When you’re choosing curtains for your living room, it’s important to consider the best options for light filtering. There are two main types of curtains that block light: room darkening and blackout curtains.
Room darkening curtains block most but not all of the light in your home. Blackout curtains, on the other hand, block all light and are ideal if you want complete darkness at night or during nap time.
Let’s discuss them in detail. We will also talk about what is light filtering curtains. Let’s get started!
What are light filtering curtains?
Light filtering curtains are designed to let in some light, but not all. They are not as effective as blackout curtains at blocking light.
The difference between blackout and light filtering is the amount of light that passes through the fabric. Blackout curtains block 100% of visible light, while light-filtering curtains allow 15-25%. This makes them an excellent choice for daytime sleeping or rooms where you want extra privacy, such as your bedroom or bathroom.
Difference Between Room Darkening Curtains and Blackout Curtains
1- Room darkening curtains block the majority of light, but not all
Room darkening curtains block the majority of light, but not all. They can reduce light by 75%, which is more than enough to make it easy for you to sleep in during the day or nap after work.
They are good for blocking light so that you can sleep in, and they can also be used to keep yourself from being disturbed by sunlight while watching TV or reading a book.
2- Blackout curtains are designed to block all light
Blackout curtains are designed to block all light. They’re usually made of heavier fabric and lined with a light-blocking material, such as gossamer or blackout liner. They may be lined with a blackout lining so they can block out even more light than their heavier weight would normally allow.
Blackout curtains have an added advantage over room darkening curtains in that they’re typically thicker and better at blocking heat from entering your home through the window. This is because blacking out your windows doesn’t just keep the sun out but also in cold air!
3- Blackout curtains can affect the temperature
Blackout curtains are made of thicker fabric than room-darkening curtains, which can help keep your living room warmer in winter and cooler in summer. If you’re using blackout curtains to help keep your living room cooler during the summer months, it’s best to use a thermal lining for the inside of the curtain so that it doesn’t get too hot against your window.
When used properly, blackout curtains can be used to help keep temperatures down even further by providing extra insulation between the outside air and the indoor environment. If you don’t have any other means of reducing heat gain or loss through glazing (such as double-pane windows), adding these fabrics will significantly reduce radiant heat transfer into or out of your home.
4- Room darkening and blackout curtains come in many styles and colors
When shopping for room darkening or blackout curtains, you’ll want to select a fabric that matches the rest of your home decor. Some fabrics are more expensive than others, and some fabrics may be harder to clean or maintain.
Curtains come in many different styles and colors. They can be made from cotton, polyester, silk and other materials; they also come in a variety of colors, including pastels and bold hues. Curtains may have different designs like stripes or floral prints; some even have intricate embroidery or embellishments on them.
Room darkening vs blackout curtains – Which one is better?
From a quality standpoint, blackout curtains are generally better than room darkening. However, room darkening curtains are great for those looking to cover the windows only and not block light.
However, blackout curtains will do the job better because they block all light. That being said, if you’re looking for versatility in your home decorating, then room darkening is probably a better option since they can also be used as privacy curtains or as room dividers.
The bottom line is that both options are effective at blocking light, but if you want something that blocks 100% of it, go with blackout curtains! They’re also easier to clean since they don’t have any fabric on them like regular window treatments (which means less dusting!). If money isn’t an issue, then, by all means, go ahead and splurge on some expensive ones from West Elm or Pottery Barn–you won’t regret it!
