Curtains put up were supposed to be blackout.....but...

Rony

Hi,

So I recently had my curtains fitted and whilst the ones in the sitting room are beautiful, I was worried most about the bedroom one as I like the room to be totally dark whilst I sleep. I specifically requested that the curtains for the bedroom are blackout.

So they come and fit it and whilst it looks nice, come night time, it's not blackout. 



I am disappointed in this. Clearly when they told me it's blackout they meant like 60% blackout. I mean is that even a thing? Does blackout not just mean complete blackout?

Anyways, I want to resolve this and I was thinking:

1) Can I bring the drapes to a curtain fitter and get them to add another lining to it perhaps? My curtains have the wave header as you can see and so it is quite specific, not sure if that will affect how an extra lining is added. I am concerned with this method however, that the stack-back will be thicker than it currently is, which might be a problem, as the curtains already slightly cover the windows when it is open (see attached images), which will then affect the window opening. I can buy a longer curtain track I guess, just a hassle.

2) I can just buy completely new blackout drapes, which is a shame as these drapes are literally one day old. Also now that it is lock down, I'd have to wait at least a month before anyone can come fit them.

Any other suggestions? What would you do?

AskAsk

we have blackout curtains in the bedroom.  you need curtain track for blackouts, to stop light coming through.  we bought ours from ikea and they seemed decent enough, not 100% blackout, but at least 80%.  they were far too long though so i had to cut them to size.  i can do a bit of sewing otherwise that would have cost a fortune to have them taken up as we had them in the two large bedrooms and the windows are huge.

fenwick458

they are not blackout curtains. I once bought some on ebay which claimed to be blackout but had a few seems of perforations where it let little tiny pinholes through, I just sent them a pic and got a full refund, but they were 99% more blackout than yours.
even if the fabric was 100% blackout they still let in way too much light at the top, you'd want a pelmet box to cover that.
I now have a cassetted blackout roller blind, made to measure to the opening. It was about £100 and even on the brightest summer day when I shut the blind with the bedroom door shut it goes pitch black. you'll never get that with curtains the light just gets through the gaps around the edges

ka7e

The wave header means you will never get a good blackout effect, but the material is certainly not what I would think was true blackout either. The best option might be to fit a blackout blind behind the curtains - that way you don't compromise the decorative effect.

Rony

I am just so gutted, I feel betrayed by the seller, and they were so nice too. I don't even know if it is worth calling them to let them know, it may not even help.

I don't mind the bits of light that are at the top, and side, as long as the majority of the room is darkened then I am fine. I don't really want to get blinds as well, as I do not really have the space for it. If I install it in the recess, my window can't open and if I install it above recess, it will push my curtains out.

What about the options I proposed in my Original Post. Are they not viable?

elsien

You can buy blackout linings to put with your existing curtains without needing to sew them on. It won't solve the light around the edges but will certainly stop the light from coming through. I've got them on mine because I like a dark room as well. Not sure how workable they'd be with the wave header though. 
https://www.dunelm.com/category/home-and-furniture/curtains-and-blinds/curtains/curtain-linings
Other stores are available. 

Rony

elsien said:

You can buy blackout linings to put with your existing curtains without needing to sew them on. It won't solve the light around the edges but will certainly stop the light from coming through. I've got them on mine because I like a dark room as well. Not sure how workable they'd be with the wave header though. 
https://www.dunelm.com/category/home-and-furniture/curtains-and-blinds/curtains/curtain-linings
Other stores are available. 

I see what you are saying, however I have curtain tracks rather than a rod. So I wouldn't be able to fit in/hang another lining by putting in another hook I don't think:


I'd have to actually sew it on.

I think maybe I'll contact a curtain fitter (not the ones I used previously) and ask them to either sew it on, or just buy new drapes completely

scottishblondie

I would complain to the seller - the body of the curtains doesn't look remotely blackout.  Are they actually lined with blackout material?  You're always going to get light bleeding in around the edges of curtains, especially with that style of header, but they shouldn't let much through the main body of the fabric.

Rony

scottishblondie said:

I would complain to the seller - the body of the curtains doesn't look remotely blackout.  Are they actually lined with blackout material?  You're always going to get light bleeding in around the edges of curtains, especially with that style of header, but they shouldn't let much through the main body of the fabric.

Hmm, okay I'll do that. I'll email them with the pictures. 

It's got some kind of lining:

In fact...that just feels like the back of the curtain. Don't actually think it's a lining.....

Clive_Woody

scottishblondie said:

I would complain to the seller - the body of the curtains doesn't look remotely blackout.  Are they actually lined with blackout material?  You're always going to get light bleeding in around the edges of curtains, especially with that style of header, but they shouldn't let much through the main body of the fabric.

Agree with this completely, we had Roman blinds with a blackout lining and they block far more light than your curtains. Get the fitters to come back and show them the problem and ask they re-do them with proper blackout curtains/lining.

AskAsk

i would ditch the curtains and get proper black out ones.  ask the retailer to give you a refund.