Sometimes, you want to relax and be secluded from the world just by staying home—with minimal light passing into your room.
Choosing the right window treatments can significantly impact your home’s comfort, privacy, and ambiance. Regarding controlling light and ensuring privacy, two popular options are blackout shades and room darkening shades. While both types of shades serve to reduce the amount of light entering a room, they do so to varying degrees and are suited for different needs and environments. This post will explore the key differences between blackout and room darkening shades. We will guide you on when to choose each type to suit your needs best.
What Are Custom Blackout Shades?
Custom blackout shades are made for those who need complete darkness when sleeping. This means you can have a peaceful sleep any time of the day. Custom blackout blinds are usually made of thick materials and have other benefits, such as noise reduction, extra insulation, instant privacy, and maximum light blockage. For hardcore sleepers, it is a boon. However, they are ideal for a child’s bedroom, too. To achieve 100% blackout, you must install a side track system during your window covering installation.
Benefits Of Custom Blackout Shades
- Custom Blackout Shades are efficient for blocking all outdoor light, allowing you to sleep calmly.
- These shades make your home more energy-efficient for summer and winter.
- Blackout Shades are 100% effective for lessening light pollution. They can protect your furniture against UV rays.
- They are ideal for interiors that require minimal light, such as conference rooms, offices, and boardrooms.
- Applying custom blackout shades is cost-effective because it cuts energy costs significantly. This is why facility managers and commercial building owners prefer it.
Room Darkening VS. Custom Blackout Shades: Which Is Better For You?
Many consumers do not understand the difference between room darkening or custom blackout shades— what is the best option? When choosing shades for your SWFL home, you must always establish your goal for your window coverings. Let’s break down these two options!
What Are Room-Darkening Shades?
Room darkening shades typically block 92-95% of incoming light. This means they significantly reduce the amount of natural light entering your space, creating a dimmer, more relaxed environment without eliminating light. Ideal for areas where you want a balance of privacy and ambient light, these shades are perfect for bedrooms, living rooms, and media rooms. Room darkening shades provide an excellent solution for those who prefer a softer light during the day, allowing you to enjoy natural illumination while maintaining a comfortable and private atmosphere. These shades also reduce glare on screens, making them suitable for media rooms where you can watch television or use a computer without the distraction of excessive light. Additionally, by blocking a significant portion of light, room darkening shades can contribute to better sleep and relaxation in bedrooms, creating an ideal setting for winding down after a long day.
What Is The Difference Between Blackout Shades And Room Darkening Shades
Choosing between room darkening and blackout shades depends on your light control, privacy, and ambiance needs. Here’s a detailed comparison to help you make an informed decision:
Room Darkening Shades:
Room darkening shades are designed to block 85-95% of incoming light. This means they significantly reduce the amount of natural light entering your space, creating a dimmer, more relaxed environment without completely eliminating light. They are ideal for areas where you want a balance of privacy and ambient light, such as bedrooms, living rooms, and media rooms. These shades provide a softer light during the day, allowing you to enjoy natural illumination while maintaining a comfortable and private atmosphere. They help reduce glare on screens, making them suitable for media rooms, and contribute to better sleep and relaxation in bedrooms by blocking a significant portion of light.
Blackout Shades:
On the other hand, blackout shades are designed to block out 99-100% of incoming light. They create a pitch-dark environment, even during the brightest part of the day, making them ideal for spaces where complete darkness is essential, such as home theaters, nurseries, and bedrooms for light-sensitive sleepers. Blackout shades ensure maximum privacy and help with sound insulation, creating a more tranquil and restful space. These shades are perfect for anyone who needs to sleep during the day, such as shift workers, or for making the ideal movie-watching environment in a home theater.
The main differences between room darkening and blackout shades lie in the amount of light they block and the resulting ambiance they create. Room darkening shades block 92-98% of light, offering a balance of privacy and natural light, making them suitable for most living spaces. Blackout shades block 99-100% of light, providing complete darkness and maximum privacy; ideal for bedrooms, nurseries, and home theaters where darkness is crucial.
When To Choose Custom Blackout Shades?
- Complete Darkness Required: If you need a space to be completely dark, blackout shades are the best choice. They block out 99-100% of incoming light, making them perfect for home theaters, nurseries, or bedrooms for light-sensitive sleepers. This ensures a pitch-dark environment, even during the brightest part of the day.
- Light-Sensitive Sleepers: Blackout shades can help create a restful sleeping environment for individuals easily disturbed by light while sleeping. They are ideal for shift workers who need to sleep during the day or prefer a completely dark room.
- Enhanced Privacy: Blackout shades offer maximum privacy, making them suitable for rooms where complete seclusion is desired. This can be particularly beneficial for bedrooms or any room that faces a busy street or close neighbors.
- Media Rooms: Blackout shades eliminate glare on screens in home theaters or media rooms, providing an optimal viewing experience by blocking out all external light.
When To Choose Room Darkening Shades?
- Balanced Light Control: If you prefer to let some natural light filter into the room while reducing glare and enhancing privacy, room-darkening shades are ideal. They block 92-95% of incoming light, creating a softer, more ambient setting.
- Living Areas: These shades are perfect for living rooms, dining rooms, and other common areas where natural light is desired without harsh glare. They help create a comfortable and inviting atmosphere.
- Bedrooms: While not as dark as blackout shades, room-darkening shades are still effective in blocking a significant portion of light, making them suitable for bedrooms. Reducing light levels can help improve sleep quality, especially in the early morning.
- Energy Efficiency: Room darkening shades can help regulate room temperature by blocking out significant sunlight. This can keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, contributing to energy efficiency.
Summary
Choose blackout shades for darkness, light-sensitive sleepers, maximum privacy, and media rooms. Opt for room darkening shades when you want balanced light control, suitable lighting for living areas, improved bedroom sleep quality, and energy efficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions About
Room Darkening And Blackout Shades

Room darkening shades allow some light to filter through, providing privacy and reducing glare, while blackout shades block out nearly all light, creating complete darkness for optimal sleep or media viewing.
Yes, room-darkening shades are ideal for bedrooms. They provide privacy and reduce light to create a cozy and relaxing sleep environment without completely blocking out natural light.
Yes, blackout shades are designed to block out nearly all light, including sunlight and streetlights. They provide complete darkness for better sleep quality or for creating a theater-like atmosphere in media rooms.
Yes, room-darkening shades offer varying light control depending on the material and opacity chosen. Options range from semi-opaque to opaque fabrics, allowing you to tailor the level of darkness to your preference.
Yes, blackout shades offer insulation benefits by blocking out sunlight and heat. They help maintain a comfortable indoor temperature and reduce energy costs by preventing heat loss or gain through windows.
Yes, blackout shades are perfect for nurseries or children's rooms. They create a dark and peaceful environment for naps or bedtime, promoting better sleep patterns and minimizing disruptions from external light sources.
Yes, many blackout shades can be motorized for added convenience. They allow you to control light levels and privacy with the touch of a button or through smart home integration, enhancing the functionality of your space.
Yes, blackout shades are typically easy to clean and maintain. They can be cleaned by regular dusting or vacuuming to remove dust and debris. Some models may also be wipeable or washable for added convenience.
Yes, room darkening shades provide UV protection by reducing the amount of sunlight entering your home, helping to prevent fading and damage to furniture, flooring, and other interior furnishings.
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