Blackout roller shades and blackout curtains set the standard for blocking light in the bedroom so you can sleep soundly. Although they each have their pros and cons, roller shades have some aesthetic advantages. They work best for small spaces and have a clean, minimalist look. They're also great for people concerned with dust, allergens and indoor air quality.
Roller shade features:
- Can be mounted outside or inside the window frame. Outside mounting blocks more light.
- Mounts easily underneath curtain rods to pair with curtains of any color and opacity.
- Pairs nicely with sheer curtains because the blackouts give total privacy and light blockage during the night and morning, while the sheers provide beautiful diffused light during the day.
- Compared to blackout curtains, roller shades have substantially less surface area for allergens and dust to cling to.
- Often costs less than blackout curtains.
- All forms of blackout window treatments help block out light, heat, sound and draft.
Tip: Top search terms for shopping online are: blackout roller shade, blackout roller blind, blackout curtain.
Shown above from left to right:
1. Custom Roller Blinds, Contact for pricing, from Nwilati Factory
2. Splendor Roller Shades, Vinyl Blackout, $99.00 from Elite
3. Saratoga Roller Shade 66" Blackout Cut-to-Width, $10.00-$30.00 from JC Penney
4. Custom Roller Shade, Contact for pricing, from The Shade Store
5. Twilight Blackout Roller Shades - 36" x 36", $74.68 from Blinds Chalet
MORE BLACKOUT WINDOW TREATMENTS ON APARTMENT THERAPY:
• Suggestions To Keep Light Out?
• 6 Simple Changes to Make at Home to Help You Sleep
(Images: As credited above.)
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I like my bedroom as black as a dungeon at night. I would love these.
Any tips on hardware for mounting the shades so they drop from the top ?
I've been wanting to get roller shades for my bedroom! The venetian blinds I have now don't do much to block the light. I was a little worried that the shades might look tacky, but seeing the pictures here I think they look nice. I'm reassured to know that roller shades are AT approved.
I have a blackout roller shade in my bedroom. It works pretty well but its got nothing on the Hunter-Douglas honeycomb shades at my mom's house. Man, when I sleep there I end up sleeping way too late because no light at all can enter the room.
I took out the 30 year old roller blackout shades that were in our apartment when we bought it because they smelled strongly of vinyl. Anyone know if any of these don't off-gas, or have an idea where to get eco friendly ones that don't cost the earth? - no pun intended.
I could use some to cover a long window - 84" approx. Any one spotted some for a length that long?
I'm considering commissioning shades from this company: http://annwallace.com Decidedly not vinyl or any kind of plastic. Actually these were the only non-vinyl old-fashioned snap-up/pull down kind of roller shades.
Anyone have other sources? Seems like the ones here are all vinyl or chains. My grandparents' house had the old-fashioned coated cotton kinds, worked well.
I don't get why these went out of fashion, seem much nicer and easier than the kind with the big chain -- which is a huge hazard for children. I recently staying in a house with them and not only found them slow to put up and down, but was worried about my kid the whole time.
I love the look of new blackout shades, but I've never had any stay flat for very long. The (cheap) ones I've had always roll inward at the edges, letting in a lot of extra light. Is there a trick to keeping them flat? Do nicer shades stay flat better?
I need to have a lot of privacy in my bedroom because it is located in the front of the house facing the street. I have been trying for months to locate something that is attractive but also provides a barrier between me and the public. These shades look like they are the perfect solution to the problem. Thanks for posting this information!
I, too, love a blacked-out bedroom. I used to sleep with a black bandana "blind-fold" over my eyes, before I was able to black out my room.
I have these in all my windows. Mine are the cheap spring loaded kind. They are perfect if you have little ones. There are no blinds to pull apart and no cords to get tangled in. If your toddler pulls to hard it simply rolls up on its self. It was less than a dollar for the mounting hardware and less than $20 each for the small windows. I have a very large picture window in the living room and that roller shade was about $50. Most hardware stores also custom cut them for you right in the store for free too!
Well...
If you look closely you will see the light gaps on the sides of the roller shades. Those light gaps can be up to 1/2" on each side. So for those of you who wish to have a "Cave Like" blackout shades roller shades are not the answer.
Cellular shades or Honeycomb shades will do a far better job but they cost a bit more.
If you do have small windows you may get away with ordering them online or at the hardware store and installing it yourself (if you are handy).
For larger windows I would opt for a good clutch system for roller shades that will help yo lift the shade better and will work for a long time. When ordered from a company that deals with window treatment the appropriate clutch (lifting system) is fitted to the match the wight of the shade.
Spring roller like mentioned above tend to look good and operate for a while but in our company we find it that they don't last long.
Feel free to email if you have any other questions (see profile)
I love the picture- the shades look great. I just wanted to add that you do not have to limit your selection to roller shades. Many shades can block out most light either by the material you select or the liner that you add to the shade. Bali Blinds has a free app that lets you view, compare and sample window treatment options.