you to keep your precious heat inside and not lose it through the chilly glass of your windows. Rather than run your heater for hours at a time, you can warm the house once and then allow your blockout curtains to maintain the heat inside, while you turn off the heat and save some power. But getting yourself a handy pair of double blackout roller blinds also gives you choices when it comes to lighting your home!

Choose to purchase blockout roller blinds or curtains that come with a second layer of sheer material that can be operated independently of the blockout. Having both of these materials available for use allows you to let natural sunlight into your home while maintaining a sheer layer of material for privacy during the day, and you can then shut the second blackout layer and enjoy total darkness when it suits you. Enjoy natural light in your home plus insulation from your blockout curtains, and watch your electricity bills shrink.

Noise Reduction - Enjoy The Silent Treatment With Muffling Blackout Curtains And Blinds

Total darkness for sleeping is one thing, but a windy winter night, an excited dog or a far-off car horn can all serve to disrupt your precious sleep. Lucky for you, blackout blinds are made of a thick, sturdy material that can help reduce noise from outside your home.

While they are not totally soundproof, blackout curtains and blinds can muffle these noises at any time of day, provided they are down. Whether it's for a peaceful movie marathon or a much-needed night of rest, the noise-reducing capabilities of blockout curtains and blinds will make relaxing indoors during winter so much easier!

Privacy - Be Comfortable In Your Own Home With Full-Coverage Blackout Curtains And Blinds

No matter if you live on a secluded country property or in a compact apartment, privacy in our homes is something we can all appreciate, no matter the season. Blockout curtains and blinds create a fully opaque barrier between you and the outside world, providing privacy when and where you need it most. Whether you want to spend winter cosied up in any of our winter essentials or feel like completely rearranging your bedroom on a whim, you can do it in complete privacy with any of our blackout blinds and curtains.

Combine blackout curtains or blinds with their sheer counterparts for the ability to switch between fully opaque and beautifully sheer whenever you need.

Extra Blackout Curtain & Blind Tips

Here are a few extra things we think you should be aware of when shopping for your own blockout blinds and curtains at Spotlight:

• Thermal curtains are often combined with blackout curtain material and can help regulate the temperature of your home - but be cautious when looking for blackout curtains that you don't buy purely thermal ones instead. Both curtains are made of thick and solid material, so check carefully to ensure you're buying the right kind for your needs! And if you love your current curtains but still want the benefits of a set of blackouts, blackout lining can be added to normal curtains - but keep in mind it won't be as effective as using specially-made blockout curtains themselves.
• Blockout curtains and blinds are not the same as sunscreen curtains and blinds. Sunscreen blinds will block out most of the harmful UV rays from the sun but are semi-transparent, meaning they don't provide the same level of privacy as dedicated sheer or blackout window furnishings.
• Blockout blinds and curtains made of fabric and canvas are not suited for humid parts of the house like the bathroom or kitchen, as bacteria and mould can grow on them in these damp conditions. Ensure these areas are very well-ventilated if you really want them in there, or choose plastic or metal window furnishings

Survive Winter With Blockout Curtains & Blinds From Spotlight

Intrigued about owning your own blockout blinds and curtains? Check out our detailed range of amazing Spotlight blockout curtains and blinds online, or head to your closest store and let our friendly staff help you choose the perfect winter curtains for your home. Don't forget to read our curtain buying guides so you know what to look for!

Want more info on Spotlight's range of quality curtains and blinds? Check out our blogs on styling sheer curtains, utilising blockout curtains in summer and common mistakes to avoid when hanging your own curtains.