Ready-Made Blackout Curtains

loulou41

I want to buy the above. They seem quite expensive, anybody using them already, are they any good? Thanks

TomsMom

I have blackout linings on my curtains and they are very good. I bought the linings separate and hang them on the curtain tape with lining hooks. Makes the room pitch black apart from a small shaft of light shining through above the curtain rail as we have a street lamp outside our bedroom (hence the need for blackout linings )

loulou41

Thanks TomsMom. Same problem here with street lamp. Where did you buy yours? I have seen them at dunehem, at reasonable price. Thanks

TomsMom

loulou41 wrote: »

Thanks TomsMom. Same problem here with street lamp. Where did you buy yours? I have seen them at dunehem, at reasonable price. Thanks

Dunelm!!!!!!!!!!

They're probably available at places like Rosebys, etc., but when I bought mine (a few years ago) I wasn't into MSE, price comparison, etc., but the price was pretty good IIRC. I research everything I buy now :rotfl:

You could check prices by googling black out linings, get prices for the size you want and compare them with your nearest shop.

loulou41

Thanks, noticed I have mispelt the name. The cheapest is £19.99 at dunelm. How does it compare to the one on ebay which the buyer says it is blackout thermal lining at the same price for size 66 by 72 & it is 3 PASS?

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The number of "Passes" relates to the number of UV protective and insulating coats applied to the base fabric. 2 -3 Pass linings give the same blackout performance, but the 3 Pass sandwiches the essential black coat, giving a solid pale colour to both sides of the lining. [/FONT]Also do you have to buy them the same size of the curtains? Undecided where to get them from? I will have to visit the shop as there is not one where I live. Thanks for your help.

tpsjrm

loulou41 wrote: »

Thanks, noticed I have mispelt the name. The cheapest is £19.99 at dunelm. How does it compare to the one on ebay which the buyer says it is blackout thermal lining at the same price for size 66 by 72 & it is 3 PASS?

Don't know about the PASS number for Dunelm ones, all I can say is that they don't let through any light at all, except round the edge if the curtain hangs out from the wall a bit.

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The number of "Passes" relates to the number of UV protective and insulating coats applied to the base fabric. 2 -3 Pass linings give the same blackout performance, but the 3 Pass sandwiches the essential black coat, giving a solid pale colour to both sides of the lining. [/FONT]
My Dunelm ones are a light white/cream fabric one side, which faces the window and the other side is a darker cream/beige plasticy side which goes up against the back of your curtain fabric. The front of your curtain fabric, obviously, faces into the room (unless you like showing the neighbours the posh fabric and end up doing it in reverse)!
Also do you have to buy them the same size of the curtains? Yes, use the same size lining as the curtains, which means you will probably have to 'rouche' them up to fit your window, the same as the curtains. But the Dunelm ones come with cord pre-threaded to help you draw them up. That's the only problem I've found, the lining is quite thick and so is my curtain fabric, so the whole thing ends up quite heavy. But they really are fantastic - especially for shift workers who have to sleep during the day.

Undecided where to get them from? I will have to visit the shop as there is not one where I live.
Thanks for your help.

Hi Loulou41
My thoughts are in red above. Good luck with the curtains.

loulou41

Thanks very much for taking the trouble to answer my post. They are for daughter who has just moved in her new flat. Not been able to do much, the ceiling is so high and need a step ladder to climb and she does not live near us.

Plasticman

I've put up blackout blinds in the kids rooms (in addition to normal curtains). Works a treat.

ailuro2

DH is a shift worker, is very sensitive to light in the bedroom!

My tip for you is to sew some velcro on the edges of the curtain, just a three inch strip or so at top middle and bottom, then stick the other side of the velcro in the corresponding place on the window frame, then the curtains stick to the window not letting any extra light in.

TomsMom

loulou41 wrote: »

Also do you have to buy them the same size of the curtains?

I've just been up and measured mine as I knew I didn't actually buy mine the same width as the curtain.

My curtains measure (each) 66" wide x 72" long. When drawn up (pencil pleat heading) each curtain is 34" wide so there's a nice drape there. However, as the lining doesn't show and doesn't really need the same amount of drape (you don't need the fullness nor the bulk, just an extra layer to keep out the light) so I bought linings that are actually (each) 46" wide and the actual length is 67", I haven't shortened them.

Linings are made to be hung by attaching the lining hooks to the little "rings" at the bottom of the curtain hooks that attach to the rail so the manufacturers take into account the fact that, allowing for the depth of the curtain heading tape, they need to be a few inches shorter than the curtains. Not sure how they are described size-wise - maybe it says "to fit curtains X" wide by Y" long - it's a few years since I bought mine.

I would suggest that you measure the width of the drawn up curtain and then decide whether fullness (drape) is needed in the linings or not. If yes then go for one to fit the size of the curtain (e.g. 66" x 72") and if you don't want to go for drape in the lining then go for a smaller width like I did.

slummymummyof3

You will probably find it cheaper to buy the black out lined blinds instead of the curtains and that way you don't get that bit of light sneaking through either.