It so happened that each thing has its own special origin and country where it was first produced. Such an interior item as curtains is no exception.
There are two versions of the origin of blackout curtain fabric.
- There is a version that this wonderful material was produced in Finland. After all, this is a country where white nights, like in St. Petersburg, are a common occurrence. And although such nights are truly beautiful and amazing, a night's sleep is still necessary for the human body. And the Finns found a way out of this situation: they created an amazing fabric that will protect them from the light of the white nights.
- There is also another assumption, according to which the first prototypes of such curtains were especially popular during the Second World War. Residents of villages and cities were frightened by constant shelling from aircraft. And in order to remain unnoticed, they covered their windows with black fabric. Thanks to this, pilots did not notice them. In this way, people saved their lives.
Now that we know the origin of the fabric for modern blackout curtains, it’s time to understand the purpose of this piece of furniture.
Everyone knows that sleep is important for health, especially if it is complete. Scientists have found that if there is sunlight in the room during sleep, then special hormones responsible for vigor will not be produced.
But there is a way out – hang blackout curtains in the room. They perfectly protect from light, do not fade, look beautiful with the rest of the room’s interior and tulle.
Content
The difference between blackout and regular curtains
But regular curtains also block out light quite well. So how do curtains made from this modern and unique fabric differ from curtains made from regular material? There are several differences.
- Reliability. These curtains do not fade. They also do not deform during washing and ironing, and retain their original appearance for a long time. Dust practically does not settle on them. The shelf life is more than 5 years!
- They don't wrinkle. This is a huge plus! After all, other types of curtains wrinkle even after ironing, but curtains made of blackout material don't even need to be ironed after washing. It's enough to just hang them up. It's very convenient.
- Thermal insulation. These curtains can protect not only from sunlight, but also from heat!
- No allergic reaction. In the age of modern technologies and materials, not every thing can be hypoallergenic, which cannot be said about blackout curtains. These curtains do not cause allergic reactions at all. And all thanks to the fact that they are made only from high-quality materials.
- Large selection. In any textile store you can find a huge selection of such curtains. The most different styles and designs.
Blackout curtain styles:
- Roman;
- Japanese;
- Pleated;
- Roll;
- Classic.
Blackout curtain options in the interior
In the bedroom
Despite the name, blackout curtains do not have to be dark or black. The decorative side can be any color, with any pattern or print.
- Beige color. Will complement a room in any style (from modern to classic). It goes well with walls and furniture in white, gold and brown tones. This color is calming and sets the mood for relaxation.
- White. This color and its shades (snow, pearl, etc.) are always suitable (regardless of the style of the room). Curtains of such shades always fit into any interior without problems. This color calms the nerves.
- Gray. This color is perfect for a room with dark/cool tones. It is calming and sleep-inducing.
- Black. This color, just like white, matches any color of wallpaper and furniture.
Note! In rooms with a small area, black curtains should be avoided. They visually reduce the space and begin to get on your nerves.
- Curtains in the color of the walls and furniture. A fashionable trend of the 21st century is to make the entire room in one color. In such an interior, everything harmonizes perfectly with each other. The room looks gentle, graceful and elegant.
- Contrast curtains. A great option to add a “zest” to the room. This will complement and diversify any strict interior. Correctly selected contrast curtains will “revive” rooms with gray, white (in general – gloomy) walls.
- Curtains with prints and patterns. Such curtains will perfectly fit into a sad monotonous bedroom interior. They will literally “dilute” the boring atmosphere in the room.
To the nursery
How to choose a color
- You can choose a color for the curtains that will contrast with the walls. In a child's room, this will look bright and unusual. Such curtains will be a kind of "highlight" in the children's room.
- But it is also not forbidden to hang curtains in the nursery that match the color of the interior. This will emphasize some elegance of the room.
- Curtains with images of favorite cartoon characters (princesses, mermaids, superheroes, transformers, etc.) have become especially popular. Such curtains are also called photo curtains. They do have a beautiful design, but the price is also not small. The child will really like this and will create a festive atmosphere in the room.
- And, of course, no one has cancelled curtains with ordinary patterns and prints. They will not stand out too much and will look harmonious with the rest of the room's interior.
To the kitchen
How to choose a color
- Basically, brightly colored curtains are suitable for the kitchen (orange, yellow, light green - all these colors and their shades are welcome). Thanks to such bright colors, the kitchen will become much more comfortable.
- Nobody has cancelled curtains with prints and patterns. But it is still better for the background of the curtains to be bright, saturated. After all, the kitchen is a warm, light, magical and cozy, and most importantly - homey place.
How to sew blackout curtains with your own hands at home
First, you need to decide on the fabric. First, its texture is selected.
- Flax. An environmentally friendly option. This fabric has a surface that imitates linen weave. But there is one huge disadvantage - curtains made of this fabric quickly fade.
- Street. This is a special type of fabric intended for use as curtains outdoors. Blackout street fabric is mainly used to make advertising banners.
- Original. Made of polyester. This fabric is highly wear-resistant, does not wrinkle, is resistant to dirt, fading, easy to care for and pleasant to the touch. But because of these high-tech properties, blackout fabric original (blackout original), as well as curtains made of this material have a considerable cost.
- Non-flammable. This ability is achieved in two ways: the first is treatment with special chemicals, the second is weaving a special non-flammable thread into the fabric.
Note! It is better to buy fabric with woven thread, because over time the impregnation loses its properties.
Then you need to choose a style: classic or Roman. Classic blackout curtains are sewn in the same way as regular ones, so in this article we will consider the manufacture of Roman curtains.
Materials needed to make blackout roman blinds with your own hands:
- measuring tape (or tape measure);
- textile;
- fabric glue;
- sewing accessories (threads, needles, pins, etc.);
- cords (for decoration);
- stapler;
- screwdriver and screws;
- a wooden block or metal pipe for the bar.
Step-by-step manufacturing instructions
- Measure the window openings.
- Cut out 2 pieces of fabric of the same size, making seam allowances of 5-7 cm.
- Sew them on three sides, sewing a weight at the bottom (you can make a separate pocket for it).
- Turn inside out and iron carefully.
- Use a stapler to strengthen the wooden block (or insert a metal rod).
- Use a screwdriver to make fastenings above the window (or on the frame).
- Insert the curtain rod and thread the decorative cords through.
Note! If there is any fabric left, you can make a small lambrequin over the opening.
Pros of black out curtains
- Does not let any light through at all.
- It has a soundproofing function (only these curtains can also protect from excess noise!)
- And also thermal insulation! They do not let in either heat or cold.
- These curtains hold their shape well and do not shrink during the first or subsequent washes.
- Does not burn under certain treatments.
- They don't wrinkle at all! And they don't fade when washed.
- Absolutely hypoallergenic.
- Good wear resistance (this is a huge plus! Especially when it comes to curtains for a child's room).
But with all these advantages, there are of course also disadvantages.
- After all, curtains made of such fabric are synthetic. And for fans of everything natural, this is definitely a big minus.
- Curtains made from this material are quite expensive.
- Even with a huge selection of colors, shades, prints and patterns of curtains on the textile market, blackout curtains still have some design limitations.
Recommendations for the care of curtains made of such a modern and unusual fabric
- Wash at 40 degrees, spin at low speed.
- Although curtains made of this fabric do not wrinkle, you can achieve perfect smoothness with an iron. But watch the temperature carefully!
- It is best to dry fabric or ready-made blackout curtains in the shade.
Consumer Reviews
Most of the customers who purchased such curtains are satisfied with their quality. They note that blackout curtains completely, 100 percent cope with their main task - to protect from sunlight. Also, more than 80 percent of consumers pointed out the ease of use and wear resistance of the black out material.
VIDEO: Blackout blackout curtains.
50 photos of modern blackout curtains in interiors:
