Blackout Blinds Guide

Blackout fabric vs a blackout room

A blackout fabric blocks light passing through it. But getting a properly dark room also depends on the gaps around the blind, which is why a blackout blind on its own doesn't always do the whole job.

Where light gets in

• Sides: when a blind is fitted inside the recess (the opening the window sits in), it leaves a thin gap at each edge.
• Top: light can spill over the roller at the top of the blind.
• Bottom: small gaps can show at the sill.

What helps most

If you need a really dark room, these are the things we'd usually suggest:

1. Fit outside the recess so the blind overlaps the window and covers those edge gaps.
2. Side channels or Perfect Fit® frames help close the gaps at the sides — see Perfect Fit® blinds.
3. A cassette over the roller, so light can't spill over the top.
4. Layer with blackout curtains. Curtains over a blind add another layer to catch any remaining light.

Roof windows

Loft bedrooms need blinds held in channels, because the glass sits at an angle — see roof & skylight blinds.

Which blinds work best for blackout?

Most blind styles can be made in a blackout fabric, but some get closer to a fully dark room than others. Here's how they compare.

• Roller blinds: the simplest choice and a very popular one. A blackout roller blind fitted outside the recess, or with side channels and a cassette, gets very close to full darkness.
• Roman blinds: a blackout lining gives a soft, tailored look. Because they're usually fitted outside the recess, they cover the edges well.
• Pleated and cellular blinds: cellular blinds (pleated blinds with a honeycomb shape that traps air) are available in blackout versions and suit awkward or roof windows.
• Perfect Fit® blinds: the frame clips into the window itself, which helps close the side gaps and keeps the blind clear of the handles.
• Venetian and vertical blinds: even closed tightly, the slats or louvres let a little light through where they meet, so on their own they're not the best choice for a truly dark room.

Common mistakes with blackout blinds

These are the things that most often leave people disappointed with a new blackout blind.

• Fitting inside a shallow recess. If the window sits close to the wall, a blind inside the recess may not fit properly or may leave large gaps. Fitting outside the recess is often the better answer.
• Choosing a pale fabric and expecting no glow. A blackout fabric blocks light passing through it, but light from the gaps can still make the edges glow. Covering the gaps matters more than the colour.
• Forgetting the curtain pole. If you plan to add blackout curtains over a blind, it helps to plan the pole or track at the same time so everything fits neatly.
• Overlooking safety in children's rooms. Blackout blinds are popular in nurseries, which is exactly where cords and chains need the most care.

Blackout blinds and child safety

All internal blinds sold in the UK should meet the safety standard BS EN 13120, which includes requirements for cords and chains to reduce the risk of a child becoming caught in them. Blinds with a chain or cord should come with a safety device, such as a chain tensioner (a small fitting that holds the chain taut against the wall).

RoSPA (the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) also advises keeping cots, beds and furniture away from windows so children can't reach cords, and fitting cordless or motorised blinds where possible. Our child safety guide covers this in more detail, and our nursery blinds ideas show some practical options.

We fit blackout blinds in bedrooms and nurseries across Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and the rest of Teesside, and we'll check each window for the gaps that matter when we measure.

Common questions

Are blackout blinds worth it?

For bedrooms, nurseries and anyone who works shifts, they usually are. They help with light summer mornings and evenings, and many people find they sleep better in a darker room. Fitting them to cover the gaps makes the biggest difference.

Do blackout blinds make a room completely dark?

Not always on their own. The fabric blocks light, but light can still get in around the sides, top and bottom. Fitting outside the recess, adding side channels or a cassette, or layering with curtains gets you much closer to full darkness.

Do blackout blinds help keep a room warm?

A closed blackout blind adds a layer between the room and the glass, which can help a room feel less draughty on cold evenings. Cellular blinds, with their air-trapping shape, are designed with this in mind.

Can you get blackout blinds for roof windows?

Yes. Roof window blinds run in side channels to hold them against the angled glass, and blackout versions are available for loft bedrooms. See roof & skylight blinds.

Choosing a style

You can compare the options on our blackout blinds page, and we'll talk you through what would suit your room when we measure.