Different Styles Of Blackout Curtains

If you work a night shift or a light sleeper, good bedroom blackout curtains can help you achieve the best sleep each time. Beyond blocking out every last bit of light, blackout curtains can help your home stay temperature-controlled and muffle outside noise. And remember, blackout curtains do not have to be black, or dark for that matter. White blackout curtains can work just as well a blue or dark gray blackout curtain.

To get the most out of your blackout curtain shopping experience, it's important to understand the different styles of blackout curtains and how they work. There are four curtain header styles to know about:

Grommet curtain headers are installed by looping the fabric with metal rings.
Rod pocket curtains have a slit for easy, slip-on installation.
Tab top curtains use loops to hang off the curtain rod.
Pinch pleats curtains are pinched at the top for a pleated look.

When shopping, check the label for these blackout curtain linings:

Blackout-lined blackout curtains use heavier polyester that make the drapery stiff but achieve a complete blackout.
Foam-backed blackout curtains keep the soft folds of the drapery but don't guarantee complete blackout.
Thermal-lined blackout curtains use heat-trapping fabrics like flannel but don't guarantee complete blackout.
Privacy-lined blackout curtains use a polyester and cotton weave to to keep softness and filter light out.