Room Darkening Curtains for Restful Sleep

Block out most early-morning light with room darkening curtains that help you get the best possible sleep. These light-fighting curtains seal out the vast majority of the sun's rays, but they do let some light through - if you want complete darkness, you'll need blackout curtains - and they're incredibly stylish so you can create the ideal environment in your bedroom.

What to Look for in Room Darkening Curtains

The ideal curtains will complement your room's existing decor and perform exceptionally well when it comes to locking out light. The fabric and weave you choose will determine how much light comes through, so in addition to those two factors, you should look for:

• Curtains that measure up to your decorative ideals
• Curtains that block the right amount of noise (the heavier they are, the more they'll block out)
• Curtains that can trap heat during winter and keep light (and heat) out during summer

Room darkening curtains are ideal if you work nights and need to sleep during the day, you live on a busy street and headlights are intruding on your privacy and rest, or you want to save energy on heating and cooling costs.

Three Things You Need to Know About Room Darkening Curtains

Here are three things you should know about these curtains so you can make the best possible decision:

• Darkening curtains are different from blackout drapes
• These curtains and drapes can help you save energy
• You can choose from a wide range of styles, colors and headings to match your bedding and decor

Differences Between Darkening Curtains and Blackout Drapes

Curtains are generally made from one layer of fabric and they're more likely to let some light into a room. The exception: blackout curtains, which are also made of a single fabric layer but are usually thicker. Drapes consist of multiple layers of fabric and they're thicker than darkening and blackout curtains are. Heavier curtains tend to block out more noise, too, so if you're on a busy street, they might be a well-rounded solution in your fight against bothersome traffic.

Energy-Saving Curtains

Because these curtains reduce the amount of sunlight and UV rays that come in through the windows and because they can be thick enough to trap heat inside during the winter rather than letting it escape through the glass, you can usually lower your energy costs by using them. If reducing energy consumption is your primary goal, use these types of window dressings in the rooms that get the most sunlight and leave them closed when you're not using the room.

How to Choose the Right Curtains

Blocking out sunlight, headlights and other light pollution can be a design adventure. These curtains come in a huge range of colors, vibrant patterns and styles so you can choose something that complements your existing decor. You can also choose fabrics and fabric finishes, like textured weave cotton or gorgeous velveth and headers - the portion of the curtain that attaches to the rod - so you can create a designer-approved look you'll love.

Room darkening curtains are the ideal solution for people who need to block out early morning rays, all-day sun or headlights. By choosing a fabric weight and opacity that meets your needs, you'll be able to accent your room with window dressings as functional as they are beautiful.