11 Blackout Curtains That’ll Turn Your Bedroom Into a Sleep Sanctuary
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Getting a good night’s sleep is already a challenge sometimes—but if streetlights stream into your windows at odd hours or the sun wakes you up at the crack of dawn, it may start to feel impossible. Enter blackout curtains, which can make your bedroom so dark and cozy that you might want to add them to every room in your home (you know, for napping purposes).
According to experts, light-blocking window treatments and drapery are a simple swap that can lead to major improvements in your sleep—more on this later. They can even keep your room cooler for comfy, uninterrupted dozing in warm weather. Below, we’ve found the best blackout curtains to try right now from major retailers and highly rated brands like Pottery Barn, Crate&Barrel, Quince, Amazon, West Elm, Ikea, and more.
In this article
Quince Cotton Slub Blackout Curtain
Quince1Quince
Cotton Slub Blackout Curtain
Pros: Multiple hanging options, added blackout layer
Cons: Some reviewers noticed inconsistent dimensions, dry-clean onlyThese 100% cotton curtains from Quince are made with a cross-weave pattern that gives them a raised, nubby texture and a natural, laid-back look. They come with an extra light-blocking layer of fabric—and we like that you can hang them from either the tabs, the rod pocket, or curtain clips.
- Dimensions: 48" x 84", 96", or 108" | Number of Panels: 1 | Material: Cotton, polyester
Pottery Barn Emery Linen Blackout Curtain
Potterybarn2Potterybarn
Emery Linen Blackout Curtain
Pros: Wide range of colors, multiple hanging options
Cons: Dry-clean onlyThese best-selling linen curtains from Pottery Barn have a polyester lining that should block most car headlights and late-night dog walker flashlights. They’re compatible with three different hanging styles and come in five length and width combinations. Plus, they’re available in a beautiful range of earth tones.
- Dimensions: 50" or 100" x 84", 96", or 108" | Number of Panels: 1 | Material: Linen, cotton, polyester
West Elm Cotton Velvet Curtain
West Elm3West Elm
Cotton Velvet Curtain
Pros: Wide range of colors, multiple hanging options
Cons: Dry-clean onlyWest Elm’s Cotton Velvet Curtain will add a subtle, luxe touch to any room. You can order these panels with or without a blackout curtain liner, which is designed to block all light (even that poorly placed streetlight). There’s also a range of equally beautiful hardware you can browse to go with them.
- Dimensions: 48" x 84", 96", or 108" | Number of Panels: 1 | Material: Cotton
Crate&Barrel Linen Double Pinstripe Grid Blackout Window Curtain
Crate&Barrel4Crate&Barrel
Linen Double Pinstripe Grid Blackout Window Curtain
Pros: Multiple hanging options, added blackout liner
Cons: Dry clean only, priceyThese Crate&Barrel curtains feature a chic pinstripe grid pattern in various neutrals. Aside from their modern farmhouse appeal, they also have an additional blackout liner and a natural, woven texture for a more rustic look.
- Dimensions: 52” x 84", 96", or 108” | Number of Panels: 1 | Material: Linen, polyester
The Hues Custom Soundproof & Thermal Insulation Blackout
The Hues5The Hues
Custom Soundproof & Thermal Insulation Blackout
Pros: May also help block sound and heat, machine-washable, customizable lengths
Cons: None—practically perfectThis highly rated set of drapes from The Hues have a triple-layer design that claims to block light, insulate your room, and dampen noise. In other words, they’re worth considering if you’re sensitive to sounds when trying to go to bed—or live on a street with lots of traffic. The embroidered pattern is a cute detail too.
- Dimensions: Customizable | Number of Panels: 1 | Material: Linen, polyester
Ikea Rosenmandel Blackout Curtains
Ikea6Ikea
Rosenmandel Blackout Curtains
Pros: Budget-friendly, multiple hanging options, machine-washable
Cons: May be too thin for some, according to reviewersRest easy—Ikea’s Rosenmandel curtains are budget-friendly and machine-washable. “These are perfect because they are lightweight, easy to clean and look nice. As I was hanging them the room became noticeably cooler and definitely darker,” one Ikea shopper wrote. Perfect for keeping the sun out on hot summer days!
- Dimensions: 53" x 84" or 96" | Number of Panels: 2 | Material: Polyester, polyurethane
Oslo Sun Zero Extreme Blackout Curtain Panel
Target7Sun Zero
Oslo Extreme Blackout Curtain Panel
Pros: Tons of color options, affordable, machine-washable
Cons: Some reviewers say colors don’t match online imagesThese budget-friendly Sun Zero curtains promise movie theater levels of darkness and are machine-washable, making them a low-maintenance addition to your bedroom or guest room. The fact that they come in both floor and sill lengths means they can seamlessly compliment almost any window.
- Dimensions: 52" x 54", 63", 84", 95", 108", or 120" | Number of Panels: 1 | Material: Polyester
Amazon Basics Room Darkening Blackout Window Curtains
Amazon8Amazon Basics
Room Darkening Blackout Window Curtains
Pros: Machine-washable, highly rated
Cons: Reviewers say the fabric may wrinkleWith more than 32,000 five-star ratings, these room-darkening curtains from Amazon Basics have tons of glowing reviews. “My room is like a cave with them,” one shopper wrote. “I’ve been sleeping a lot better due to how dark my room is at night,” another added. Plus, you can choose whether they come with grommets or a curtain rod pocket.
- Dimensions: 52" x 63", 84", or 96” | Number of Panels: 2 | Material: Polyester
Eclipse Cordless 100% Blackout Roman Window Shades
Home Depot9Eclipse
Cordless 100% Blackout Roman Window Shades
Pros: Foam-lined backing to help reduce light, noise, and heat; can be layered under curtains
Cons: Pricey, spot clean onlyBlackout shades are a great alternative to curtains if you prefer a sleek, clean look (or want an opaque layer that works with panels you already have). These cordless blinds come in a range of widths to fit different window frames, and reviewers love that they’re “good quality and very easy to install.”
- Dimensions: 27", 31", 33" or 35" x 64" | Number of Panels: 1 | Material: Polyester
Symple Stuff Insulating Cordless Blackout Roman Shade
Wayfair10Symple Stuff
Insulating Cordless Blackout Roman Shade
Pros: Customizable sizing, thermal insulation backing
Cons: Some reviewers say they’re not as durableWe love the minimalist look of these insulated shades, which come in several cool neutral colors and are super easy to install, according to reviewers. For how simple they look, they reportedly block an impressive amount of light: “Worked perfectly and the blackout is exactly what we needed! We’re planning on ordering a few more for other rooms,” one shopper wrote.
- Dimensions: 20" to 72" x 72" | Number of Panels: 1 | Material: Cotton
Amazon Redi Shade No Tools Original Blackout Pleated Paper Shade
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Amazon11Amazon
Redi Shade No Tools Original Blackout Pleated Paper Shade (6-Pack)
Pros: Customizable, easy to hang, cordless
Cons: Some reviewers say they’re not durable and found issues with the adhesiveWith nearly 11,000 five-star reviews, these thick, fan-favorite paper shades can be installed without any tools—just cut the shade to your window’s dimensions, peel back the adhesive sticker, and affix them to your window’s trim. “Great buy and gets the job done,” one shopper wrote (what more can you ask for?).
- Dimensions: Customizable, starts at 36" x 72" | Number of Panels: 1 | Material: Paper
12What are the sleep benefits of blackout curtains?
You want your room to be as dark as possible before you go to bed, Daniel A. Barone, MD, associate medical director of the Weill Cornell Center for Sleep Medicine in New York City, tells SELF. “A little bit of ambient light, whether it be from a streetlight or the sun, can be enough to cause somebody to wake up,” he says.
In fact, being exposed to as little as 10 lux (which is roughly the amount of light you see during twilight hours) before bedtime can have a negative impact on your sleep, Kathryn Jean Reid, PhD, a research professor of neurology (sleep medicine) at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, tells SELF. It’s for that same reason that experts discourage screen use right before bed—TVs, tablets, and phones generate bright, blue light that can make it hard to doze off or snooze soundly through the night. Sure, a few episodes of your comfort Netflix show might lull you into a state of relaxation, but any kind of light exposure before you drift off is going to mess with your sleep.
That’s because the darkness is also helpful when it comes to winding down and getting high-quality rest. Dr. Barone explains that darkness prompts your body to make melatonin, a hormone your brain naturally produces that helps regulate the timing of your sleep-wake cycle. “When you have blackout curtains, what you’re doing is helping promote that [process],” he says.
Blackout curtains will help block light from seeping into your bedroom, so your body’s melatonin production can run its course smoothly and you can get to sleep more easily. Both Dr. Barone and Dr. Reid say that they’re worth a try for just about anyone who wants a dimmer bedroom, with a few caveats. For one, they shouldn’t make your space so cavelike that it’s unsafe for you to get up in the middle of the night (say, to use the bathroom). They also shouldn’t stay closed for too long after you wake up—getting a dose of bright daylight in the morning is just as important for your sleep-wake cycle as keeping things nice and dark at night is, Dr. Reid says. Finally, no blackout curtains will be a cure-all for sleep disorders like insomnia, but a set of light-blocking shades can play a valuable supporting role in an intentional pre-sleep routine.
13What should you look for in blackout curtains?
The blackout curtains you choose will mainly depend on how much light you want to block. Some curtains are designed to create almost total darkness, while others will simply reduce the amount of light that reaches your room (these are often marketed as “room-darkening curtains”).
Certain blackout curtains also offer additional benefits, like outside noise reduction and temperature regulation, which can be a nice boost if you live on a busy street or want to be mindful of energy efficiency—especially in the hotter months. Perhaps most importantly, don’t forget to shop with your home’s style in mind; not only are these shades available in a slew of different sizes, but you can find blackout curtains in a variety of colors and prints too.
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SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.