The best options for darkening windows

You might recognise the experience: an irritating beam of light that manages to squeeze past the cracks in your blinds. Or a brightly lit bedroom at 6 AM in the summer. Getting a good night's sleep without blackout window coverings is difficult for many. So, high time to do something about it. Discover the 5 most popular window covering options in this blog and get inspired.

1. Rolling shutters: full blackout windows

When it comes to darkening your windows, shutters are the absolute champions. The interlocking steel slats that are attached to the outside of a window refuse to let any light in. An additional advantage is that roller shutters - besides light - also keep out noise, burglars and summer heat!

2. Blackout classic curtain: elegant and practical

Shutters may be super good at darkening your home, but in terms of elegance and style, they don't necessarily score high marks. A classic curtain, on the other hand, does. A large soft piece of fabric adds a cosy and warm style to your bedroom. It is good to realise that the fabric of most classic curtains is somewhat translucent. So if you want to darken your windows, you can:

• Have your classic curtain lined. This means having a second layer of curtain fabric with a special light-blocking coating attached to your curtain.
• Or go for a blackout curtain fabric. Some fabrics are already blackout themselves, so you don't need to line them.

3. Pleated blinds: darken windows while saving energy

Regardless of the option you choose, when you darken your windows, you also immediately improve the insulation of your home. After all, a thicker fabric automatically blocks extra heat or cold. With pleated blinds, however, you go one step further. Besides the fact that this type of window decoration - provided you choose a blackout fabric - blocks out daylight, pleated curtains are also known for their excellent insulating properties. As a result, you save energy and always enjoy a pleasant climate in your bedroom.

We do recommend choosing a made-to-measure pleated blind. If it does not fit perfectly to your window or frame, you may still be plagued by rays of light entering through the sides.

4. Roller blinds with side guide: relatively inexpensive

If you are looking for a relatively cheap option to black out your windows, your best bet is probably to choose blackout roller blinds with side guides. In most cases, roller blinds are cheaper than classic curtains, shutters or pleated blinds.

So make sure you choose a blackout curtain fabric and mount it with side guidance. Side guiding keeps your blind in place at the sides, so your curtain is not only fixed at the top. This ensures that you have little or no light gaps.

5. Darken round or angled windows with pleated blinds

If you want to darken an angled or round window, you might be facing a challenge. In this case, you will discover that there are fewer options for window coverings. Shutters or pleated blinds are often chosen for round or angled windows. You can have these made to measure from blackout fabric.

Bedroom window blinds at the touch of a button

Did you know that you can make blacking out your windows even easier and more comfortable? If your window coverings have a Somfy motor, you can operate them at the touch of a button. From your bed or from wherever you are in the house. Visit a Somfy dealer near you for more information on bedroom window blinds.