Blackout Curtains: Types, Heat, Installation and Care
By the JOTEX Fabrics product team · Updated
Short answer
Blackout curtains block almost all light through the fabric, using a coated backing, a densely woven black core, or a separate blackout lining. How dark the room gets depends as much on installation as on fabric: a ceiling track or curtain box, side returns, a centre overlap and floor-length curtains stop light leaking round the edges. Blackouts also reduce heat from the sun.
Three ways to make a curtain blackout
| Type | How it works | Pros | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coated blackout | A foam, acrylic or silicone coating on the back; a 3-pass coating has three layers, white, black, white | Fully opaque; adds some heat and noise reduction | Stiffer; the coating can crack if washed hot or folded hard |
| Woven blackout | Opacity woven in, usually with a dense black yarn in the middle of the cloth | Looks and drapes like normal fabric on both sides | Check for pinholes of light against a bright window |
| Lined blackout | Any face fabric sewn to a separate blackout lining | Any colour, pattern or texture can be made dark | Two layers to make up; more fabric |
See Curtain Lining for blackout linings, and Blackout vs Dimout vs Sheer for how blackout compares with the lighter options.
Why light still gets in, and how to stop it
Blackout fabric blocks light through the cloth, but most light in a blackout bedroom comes round the edges. Close every gap:
- Top: mount the track on the ceiling or inside a curtain box or pelmet, so no light spills over the heading.
- Sides: extend the track well past the window and use returns, where the curtain turns back to the wall.
- Centre: use overlapping master carriers or arms so the two curtains overlap where they meet.
- Bottom: run curtains to about 1 cm above the floor rather than stopping at the sill.
- Wall-to-wall: for the darkest room, run curtains across the whole wall.
- Heading: eyelet curtains hang below the pole and leak light above it; choose S-fold or French pleat on a ceiling track instead.
Heat and noise
Blackout curtains, especially coated ones, block a large share of the sun's heat at the window, which helps west-facing bedrooms stay cooler and eases the load on air-conditioning. Keep them closed through the hottest part of the afternoon.
Heavier, lined or coated blackouts also soften outside noise a little, such as traffic, but no curtain is soundproof. For noise, the heaviest fabric with a lining and a close fit to the wall helps most.
Choosing blackout fabric
- Face colour. Any colour works; the backing does the blocking. Very dark colours absorb heat and fade faster in strong sun.
- What the street sees. Coated blackouts usually show a plain, pale back to the window, which looks neat from outside.
- Weight and drape. Coated blackouts are heavier and crisper; woven blackouts drape more softly.
- Texture. Linen-blend and check blackouts give a natural look with full darkness.
- Test it. Hold a sample against a bright window or a torch to check for pinholes of light.
Blackouts in the JOTEX range
- Coated: TEKUSU MIDORI, 100% polyester with a silicon backing, about 400 gsm and 280 cm wide.
- Linen-look: AMAYA, an 85% polyester, 15% linen check, 280 cm wide; and TEKUSU ALHAMBRA, 92% polyester, 8% linen, about 355 gsm.
- Plains: DARKNESS, BASIC, CHAD, DORA, TOUCH and TEKUSU HANAKO.
- Checks and designs: TEKUSU AKARI and SADAKO checks, and POSH Creation POLNA.
- Polyester-cotton: TEKUSU SEVILLE, 65% polyester, 35% cotton.
- As a lining: POSH Creation LINER, a light 100 gsm plain blackout, 280 cm wide, for lining other fabrics.
Most of the TEKUSU range is blackout. Every collection is listed live below and on the blackout fabric page.
Headings for blackout curtains
| Heading | Blackout result | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| French pleat | Excellent | Holds crisp pleats in coated blackouts; works on ceiling tracks |
| S-fold | Very good | Choose a supple blackout; very stiff coatings can make uneven waves |
| Eyelet | Fair | Light leaks above the pole |
Caring for blackout curtains
Follow the care label. Coated blackouts should be hand washed, sponged or washed on a very gentle, cool cycle if the label allows. Never wring, fold hard, tumble dry or iron the coated side, as the coating can crack. Vacuum regularly with a soft brush in between. See How to Wash Curtains.
JOTEX blackout collections
Every blackout in the JOTEX, TEKUSU and POSH Creation ranges, updated from the catalogue. See the blackout fabric page.
- AKARITEKUSU · 100% PES · 34 colourways
- AMAYAJOTEX FABRICS · 85% PES 15% LINEN · 38 colourways
- BASICJOTEX FABRICS · 100% PES · 22 colourways
- DORAJOTEX FABRICS · 100% PES · 20 colourways
- HANAKOTEKUSU · 100% PES · 31 colourways
- HAYDENJOTEX FABRICS · 100% PES · 27 colourways
- KANOTEKUSU · 100% POLYESTER · 35 colourways
- MIDORITEKUSU · 100% POLYESTER, SILICON BACKING · 23 colourways
- POLNAPOSH CREATION · 100% POLYESTER · 42 colourways
- RINATEKUSU · 100% POLYESTER · 26 colourways
- SADAKOTEKUSU · 100% PES · 27 colourways
- TAKARATEKUSU · 100% POLYESTER · 23 colourways
Frequently asked questions
Do blackout curtains block 100% of light?
Good blackout fabric blocks almost all light through the cloth. Light still leaks round the edges unless the curtains are on a ceiling track or in a curtain box, with returns, a centre overlap and floor-length drops.
Are blackout curtains worth it?
For bedrooms, nurseries, media rooms and anyone who sleeps in the day, yes. They also cut heat from the sun on west-facing windows. For living rooms, a dimout is often more pleasant.
Do blackout curtains keep a room cooler?
Yes, they block much of the sun's heat at the window, especially coated blackouts. Keep them closed through the hottest part of the afternoon.
Can blackout curtains be washed?
Yes, carefully. Hand wash or sponge coated blackouts in cool water, or use a very gentle cycle if the label allows. Never wring, tumble dry or iron the coated side.
Blackout curtains or blackout lining?
A blackout fabric is dark in itself. A blackout lining lets you use any face fabric, such as a velvet, jacquard or linen blend, and still have a dark room.
Why is light coming through my blackout curtains?
Usually round the edges: above the track, at the sides and where the curtains meet. Check for pinholes in the coating too, by holding the fabric against a bright light.
Curtain maker, upholsterer or designer?
Specifications are public on every collection page. JOTEX dealers can log in for live stock and pricing. Contact the JOTEX team to request samples or open a dealer account.