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Short answer
To block a street light or a neighbour's lights at night, use a blackout curtain or a curtain with blackout lining, then close the gaps where light leaks round it. Hang it from a ceiling track or curtain box, extend it well past both sides of the window, overlap it in the centre and take it close to the floor. Night light is weak but direct, so the edges matter more than the fabric.
Why does light still get in?
A street light shines at the window all night from one direction, so it shows every gap: over the top of the heading, down the sides, through the centre where the curtains meet, and under the hem. Most light in a blackout bedroom comes round the edges, not through the cloth.
| Gap | Fix |
|---|---|
| Top | Ceiling track or curtain box; see Curtain Boxes for Condos |
| Sides | Extend the track past the window and use returns to the wall |
| Centre | Overlapping master carriers or arms |
| Bottom | Curtains to about 1 cm above the floor |
| Through the fabric | Blackout fabric or blackout lining |
Which curtain blocks a street light best?
- Coated blackout is the most opaque. See Blackout Coatings Explained.
- Any curtain with a blackout lining keeps the face fabric you want. In the JOTEX range, the POSH Creation LINER is a 100 gsm blackout lining, 280 cm wide.
- S-fold or French pleat on a ceiling track: eyelet curtains hang below the pole and leak light above it. See Curtain Track vs Curtain Pole.
- A dimout is not enough for a bright light directly outside.
What quick fixes help?
- A blind inside the recess behind the curtain catches light at the edges.
- Velcro or magnetic strips to hold the curtain edges to the wall.
- A pelmet over an existing track to block the top gap.
- Move the bed out of the line of the gap if possible.
Tip
Check from the bed at night with the room lights off. Mark each leak with tape, then fix the biggest first, usually the top.
What about light coming in other ways?
Glass panels above doors, fanlights and gaps around air-conditioner pipes also leak light. Cover them with a fitted blind or film. In condos, light from corridor windows and neighbours' balconies can be as bright as a street light. See Blackout Curtains.
Frequently asked questions
How do I block a street light from my bedroom?
Use a blackout or blackout-lined curtain on a ceiling track, wider than the window, overlapping in the centre and reaching close to the floor.
Why does light still come round my blackout curtains?
Most light leaks round the edges: over the top, down the sides, through the centre and under the hem.
Is a dimout enough to block a street light?
Usually not. A street light shining directly at the window needs blackout fabric or lining.
Are eyelet curtains good for blackout?
Not for full darkness. Light leaks over the pole; an S-fold or French pleat on a ceiling track blocks more.
Curtain maker, upholsterer or designer?
Specifications are public on every collection page. JOTEX dealers can log in for live stock and pricing, and our team can send samples or open a dealer account.