How to make your bedroom darker - The Shutter Studio

There is no better feeling than having a good night’s sleep, however, your sleep can be disrupted by light entering your room.

In winter, you might be disturbed by street lights, alarm lights and even the moon, whilst those longer days can make it even trickier to fall asleep in the summer. In this blog, we discuss what darkening your room might mean and how to make your bedroom darker with the best blackout shades.

Key Takeaways

Blackout shutters are an excellent option for as close to a blackout experience – ideal for night shift workers and parents with young children.
Room darkening blinds and shades are also helpful for darkening rooms, but they won’t make the room pitch black.
Thermal blackout blinds offer an excellent blackout experience and excellent thermal properties.
Blackout electric blinds can be put on a timer for a blackout experience that wakes you up with natural light.
Perfect Fit pleats are ideal for helping to create a blackout experience alongside a non-blackout blind.
Standard shutters offer an excellent room darkening solution while still allowing some natural light in.
Draft excluders can help to keep light from creeping in under doorways.
Matte paint is less reflective than other paint types and may help to reduce light reflection from walls, creating a darker room.

What’s the difference between blackout and room darkening?

Room darkening is where shades, shutters, or blinds are used to make your room dark during the day, and very dark in the evening/night. Room darkening does not create a complete blackout experience, as light will seep through the cracks around your shades or blinds, although for some, this is ideal, as it allows you to enjoy a darker room while still having light enough to move around.

Blackout options like blackout blinds, shades and shutters completely block out the light, making the room almost pitch black, even in the daytime. With blackout options, the only light that generally enters the room is around the edges of the blind, shutter or shade, but this can be eliminated or cut down by implementing room-darkening side channels or with an effective blackout shutter product.

Why use blackout options?

Blackout options are ideal for anyone who needs restful sleep during the day. Night-shift workers commonly use blackout options to get their rest, and new parents often use them to ensure that infants can enjoy a dark and peaceful room for their nap (and sleepy parents for their naps too).

The best ways to darken your room

Layer up with blackout shutters

how to make your room darker with blackout shutters

Shutters with integrated blackout blinds for a complete blackout solution

Blackout plantation shutters are the way to go if you want to shut out the light completely. This dual-layered combination includes shutters and a blackout honeycomb blind that sits behind the shutter panel.

When not in use, you can raise the blinds to keep them tucked away, and when you are ready for a peaceful sleep, simply lower them back down to darken your room.

Blackout plantation shutters not only offer many benefits, but they also look very stylish with a choice of different colours to suit your bedroom décor.

Create a cosy, dark bedroom with thermal blackout blinds

If you prefer a single blackout shade, thermal blackout roller blinds offer a complete blackout solution with the added benefit of thermal properties. Due to the blinds’ light-blocking side rails and bottom seal, your bedroom will be transformed into the perfect state to promote a peaceful sleep.

pleated blackout blinds for shaped window

Do it the smart way with blackout electric blinds

If you are worried about oversleeping due to the darkness of your room, then choose smart blackout electric blinds. With the addition of a smart home hub, you can programme the time these blinds close and open to control the light in your room. By waking up to natural light, you are more likely to feel calmer and happier as you start your day.

Conceal light leaks with Perfect Fit pleated blinds

For a blind that doesn’t have blackout fabric but is effective at stopping light from coming into your room, then Perfect Fit pleated blinds are a great solution. Rather than free hanging like most blinds, these blinds are attached to your window frame to minimise gaps and therefore light infiltration.

If you are worried about oversleeping due to the darkness of your room, then choose smart blackout electric blinds. With the addition of a smart home hub, you can program the time these blinds close and open to control the light in your room. By waking up to natural light, you are more likely to feel calmer and happier as you start your day.

Conceal light leaks with Perfect Fit pleated blinds

Use bedroom darkening blinds for a gentle wake-up

For people who want to wake up to more natural light, roller blinds and venetian blinds are the ideal middle ground, allowing light to seep in around the edges or in between the louvres while still darkening the room significantly.

These blinds are perfect for day napping, where you don’t struggle to get to sleep in absolute darkness.

Darken your bedroom using full-height, tier-on-tier, and shaped shutters

If you don’t need the full blackout experience for your sleep, or prefer to wake up with sunlight seeping in, consider opting for full-height, tier-on-tier, or shaped shutters to match your window type.

Each shutter type can be closed completely, but unlike blackout shutters, they allow light in between the louvres due to their natural design, so your room can still be well navigated, and you can be awoken to natural light streaming through.

Other room-darkening tips

Follow these tips to help get your room to the ideal darkness level:

If light is coming into your room from your bedroom door, run a draft excluder along the floor.
You should also avoid shiny paint surfaces on your walls or furniture, as they reflect light, which can make your room look brighter. Keep the walls matte to tone down the light and create a better sleeping environment.
Hide light-emitting electronics, like electric clocks, to help reduce unwanted light.

which way do you hang roller blinds - bedroom blinds

Speak to our team about darkening your bedroom windows today

Whether you want the layered look with blackout plantation shutters or prefer a more automated way to make your room dark with blackout electric blinds, we have a number of blackout shades to help you have a restful sleep.

Find out more about our blackout shutters and range of blinds, or contact us for a free consultation.

For more tips and inspiration, follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to darken a room?

There are a number of fantastic, stylish options for darkening your room, but ultimately it comes down to your own preferences.

If you prefer to let some natural light in, then opting for standard venetian blinds, roller blinds, or shutters is a great option.

For a true blackout experience, consider using blackout shutters or blackout blinds. You could also consider Perfect Fit pleated blinds, which are mounted within the window frame to greatly reduce light creep.

How to darken a room cheaply

There are a few cost-effective options for darkening a room:

Aluminium foil: Aluminium foil can be a great, temporary solution for darkening your room, blocking light out effectively, even if it’s not aesthetically pleasing.

Blackout blinds: Blackout blinds can be an inexpensive option for darkening your room, although they may not be able to make the room pitch black, depending on the type of blind and installation method.

Window film: Window film can be very helpful for reducing light and any glare, but it can’t provide a total blackout.

If you are looking for a more permanent blackout or room-darkening solution that is affordable, at The Shutter Studio, we’ll be happy to work with you to discuss 0% finance options, so you can get an effective, aesthetically pleasing shutter solution without breaking the bank.

What is the downside of using blackout options?

Blackout options like blackout blinds and blackout shutters are very effective at blocking light, but you should consider the following when purchasing them:

A true blackout room can be hard to navigate, so bringing a light source with you as you move around is recommended.
Unless you opt for electric options that let natural light in on a timer, you will have to rely on being awoken by alarms.

Do plantation shutters block out light?

Yes, standard plantation shutters are very effective at blocking out light, allowing enough light in for the room to still be navigable.

If you want a complete blackout experience, The Shutter Studio offers blackout shutters, which combine plantation shutters with a blackout material blind that provides a true blackout solution.