Room darkeners
(popularly known as “blackout” shades or blinds) are a great and necessary feature for many folks. Some are more effective than others, however. Read on…
- Although very elegant, these are still a type of roller shade so a Sheer Shade’s fabric is always significantly narrower (1/2 “ – ¾” per side) than its cassette. This unfortunate quality allows additional light leakage on inside mounts.
- The louvers on a sheer shade have a tendency toward a loose close, allowing more light to leak into your room.
- As with shadings, a roller’s fabric is always narrower than its cassette or tube (if ordered without cassette).
- Of course,solar shades are a flavor of roller and, as their name implies, are designed to admit light.
- For the best light blockage for any Roman shade, you must choose a darkening liner. This is especially true for woven woods which, without one, are pretty much useless for blocking light.
- Also, because of the way their liners are attached, some Romans may show pinholes of light where the liner fabric is sewn to the face material.
- Because of light leakage where louvers overlap and route holes where lift cords thread through, these blinds are not a great choice for room darkening. Opting for the routeless feature can help a bit.
- Verticals also suffer from louver overlap leakage, but rotated 90°. Choose an “S” curve louver to partially plug this leak. Standard louvers are pictured.
- The predecessor to the cellular shade, they have route holes through which the lift cords and light travel. Available with darkening liners but there’s no getting around those holes.