IMPORTANT: This is not a medical site. You should always discuss medical matters with your doctor.
Blackout Curtains
We all know that too much light can make it difficult to sleep - so why do so many of us put up with it when there's such a simple solution available to buy?
The effect of light on sleep varies from person to person and on the time of year. Being woken gently by a natural sunrise is a very pleasant experience - that's why so many of us use dawn simulators during the long winter months.
Unfortunately, during the summer many people find that sunrise comes too early for them. The last couple of hours of precious sleep are interrupted, especially in Northern countries (living in Scotland I know this from personal experience!). One possibility is to consider buying a blackout curtain or drapes to block the light - and possibly heat - coming through the bedroom window.
What is a Blackout Curtain?
When people first hear the term blackout curtain they naturally think of something black and bulky. They might think about wartime films of the Blitz where the blackout was a matter of safety rather than comfort. Modern day blackout equipment is rarely like that - in fact it's usually not even black!Material
Much "blackout" material sold today is actually white, at least on the window side. The reason for this is that white reflects light better and makes for a more efficient screen. The interior of the material can be any colour and any design, from black or white through to bright pink or yellow. You can also buy a variety of patterns and prints including designs for kids and the nursery window.Blackout materials come in a variety of forms. You can either buy ready made curtains, drapes or window sized panels or buy a larger piece of material and cut to size yourself. Make sure to check the hanging mechanism - you may need to have grommet tops for example.
If you want to keep your existing curtain then the best solution might be to buy a blackout liner. This is a simple lining that fits behind your existing drapery, usually either on the same rail or sometimes clipped on to the curtain.
Another alternative is to buy blackout blinds that you can pull down or close as required.
Heat and Sound
As well as blocking out unwanted light, quality blackout fabric is often thermal lined so that it also reflects heat. In this way it can help in regulating the bedroom temperature during the summer. Using such thermal insulation can be especially useful in locations where opening a window is impractical, perhaps due to city noise.Some of the blackout material on the market also claims to dampen noise and help to cut out unwanted sounds such as early morning traffic.