Window space is a great way to control indoor temperatures all year round. In addition to controlling light, your window coverings play an important role in keeping your home comfortable.
Blackout roller blinds are made of special light-proof material
It is already difficult to imagine modern buildings without roller blinds. The design and color palette change and improve every year, pleasing more than surprising. Thanks to the use of modern technologies, the level of comfort in our homes increases. Perhaps in a few years the space around us will change dramatically. And curtains, like clothes for the “eyes” of the premises - our windows will take on completely bizarre shapes, as has already happened with Blackout roller blinds!
Blackout blinds
Blackout blinds can be either roller, vertical or pleated. Lightproof roller blinds are most often installed in apartments, private houses and cottages, i.e. to where a person feels at home. They are more suitable for home interiors than for public reception areas. For the latter, vertical blinds with blackout fabric are used. They are cheaper in price, and with the help of this type of blinds you can close large openings in the room. Let's look at each of these types of blackout blinds.
Scope of use of curtain fabrics
Their main purpose is interior decoration and design.
Blackout curtains are used:
- as curtains for any room, even for a children's room;
- as a curtain on theater stages or to limit light in photo studios;
- as a decorative element (in this case they serve as wallpaper);
- as elements for creative activities, for example, for creating textile applique or using the patchwork technique.
Description of blackout blinds
Let me clarify one important point: the prefix Blackout to roller blinds, pleated blinds or vertical blinds only means that this type of blind uses opaque fabric or other material, like, for example, plastic or aluminum blinds. This is not a separate blind system. Any type of blinds can be made into a blackout. It makes no difference whether you buy ready-made products in a shopping center, order on AliExpress, or contact the manufacturer so that he can make products to your sizes. Now let's look at systems on which blackout fabric can be installed.
Blinds dimout
Everything is quite simple here, if Blackout is a fabric with 100% shading, then Dimout is 70% - 80% shading, also a dense fabric, but with a small gap.
Blackout roller blind systems
Blackout roller blinds are divided into two main types - cassette roller blinds with thick fabric and free-hanging ones. Both can be installed on plastic window sashes. But for other types of installation (on the wall, ceiling) only free-hanging Mini and Maxi systems are suitable. Let's take a closer look at them.
Photos of blackout roller blinds
- Free-hanging
Packaging methods
- Universal fastening consisting of a chain mechanism. Attached to slopes, ceilings, walls.
- Fastening with adhesive tape - no drilling required, can be easily removed.
- Weight bar, fishing line, upper and lower fastenings, plug. Used for windows with opening sashes.
The fishing line will hold the curtain fabric when placed on the movable sash of the plastic frame
Free-hanging
Free-hanging
Watch a detailed video about the mini free-hanging roller blind system from the manufacturer.
Video: Mini free-hanging roller blinds (video from the ZHALYUZNIK online store)
Blackout roller blinds for plastic windows from free-hanging systems can only be Mini; you can learn more about this system by clicking on the link. “Minka” can also be installed on the wall, covering the entire opening, or in the opening. Provided that the product is not too large, about 1.5 meters wide. But here, of course, you also need to look at the fabric, what material it is made of and what height the product will be. There may simply be a situation that the product is quite high, or the fabric is too heavy, and the shaft on which the fabric is wound may bend in this case, and the side brackets may also not be able to withstand it. The shaft diameter of the mini blackout roller blind system = 18 mm.
If the product is wide enough, then the Maxi system is used. Here you can already close fairly large openings up to 6 meters wide. And the dimensions will depend only on the length of the roll of blackout fabric. The maximum roll length I have ever seen is 4 meters. But these are very rare fabrics. Basically it is 3 - 3.5 meters. If you want to learn more about free-hanging systems, click for more details...
- Cassette
Customer Reviews
Customer reviews mention how easy fabric blinds are to install. A number of customers were impressed by the quality of the materials - comparing it with products in boutiques, where the price is four times higher.
It is noteworthy that the color of the curtains does not affect light transmission at all, the point here is solely in the material itself
Some of the customer reviews:
- “We placed an order, purchasing inexpensive dark gray fabric blinds for the premises for rent. They are simply perfect! Incredibly easy to attach. Fits perfectly into openings. The fabric seems nice, the colors are neutral. The residents are happy, so we will always buy our blinds here. Excellent value for money and quality!"
- “Opaque, light-proof, have good quality fastenings that are easy to adjust. They look good when the curtains are up.”
- “Good price, easy to install, great color. Highly recommend".
Blackout fabric roller blinds are a must have in everyday life. They make the interior attractive, while solving 1000 small problems along the way!
Cassette
Cassette
And this is a video from the ZALYUZNIK online store about cassette roller blinds.
Video: Cassette system of roller blinds (video from the ZHALYUZNIK online store)
Blackout roller blinds on a cassette system are the best choice if you need to achieve maximum shading in the room. Due to the fact that the fabric is located in the guides, gaps are practically eliminated. But let me make a reservation right away: there will still be small gaps, and they will be very noticeable when you look at the window. Since the room is pitch dark, and the bright sun is shining outside, the light will still pass a little inside. Plus, these highlights will not be entirely symmetrical. You may get the impression that somewhere the fabric is not cut straight or the guides are glued incorrectly. This effect occurs due to the fact that the fabric does not have a clear shape. Somewhere she approached the guide and somewhere she moved away. But of course I’m nitpicking. For the majority of people this will not be critical.
Blackout blinds on plastic windows are often installed in rooms where there are projectors, museums, where excess light can damage exhibits. Quite often, blackout roller blinds are ordered for kindergartens, where children need to rest during the day, hotels, hospitals, etc. A separate article has been written about all types of cassette curtains and you need to “stomp” on the button for more details...
- Zebra
Types
You can choose the following types of roller blinds:
- Vertical.
- Roman.
- Classic.
- Venetian.
- Wooden.
- Pleated.
- Waterproof.
Vertical
Fabric vertical stripes provide soft lighting control.
Fabric blinds are narrow slats located along the window, in a fully closed position they look like regular curtains
How it works: A plastic wand is used to tilt and open the blinds.
Roman
- Soft folds of fabric that fold into decorative pellets when lifted.
- Great for: bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, other rooms.
- They have a more luxurious look and have an additional dimming option.
Cascading Roman blinds look especially attractive, forming wavy folds even when lowered.
Advice! Place them in a room that gives you a cold feeling that lacks coziness.
Classic
The most universal option. The fabric is wrapped neatly around the tube and lifted up.
Classic open roller blinds
How it works: Uses a side suspension with a plastic chain.
Venetian
Metal horizontal slats that tilt to control light and privacy.
The slats of Venetian curtains are fastened together with cords or a nylon ladder coming out of the cornice
Wooden
Wooden horizontal slats that tilt to control light and privacy. Great for: bedrooms, living rooms and dining rooms.
Models with wooden slats are perfect for classic or eco-style
How it works: Lifting cords are used.
Pleated curtains from Blackout
The fabric is laid in even horizontal folds, similar to pleated fabric.
When making pleated curtains, high-strength fabric goes through a molding process, thanks to which the fabric keeps its shape
How it works: Uses a lifting cord.
Waterproof
Absolutely ideal for kitchens and bathrooms. This PVC fabric not only blocks light, but is 100 percent waterproof.
The fabric of such curtains is treated with a special water-repellent impregnation.
They will perfectly decorate all rooms of the house: vertical, classic, Venetian, pleated.
Zebra
Zebra blackout
Watch the video with Zebra striped fabric.
Video: Zebra MGS (video from the ZHALYUZNIK online store)
Zebra blackout roller blinds are an interesting system. The fabric on it consists of two layers, moreover, it is made of strips, one translucent and the other opaque, blackout. Can be installed on any roller blind system. It can also be equipped with an electric drive. The only thing is that a spring-inertial mechanism cannot be installed on it, since the plumb line of the fabric is not static, but rolls between two sheets of fabric, and there will be nothing to attach the handle to. Watch the video of how zebra roller blinds work for a more precise understanding.
All other properties are the same as for roller blinds with one layer of blackout fabric.
Vertical blackout blinds
And this is a video about vertical blinds
Video: Vertical blinds (video from the ZHALYUZNIK online store)
Just like blackout roller blinds , vertical blinds can also be equipped with light-proof slats with 100% shading. But you will not be able to achieve complete darkness, for example, as in a cassette system, but you can exclude direct sunlight and make the room twilight. Plus, if you need to add a little more lighting, you only have to slightly rotate the blackout fabric slats around their axis. This feature of the vertical blinds system will play into your hands. With roller blinds, you won’t be able to adjust the clearance this way, unless, of course, you have Zebra roller blinds with blackout fabric.
Plastic or aluminum slats also do not allow light to pass through, so using them you will also get light-proof blinds. It is impossible to make roller blinds with these materials, but horizontal blinds are only made from aluminum or plastic. But the expression blackout is applied to them very rarely, so I will not touch on them in this article. You can find out more about all types of vertical blinds at the link below...
Photos of vertical blackout blinds
Pleated blackout blinds
Pleated blinds can also be made with Blackout fabric, watch the video from the manufacturer.
Video: Pleated Day-Night (video from the ZHALYUZNIK online store)
Pleated blinds, as well as blackout roller blinds, can have thick, light-proof fabric. Very often such a fabric is installed on a day-night pleated system; this system has two sheets of fabric on one product, one of which is installed in blackout, and the other is translucent. This is very convenient, since the user can choose from two materials how exactly the sash will be decorated at a given time. Shading fabric can be installed on any system of pleated blinds, of which there are quite a large number, and they are written in great detail on another page...
Photos of pleated blackout blinds
Accommodation
Curtains are used in residential and non-residential premises.
- 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.
- Home cinema. The thick canvas creates all the conditions for a normal movie show. The main thing is to choose the right size curtains.
- Office space for conferences. A curtain is used to darken a space. It also serves as a basis for presentations.
- 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.
Blackout fabrics
Blackout fabric is a light-transmitting fabric with one hundred percent shading of 100%. There is also dimout fabric - it shades by 70% - 80%. Please note that the color of the fabric does not have to be black. Externally, this blackout fabric for roller blinds can be of any color, even white or with some kind of patterns, texture, or embossing. Those companies that produce blackout blinds have many fabrics with such properties. They can be from different manufacturers and, as a result, different price categories. There are also cheap Chinese options, some of which look very decent, but there are also canvases from European manufacturers. These are already designer canvases, very expensive, especially with today’s exchange rate between the ruble and the dollar or euro.
Rules of care
Customer reviews, public opinion and the basics of fabric care allow us to formulate several tips, following which you can extend the life of your favorite curtains.
- Wash the filter curtains (if it is possible to remove them from the revolving mechanism) in 40-degree water by hand or using a washing machine. Using the second case, you need to select the appropriate mode - “Hand Wash” or “Delicate Care”.
- They are pressed out at an operating mode of no more than 400 rpm.
- To clean the curtains on the mechanism, washing vacuum cleaners are used.
For your information. Without additional spinning, the fabrics dry quickly enough. Washing them twice throughout the year will reliably preserve their attractive and clean appearance.
Video
Reflective
The properties of fabrics can also be different. There is a line of fabrics that not only is blackout, but also has a reflective back side - this is the side of the fabric that goes outside and absorbs all the energy of the sun. A special metallized coating is applied to the canvas on the reverse side. The advantage of this fabric is that it reflects a significant portion of solar energy rather than absorbing it. This property allows the fabric to heat up less, and as a result, less heat passes into the room. This is especially true for window openings that face the sunny side or have large stained glass glazing areas. Shading windows with fabric that reflects solar energy allows you to significantly save on air conditioning in the summer.
Energy saving
In addition, dense fabric installed on windows, especially in cassette roller blind systems, where the canvas is hidden in guides, in winter also reduces the cooling of the room that comes from the double-glazed window. The thing is that between the thick fabric and the glass unit, another air chamber is created, which makes it difficult to exchange temperatures between the warm air in the room and the cold air that comes from the glass.
The same effect can be achieved with energy-saving pleated blinds, on which a special two-layer energy-saving pleated fabric . In this case, even two air chambers are created, one in the fabric itself, between two layers, and the other between the fabric and the glass unit.
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.
