Blackout Blinds for Bedrooms — How to Get a Truly Dark Room

In late June the sun comes up over Toronto before 6 a.m., and in a condo tower the street and parking lights never really go off. If you work nights, have a baby who naps during the day, or simply sleep better in the dark, the bedroom window is the one place where "pretty good" coverage is not good enough. The good news: a properly dark bedroom is very achievable. The catch is that the fabric is only half of the answer.

Why "Blackout" Blinds Sometimes Still Let Light In

A good blackout fabric blocks essentially all of the light that hits it. When people are disappointed with their blackout blinds, the problem is nearly always light leaking around the blind, not through it:

• Side gaps — a blind mounted inside the window frame needs a small clearance on each side so it can roll freely. On a bright morning those two thin lines of light are very noticeable.
• The top of the roll — an open roller tube lets light spill over the top unless it is covered by a cassette or valance.
• The bottom edge — if the blind stops short of the sill, or the sill is uneven, light comes in underneath.

That is why we measure every bedroom window ourselves and talk through mounting before we talk about colour.

Inside Mount or Outside Mount?

Inside mount (the blind sits within the window frame) looks clean and shows off your trim, but always leaves those small side gaps. Outside mount (the blind is mounted on the wall or trim above the window and overlaps the opening on all sides) gives a far darker result because the fabric covers the gaps. For a bedroom where darkness matters most, outside mount is usually our recommendation, especially on windows with shallow frames.

The Best Options for a Dark Bedroom

Blackout roller blinds

The simplest and most popular choice. Choose a fabric with a light-coloured or white backing on sun-facing windows to reflect heat, and ask for a cassette or fascia at the top so light can't escape over the roll. See our custom roller blinds.

Blackout honeycomb (cellular) shades

Blackout cellular shades darken a room and also add insulation, which helps with cold winter glass and hot summer afternoons. They stack neatly at the top when raised. See honeycomb shades.

Lined roman shades

If you want softness and fabric texture in the bedroom, a roman shade with a blackout lining gives a tailored, upholstered look. Pair it with outside mounting for the best result. See roman shades.

Blackout drapery layered over a blind

For the darkest possible room, layer a blackout blind with full-height blackout-lined drapery. The blind handles the glass, and the drapery covers the side and top gaps. This is the combination we recommend most for shift workers and nurseries, and it also looks finished and hotel-like. See custom drapery.

Don't Forget Safety in Kids' Rooms

For nurseries and children's bedrooms, choose cordless or motorized blinds. Canada's Corded Window Coverings Regulations have strict limits on accessible cords for good reason. We recommend cordless or motorized operation for every child's room.

Our Quick Recommendations

• Night-shift worker: outside-mount blackout roller blind with a cassette, plus blackout-lined drapery.
• Nursery: cordless blackout cellular shade or roller blind, with blackout drapery for daytime naps.
• Condo bedroom with floor-to-ceiling glass: blackout roller blinds or motorized blackout drapery on a ceiling track.
• Guest room or teenager's room: blackout roller blind on its own is usually enough.