What is blackout or how to choose blackout curtains

Fabric for blackout roller blinds consists of two layers:

1. opaque layer;

This backing resembles rubber. This side of the curtain is turned towards the glass and “looks” out into the world.

The purpose of this layer is not to let the sun's rays through.

2. decorative layer.

This side faces the room. Its mission is to fit into the interior and please the eye.

In these pictures you can see the differences between different types of roller blinds.

What is blackout fabric?

From English, blackout is translated as “darkening”, “blackout”. If you hold the blackout fabric to the window, you will see that sunlight does not pass through it. The material is a two-layer or three-layer fabric, dense, pleasant and smooth to the touch. The front side of the fabric usually performs a purely decorative function; it can be either plain or with patterns. However, the main purpose of the fabric remains protection from sunlight. The layers of blackout fabric themselves are very thin, but when combined they form a dense material with light-proof properties.

Advantages and disadvantages of the material

The main advantage of the fabric is light resistance. Depending on the variety, blackout blocks from 90 to 100 percent of light rays. Such curtains are most relevant for the bedroom and children's room.

The advantages of matter include:

• noise absorption;
• thermal insulation;
• fire resistance;
• wear resistance;
• the fabric is durable, does not stretch or wrinkle;
• easy to clean;
• does not shrink.

Disadvantages include high cost and limited design. The material is difficult to cut, the sections crumble a lot.

When choosing a material, you need to pay attention to its structure. A true blackout consists of three layers. A black light-absorbing layer must be present.

The side of the curtain that will face the window should be velvety. The inside has a slight shine. The surface of the material has several options, so curtains can be selected for any interior.

History of the origin of blackout fabric

Blackout is a fairly new fabric that entered the textile market quite recently. Blackout originates from Finland, the amazing land of white nights. It was there that curtains were first invented to block light from entering the house. The Finns' discovery quickly spread throughout the world, and opaque fabric gained immense popularity among consumers.

Nevertheless, the largest manufacturer of blackout fabrics is still the Finnish company Almedahls AB.

Prices

Considering the complex production cycle, one should not be surprised at the cost of this unique material; it simply cannot be cheap. And if you like a fabric with an interesting design, get ready to spend some serious money. A linear meter costs from 500 rubles, if the fabric is plain, patterned and multi-colored it is more expensive. There are simply incomparable samples with jacquard weaving on sale, for which they ask for 1,500 rubles per shoulder strap and more. Blackout curtains from the Togas company are popular. You can read reviews here.

Types of blackout fabric

Manufacturers of Blackout fabric use different materials and chemicals, so the characteristics of the fabrics may vary. Nevertheless, it is customary to distinguish two types of blackout, which correspond to different production technologies and different colors of the protective fabric.

Light-protective blackout layer – white

A white ethereal thread is applied to a textile base; it is this thread that will serve as a shield from the sun. After that, to enhance light resistance, the canvas is covered with acrylic foam.

• The advantage of a white coating is that it can be used to give the fabric any color, from gray to bright pink.
• The downside is the poor durability of the coating; it is easily damaged and may even peel off.

The light-protective layer of the blackout is black.

In the second case, the light reflector is a thin black fabric. In this case, the front and back sides are colored, and the black fibers form the inner layer.

• The advantage of this technology is the smooth surface of the fabric on both sides and high density.
• The downside is that such a canvas can only be painted in muted or dark colors.

At the last stage of production, patterns or prints can be applied to the fabric, treated with various chemical compounds to increase fire-resistant properties and resistance to pollution.

Manufacturers

Today, in almost any hypermarket you can buy Blackout fabric, from which you can quite easily sew classic blackout curtains yourself. Hypermarkets IKEA and Leroy Merlin offer ready-made products from different manufacturers:

1. Lotary - light-proof roller blinds made of polyester from a Chinese manufacturer are distinguished by a budget price and colorful shades.
2. Tupplur - roller blinds in black, gray or white are manufactured by a company from Sweden. They are attached to the bottom with a special clamp, so they do not have a blocking cord.
3. Maryun - curtains made of pure polyester from a Swedish manufacturer perfectly block light. They have a two-tone color that looks very nice in any interior.

Benefits of blackout fabric

Blackout fabric is one of the leaders among curtain materials and has many advantages. Let's list some of them:

• practicality of the material
• aesthetic appearance
• high density
• does not allow light to pass through
• retains heat and does not allow cold air to pass through
• high noise insulation
• high strength
• high wear resistance
• does not shrink when washing
• does not fade, does not fade in the sun
• resistant to stains
• hypoallergenic
• doesn't wrinkle
• does not stretch
• does not burn
• drapes easily
• pleasant to the touch

Modern Blackout curtains in the interior – 50 photos:

CurtainsTypes of curtains on doors and doorways: photo

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What types of curtains are made from blackout fabric?

Blackout fabric is actively used for sewing the following types of curtains:

• Curtain curtains. They are used not only for protection from sunlight, but also for interior design.
• Roman or pleated blinds. They are curtains with horizontal folds and a simple control system for room darkening mechanisms.
• Japanese curtains. They look like a smooth piece of fabric. Thanks to the fixed transverse strips, when lifted, it forms wavy, even folds.
• Roller blinds. They are distinguished by the highest density of material and are used mainly in nightclubs and gyms.

Application

Excellent characteristics have allowed blackout to take a strong place among fabrics for interior decoration in a variety of areas:

• curtains for home and office of various models: Roman, Japanese, roller, scalloped, pleated curtains, lambrequins, classic curtains;

Blackout roller blinds look laconic and harmonize with decorative elements in the interior.

Light-proof pleated curtains will help you isolate yourself from the outside world without sacrificing style.

• decorating walls instead of wallpaper or in the form of panels;
• partitions that divide the room into zones;

Blackout curtains will help divide the room into functional zones.

• upholstery material, furniture covers, bedspreads;
• curtains for theater stages, cinemas, assembly halls, conference rooms, nightclubs, photo studios;
• materials for creativity: scrapbooking, patchwork, textile applique.

How to wash blackout curtains

Three-layer blackout curtains can be washed in a washing machine. However, it is necessary to remember the temperature regime and not exceed 40 degrees. Select the washing mode – manual or delicate, and the number of revolutions – minimum. The material dries very quickly. Just hang the curtains in a dark place and they will be dry in just a few hours. Blackout fabric does not wrinkle, but if a fold or crease occurs, you can iron the product with an iron at low temperature or a steamer.

Double-layer curtains or other blackout products can be washed by hand or use a vacuum cleaner to clean them.

Blackout fabric has no analogues of its kind; it has absolutely unique properties. Despite this, caring for her will not be difficult. And in general, products made from such fabric do not require frequent cleaning; it is enough to wash them once or twice a year.

Reviews

Such a worthy curtain fabric was quickly appreciated and recognized as one of the best, as evidenced by rave reviews.

I have been looking for curtains for a long time that will completely shade the room, since I work shifts and have to sleep during the day. On the advice of a friend, I bought blackout curtains, which solved not only this problem. Now in the summer the room is cool, and in the winter the draft from the windows has ceased, while the curtains have become a decoration, and their maintenance is minimal. Just what a working woman needs.

Anastasia

I sew for my family myself, and curtains are no exception in this regard. I wanted to try new material, otherwise the traditional ones had become boring. On the advice of a consultant, I bought blackout material, it’s a little expensive, but I really liked it, and it doesn’t let in any light. There are no difficulties in working, it was easy to cut, drapes beautifully, and holds its shape well. I don’t regret that I decided to experiment.

Margarita

I saw some interesting curtains from a friend and asked if they were a special material – blackout. It doesn’t let light through, dampens sound, and dust doesn’t stick to it. My friend is happy, there’s minimal maintenance, and the look is gorgeous, now I’ll buy one for myself as soon as I decide on a choice.

Zinaida

Thanks to the Finns for inventing such a unique material; now curtains are not only an interior decoration, but also a barrier from external influences. It makes sense to overpay a little and enjoy the peace and comfort.