Blinds and blackout curtains: what are they and where are they used?

Roller blinds are one of the types of blinds. They are a canvas made of fabric, PVC, wood and other materials, screwed onto a shaft fixed at the top of the window. By raising and lowering the canvas, you can effectively regulate the illumination of the room. Roller blinds come in different designs:

• Open type - consist of a shaft, fasteners and canvas, the simplest option; the canvas moves freely. Open type roller blinds can be installed either on the wall above the window, in the window opening, or directly on the window sash itself;
• Closed type (cassette roller blinds) - the canvas is held in the plane of the window thanks to guides that press it on both sides and prevent it from deviating from the sash, even if it is open for micro-ventilation. The shaft of such roller blinds is covered with a box, which gives it additional protection from damage and contamination. Closed roller blinds are installed on the window sash and differ in the mounting location; more information about this can be found in our article about roller blinds UNI 1 and 2.

Closed type roller blinds are used for installation on plastic windows, since perfectly straight lines are needed for proper fastening of the frame and guides

One of the types of closed roller blinds for plastic windows are blackout blinds. Their distinctive feature is the special materials used to produce the fabric.

What are blackout blinds?

The phenomenon "blackout" in English means darkening due to a power outage; and this word fully conveys the whole peculiarity of roller blinds. When closed, they completely darken the room, creating the feeling of a dark night even on a sunny day. This effect is achieved thanks to the special design of the canvas.

What does blackout blinds consist of?

What materials are blackout blinds made from?

1. The basis for the fabric of blackout roller blinds is a white non-woven synthetic material that provides a high level of light reflection;
2. The second layer of blackout roller blinds is denser than the first; it is designed to diffuse light and retain heat;
3. The third layer is decorative fabric, which will be the front side of the curtains facing the room.

The most commonly used opaque fabric is polyester. This is a completely synthetic material with a very dense structure that can retain up to 100% of sunlight. Natural fabrics do not have such properties. In addition, polyester gives the fabric remarkable physical properties - it does not deform over a very long period of use.

Lightproof fabric for blackout blinds has a considerable number of advantages, including:

• Effective sun protection
• Durability, resistance to fading
• Sound insulation sufficient to create a comfortable sleeping environment
• Fire resistance - curtains do not burn, they melt when set on fire
• Environmentally friendly, even when exposed to high temperatures

Blackout curtains

The easiest and most economical way to protect against excessive light and heat is to choose thick curtains for the windows . They should be light in color so that they do not heat up and do not fade too much when exposed to direct sunlight.

Alternatively, you can also use a combination of several curtain options made of lighter fabric in a light color. Such multi-layer protection will be an excellent design solution for any room. It is worth considering some disadvantages of this option:

• many layers of fabric do not allow fresh air into the room;
• A large number of curtains accumulate more dust, so they need to be washed constantly.

This method, of course, is the simplest and most cost-effective, but not the most effective. Caring for thick curtains will take more time than caring for blinds or curtains in rolls.

Functions of blackout roller blinds

This product combines several important functions, among which dimming is only one of the points. After all, this also includes:

• Convenient adjustment of the flow of sunlight in the half-open position;
• Preservation of the microclimate in the room, which is created through the use of heat-retaining fabrics in the design;
• Decorating a room – with the help of blackout blinds you can emphasize the style of the room by choosing the right color or pattern. In addition, you always have the opportunity to order roller blinds with photo printing, which will help you create a unique style in your room.

Types of roller curtains

There are several types of roller blinds, varying in degree of darkness:

• transparent - they transmit light well and block the view for prying eyes;
• darkening - reduce the intensity of the rays, soften the lighting and make it pleasing to the eye;
• opaque - do not transmit light at all, often have noise and sound insulation.

A roller curtain combines the qualities of a curtain and horizontal blinds, but it is much more effective than these two options. Such a curtain consists of three parts: a fabric sheet (light-proof, light-transmitting, reflective), a shaft (the fabric is rolled onto it), and a control mechanism (chain, remote control if the curtain is electrically driven).

To prevent the canvas from sagging when opened, magnets are usually attached to the window frame. They attract the metal rail of the curtain, and the fabric does not sag, but stretches.

Blackout curtains come in different sizes, allowing them to be used on windows of different sizes. If one such curtain is not enough, you can cover the windows with several rolls, which does not affect the effectiveness of the darkening.

Recently, manufacturers often offer curtains with bright prints, photo printing or 3D patterns. There are a lot of patterns, textures and shades, which allows you not only to protect the room from the scorching sun, but also to complement the interior in accordance with the design of the apartment.

For plastic windows

Lightproof roller blinds can also be used for plastic windows. They can be mounted on a wall or on a window frame. The big plus is that these curtains can be installed independently.

Roller blinds have differences in the fastening mechanism:

1. Mini - due to the open shaft, the canvas stretches freely over the window and does not sag, it is fixed with magnets and is suitable for any windows.
2. Cassette roller curtains - the shaft is located in a compact box, which is called a cassette. The box can have different colors and textures, is matched to the double-glazed window and protects the canvas from the negative influence of the external environment.

Where were blackout blinds invented?

Finland is considered the birthplace of blackout roller blinds, and this is quite logical - after all, only in a country that knows what white nights are, could the inventor come up with the brilliant idea of ​​​​creating light-proof curtains to make night sleep comfortable.

Currently, large companies in Germany, Belgium, Finland, and Holland are engaged in the production of blackout blinds. In Russia, the production of blackout blinds has been established for a long time, and there is no doubt about the quality of the products we produce.

The undoubted advantage of Russian blackout roller blinds is their price - you can buy Russian-made blackout roller blinds in Moscow inexpensively

Where are blackout roller blinds used?

The special qualities of blackout roller blinds allow them to be used both as regular roller blinds in ordinary rooms and to create darkness in rooms where this is necessary.

Blackout roller blinds are used in children's rooms, living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, offices, classrooms, educational institutions, shops, cafes as regular blinds; as well as in cinemas, conference rooms, greenhouses, darkrooms, where they are popular precisely as unique light filters.

The variety of styles of blackout roller blinds allows you to choose the appropriate option for almost any interior.

Accommodation

Curtains are used in residential and non-residential premises.

1. Bedrooms, children's rooms. The opacity of the fabric ensures sleep protection at any time of the day. The owners can relax on their days off without fear of the bright sun or prying eyes.
2. Home cinema. The thick canvas creates all the conditions for a normal movie show. The main thing is to choose the right size curtains.
3. Office space for conferences. A curtain is used to darken a space. It also serves as a basis for presentations.
4. Public establishments. In nightclubs, restaurants and cafes, blackout curtains will create a comfortable and romantic atmosphere.

Thanks to the wide range, curtains are used in any interior. The main thing is to choose the right design.

How to choose blackout blinds?

There are several important criteria for choosing blackout blinds:

1. Design. If you are purchasing these blinds mainly to create complete darkness in the room, choose a model with wide guides. If you only need good darkening, you can choose a simpler design - for example, mini-roller blackout blinds, which will give 85-95 % protection from sunlight;
2. Textile. It is best to take blinds with dust- and moisture-repellent coating;
3. Color. Do not forget about the colors - it should match the interior of the room;
4. Drawing. Serves as an additional decoration. If it is possible to complement the image of the window with a pattern on the blinds, this can be used to give them more originality.

Recommendations

In the interior, blackout blinds will only look good if you follow a number of recommendations:

• select the canvas according to the size;
• the design must correspond to the installed interior items;
• the presence of vertical stripes visually lifts the walls, and horizontal stripes expand the room;
• canvases in light shades – visually enlarges the space;
• Warm colors are best used in northern rooms, and cool colors in southern ones.

To ensure the longevity of the products, certain restrictions must be followed. Not only curtains can be cleaned, but also the surfaces that come into contact with them. The fabric should not react with detergents. Natural ventilation of the room helps clean the fabric from dirt.

How to install blackout blinds?

You can buy solar blackout roller blinds and install them yourself. Their installation of blinds is simple and does not take much time:

1. Degrease the surface of the window frame with an alcohol-containing liquid;
2. Determine the right and left guides by placing them against the window and marking at the top where they end;
3. Remove the side covers from the box;
4. Unfold the curtains to the end by pulling the chain;
5. Remove the protective film from the sticky part of the box, attach it to the upper edge of the window bead;
6. Secure one end of the box;
7. By moving the second end relative to the side beads, achieve an even horizontal position of the canvas and secure the box;
8. Remove the protective film from the guides and glue it to the markings;
9. Attach the protective covers to the box.

Blackout blinds in the interior

Blackout roller blinds will help you highlight the design of a room in an apartment or country house, as well as in an office, public place, cafe, etc.

The canvas of blackout blinds can be either plain or decorated with a pattern or ornament applied using varnish or embossing. You can choose a ready-made option or purchase custom blackout roller blinds from our company.

What interior style are blackout roller blinds suitable for?

Blackout curtains will look great in both a classic and oriental interior. In addition, they seem to be created for high-tech and minimalist styles.

How to choose the color of blackout roller blinds?

The color is selected based on the purpose. For the office, choose calm, plain, neutral-colored curtains. Subtle designs are also suitable - for example, under natural foliage - this way you will create a calming picture and stimulate the production process.

In general, if you decide to purchase roller blinds with a pattern, you should abandon classic fabric curtains so as not to mix patterns and create a chaotic window image. If you plan to use blackout blinds together with fabric curtains, it is better to give preference to a plain fabric that will not stand out from the general plan of the window.

You can order any blackout roller blinds from us at competitive prices. Hurry up to make a purchase that will delight you for many years!

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Total blackout systems are designed to prevent external light sources from entering a room. They are made on the basis of blackout (100% darkening) and dimout (transmits up to 7% light) fabric. Complete blackout is relevant for both residential and public spaces. The need to use dimming systems arises when watching films in home theaters, demonstrating video in classrooms and conference rooms, and in the work of specialized medical institutions.

offers fully blackout curtains from leading manufacturers with excellent functionality.

Types of material

There are two different types of Blackout fabric:

1. Double-layer fabric with spraying. The manufacturing technology is that a reflective material is sprayed on one side of the finished canvas. On the second side, the canvas is decorated with a beautiful fabric of different colors, prints, and textures. This method makes it possible to create beautiful light-proof curtains for every taste, but they are subject to mechanical damage and are not very durable.
2. The fabric is created on the basis of a satin weave of three threads of different structure. Thus, this fabric consists of three layers: the outer two are woven from decorative threads, and the inner one is made from light-proof dark thread. This type of fabric is processed with acrylic foam, resulting in a fabric of soft, muted shades. The reverse side is always light in color, because a light color better reflects the scorching rays of the sun, and the inside is usually a muted color, with a decorative metallic, shiny or textured coating. Bright colors are usually not used for this canvas, since it is based on reflective black thread. The three-layer fabric is usually smooth and shiny on the back side, and has the appearance of suede on the outside.

Installation of systems

Installation at heights up to 4 m	10% of the cost of the product
Installation at heights above 4 m	15% of the cost of the product

Complete window darkening will function for a long time only if it is installed correctly, which can be carried out by a professional. Self-installation without the proper knowledge and skills will most likely lead to interruptions in the operation of the system and ultimately to its breakdown.

To install blackout curtains, you should contact us by phone or through the form on the website and call a measurer. Our specialist will perform all the necessary measurements, agree with you on the parameters of the product, and after signing the contract, will install it and test its functionality. Your curtains will work smoothly for many years.

Advantages and disadvantages

The benefits of blackout include:

• complete darkening of the interior space;
• high heat and noise insulation;
• wear resistance and durability;
• does not ignite, does not burn;
• does not cause allergic reactions;
• ease of care;
• big choice.

The disadvantages of the canvas concern only care. It is not recommended to wash products at temperatures above 40 0C.

In this case, select a delicate mode, which provides for a low drum speed during spinning. Iron at low temperatures and dry in a dark place.

Control options

When choosing blackout roller blinds, you should keep in mind that their control mechanism may be different.

Such devices can be controlled either manually or electrically:

• Manual mode.
  The curtains are opened and closed by rotating the hinged lever.
• Button.
  The system is connected to the electrical network of the room, and control is carried out like a light switch - by switching the modes of opening and closing the window with a curtain.
• RC (remote control).
  A circuit that has long been developed for controlling air conditioners and televisions.
• Smart House.
  BlackOut systems have the ability to integrate with Smart Home systems; we carry out integration work with existing systems at no additional cost.