{"id":32860,"date":"2024-07-29T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-29T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.saatva.com\/?p=32860"},"modified":"2024-07-16T17:17:03","modified_gmt":"2024-07-16T17:17:03","slug":"do-blackout-curtains-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/do-blackout-curtains-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Blackout Curtains Really Work?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you have insomnia, then you’ve probably tried all kinds of solutions to sleep at night. Maybe you’ve upgraded to a more comfortable mattress<\/a> or added a sunrise alarm clock<\/a> or white noise machine<\/a> to your bedroom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another option for making a bedroom more sleep-friendly is the addition of blackout curtains, which promise to aid you in getting a more restful night\u2019s sleep by blocking out light. But do they really work? Here’s what you need to know.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are blackout curtains? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Blackout curtains are curtains that are designed to keep light from entering a room. \u201cThey are usually made of heavy fabrics that have a lining that helps keep light out,\u201d says Carlie Gasia<\/a>, a certified sleep science coach at Sleepopolis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blackout curtains are very useful to create a dark environment that helps to sleep, especially if you’re trying to sleep during daylight hours when a lot of sun glare is coming through the windows.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can be extra helpful if you work a night shift<\/a>, like to sneak in sleep during the day, or are sensitive to early morning sunlight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do blackout curtains work? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Blackout curtains can have several different functions, from blocking out light to keeping a room comfortable and cool. But how they do what they do comes down to the method used when the curtains are made. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe most common method involves using a blackout lining behind a beautiful, decorative fabric,\u201d explains Bohnne Jones, Nashville-based owner and interior designer at Decorating Den Interiors<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She adds that other options use a thicker, more opaque fabric that blocks out light without the need for an additional lining. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it may also be what\u2019s inside the fabric that helps make blackout curtains effective. \u201cThe blackout fabrics and lining have a black rubber layer fused between layers of fabric,\u201d explains Jones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What’s more, blackout curtains are designed to fit tightly around window frames to prevent light from peeking through the edges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benefits of blackout curtains <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A dark sleep environment<\/a> can help to improve sleep quality\u2014and blackout curtains help to make that happen.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that\u00a0over 70 million Americans<\/a>\u00a0suffer from chronic sleep issues, and blackout curtains can help you have a more restful, and less disruptive, sleep,\u201d notes\u00a0Dan Gartenberg<\/a>, PhD, \u00a0a medical advisor for\u00a0CPAP.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blackout curtains help with sleep by blocking out disruptive light, \u201callowing our bodies to produce melatonin<\/a> to help regulate our circadian rhythm<\/a>,\u201d says Gartenberg. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you’re able to get a good night\u2019s rest regularly, this can benefit your health overall\u2014even reducing your chances of developing chronic health conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blackout curtains control light by blocking sunlight and street lights from entering your bedroom, which can have several sleep benefits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis can help improve sleep by keeping you uninterrupted throughout the night,” says Julia Forbes, a sleep product expert at Sleep Advisor<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their dense materials can also potentially reduce outside noise<\/a> as well, adds Forbes. They can even help conserve energy because they make your room cooler<\/a> during the summer months, she says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To recap, there are a good amount of overall benefits to consider regarding blackout curtains. They help:<\/p>\n\n\n\n