What's the difference between Lined Curtains and Blackout Curtains?

Netherspark

I'm trying to choose between two sets of curtains - one set is Blackout Lined and the other, while much higher quality and my preferred choice, is Lined but not blackout.

I would prefer them to fully block light & heat, both for privacy and to keep the room cool in the summer

What exactly is the difference between standard lining and blackout lining? Will standard lining still block the light?

Specifically these are the two I'm talking about:
http://www.dunelm.com/product/matrix-grey-blackout-curtains-1000115141?
http://www.dunelm.com/product/boucle-grey-pencil-pleat-curtains-1000092952

Soot2006

I think it's impossible to know without seeing the material and testing it.

We bought lined curtains while searching for more attractive blackout curtains, and it turns out they blacked out the light completely. Bonus. They're over 10 years old though so I couldn't remember where they came from.

Ganga

I would have thought that lined curtains will give you privacy in your home and keep out a percentage of any light where as blackout ones will keep out all light making the room completely dark even on a summer morning.

seashore22

I've made curtains with both standard lining and blackout lining.

The standard is usually a cotton, although quality varies, and it doesn't usually cut out the light much. A blackout lining looks very similar to normal lining, but feels a bit different. It has an inner layer which cuts out the light and is coated with a white/cream fabric, so that it looks like a cotton lining. Apart from the fact that one cuts out light and the other doesn't, you wouldn't tell them apart when in use.

Having used blackout lining for my daughter's house I would probably use that in all our bedrooms now, but have normal lining for the living rooms.

Hope that helps.

seashore22

I personally wouldn't use blackout curtains in the summer to cut out heat in the daytime. It will certainly work, but your rooms will be pitch black. Go for it it's that's your thing, but I wouldn't like that at all. Normal lined curtains will do a reasonable job without making your house look like it belongs to a vampire.

Also normal lined curtains should provide all the privacy you need.

stator

The blackout curtains I bought recently have a really stiff backing. Makes the curtains quite hard to organise neatly

Waterlily24

One set of our lined curtains doesn't let much light in the other set does because the curtain material is so different.

getmore4less

Focus on the fit if you want total blackout

If not mounted properly it will let light in at(one or all) the sides top and bottom.

just about any curtain will provide the privacy and reduce solar gain as long as it cover the glass.

kkgree1

I've just bought the Dunelm Boucle curtains in pink for our spare bedroom & we have blackout curtains in our main bedroom.

There is definitely a difference - as others have said the blackout curtains have a much stiffer lining and block out all the sunlight. However, I'm quite happy with the Boucle curtains for a spare bedroom as they block out about 75% of the sunlight.

I prefer the look/texture of the Boucle curtains but have to have blackout in our south facing main bedroom.

elsien

You can also buy blackout linings to put on existing curtains if the lining isn't thick enough. It won't stop light coming round the edges if the fit isn't right or the curtain pole is too low, but it will stop light from coming through.
Mine attach to the curtain hooks you hang the curtains up with so no need for any additional sewing.