Blackout-coated curtain fabrics can help create atmospheric darkness within your home while blocking outside noise and echo from disrupting sleep at night, particularly if you live close to highways and busy roads. Blackout curtains also do an excellent job at keeping heat inside during winter and can save on heating bills; cotton, polyester, and silk are among some of the materials that make up blackout curtain fabrics; each will play its part depending on its purpose; some thicker materials require linings while lightweight fabrics don't.
Polyester fabrics tend to make the best blackout fabrics due to their affordable and long-term affordability. Polyester can withstand shrinking and wrinkles well - an essential property in draperies that will be hanging in your window for some time - as well as being free from odors and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). The highest-grade blackout fabrics should also be free from VOCs that might emit harmful emissions when placed near windows for an extended period.
VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are chemicals that release harmful vapors into the air, potentially endangering human health. Fabrics containing more VOCs tend to release an unpleasant odor when cleaned; also, some fabric is treated with VOCs to add color or sheen - it would be wiser if these treated fabrics could be avoided if possible.
Some blackout fabrics feature a flocked acrylic coating on their reverse, which blocks any light from penetrating through and is ideal for people seeking complete darkness in their bedroom. Hotels, nursing homes, and hospitals often utilize this type of blackout fabric to help their guests sleep more soundly at night and keep light out altogether when rooms are closed up. Furthermore, its lightproof qualities also prevent light from entering through when doors and windows are closed up tight.
Opaque polymers backed with woven fabrics are another popular option for blackout curtains, providing an alternative approach that blocks out light from coming through from behind the curtain and the front of it. This foam material blocks light coming in through its front side - ideal for people seeking a natural-looking way to block out light in their windows without opting for vinyl blinds or shades.
There are countless stores offering blackout curtains, some more costly than others. But any additional costs may be worth your while if you are seeking quality fabric to reduce glare while providing comfortable sleep behind soft fabric curtains.
Blackout curtains offer an inexpensive solution for creating an ambiance of relaxation in any space, whether that is through rod pocketing or back tapping. Easy to hang and featuring a polyester blackout lining which helps reduce glare while blocking sunlight out and providing thermal insulation, these blackout curtains make an excellent addition for small to medium-sized windows.