What are blackout roller blinds and how do they work?

That time of year again? When the sun gets up hours before you do, or a new streetlight decides to shine directly into your bedroom.

If you're tired of light waking you up, you’ve probably started looking for a solution.

A blackout roller blind is a roller blind made from a fabric with a special coating that blocks light from passing through it. They are a straightforward way to make a room much darker, but there’s one detail about how they work that you need to know to get the result you want.

I'll explain the fabric, where the light really comes from, and how to choose the right fit.

How the blackout fabric works (and its one weak spot)

The magic is all in the material.

Our blackout roller blind fabrics have a fibreglass core laminated with a PVC coating.

This coating blocks the light that passes through the fabric. Of course, you can't see through it, and it’s also waterproof and fire retardant.

This is different from a 'dim out' fabric, which is polyester that reduces natural light and keeps your privacy.

But here’s the honest truth about blackout blinds.

The name 'blackout' can be a bit misleading.

You've probably heard that a blackout blind makes a room dark. But is a little light at the edges really a problem? For some people, yes.

The fabric blocks the light that passes through it, but light can still find its way around the sides.

Worse still, a blind fitted inside a window recess will still let some light in at the sides.

Where blackout roller blinds help the most

Because they are so effective at blocking light, these blinds are a natural fit for certain rooms.

Bedrooms

An east-facing window can catch the sun very early, especially in summer. On the longest day in June, for example, the sky over Edinburgh starts to lighten at about 3:23 in the morning.

A good blackout blind can make the difference between waking up with the birds and waking up when your alarm goes off.

For bedrooms, see our range of blackout bedroom blinds.

Children's rooms

Getting children to sleep when it’s still light outside during summer evenings can be a real battle.

When fitting any blind in a child's room, safety is the most important thing. Our roller blinds come with a safety device to secure the chain to the wall, keeping it out of reach.

Our blinds meet the blind safety standard BS EN 13120.

RoSPA's guidance is to keep cots, beds, playpens and highchairs away from windows.

You can see our patterns and colours in the children's blackout blinds collection.

Rooms with screen glare

They are not just for sleeping.

If you have a living room where the setting sun causes glare on the television, or a home office where you struggle to see your screen, a blackout blind gives you maximum control over the light.

What to check before you choose your blind

Getting the right blind is about more than just the fabric.

Here’s what I’d consider.

Fit is everything. To get the darkest room possible, you should fit your blind on the wall outside the window recess. This allows the fabric to overlap the opening and block more light.

I'd recommend about 10cm of total overlap in width (so, 5cm on each side) and at least 7cm at the top to cover the headrail. The more you overlap, the less light gets in. The roller blinds measuring guide covers how to measure for this.

Get a sample. The colour on your screen isn't necessarily the colour that arrives. It can look different in your home, under your lighting. We send out free fabric samples, and I always recommend you get a few before you order.

Check the details. A lot of roller blinds come with plastic chains. We supply a metal one as standard, and it feels better to use every day.

It pays to measure twice.

We make our blinds to measure for you, so once they're made, we cannot accept returns.

If you're looking for a simple, effective way to get a darker room, have a look at the fabrics in our blackout roller blinds collection at Blindstyle. We make each blind to your measurements in the UK, and delivery is free. Just remember to order a few free samples to see the colours in your own home first.