Designing With Blackout Curtains

Blackout curtains are ideal for blocking light and dampening sound. Dark curtains can also help bring energy savings to your home because they can trap heat in your room during colder weather and they can reflect heat out of a room during warmer weather. Blackout curtains are ideal for use in a bright bedroom, a nursery or a kid's room. They can also create a cozy atmosphere in a TV room or anywhere else you might want to reduce natural light from filtering in. At West Elm Canada, you're sure to discover the perfect blackout curtains for your home.

Choosing Your Blackout Curtains

Our curtains come in a variety of materials, textures and styles, with the option to add a blackout lining. There are a few key features to keep in mind as you select your curtains, such as:

Materials

The materials we use for our blackout curtains are vast and varied. Our velvet options infuse an air of timeless sophistication while they keep a room more insulated thanks to velvet's thicker design. Choose from cotton velvet, worn velvet or lustre velvet. Our European Flax linen and linen cotton picks are airy and lightweight, bringing a natural, billowy look to your space. Linen is also known for muting light due to its opaque quality. Cotton canvas is durable and strong, while our crossweave and jacquard curtains lend visual texture right into the curtain.

Curtain Dimensions

Determine the height at which you want your curtain to hang. It's typical to hang a curtain about six inches above the top of your window. Anything above that can give the illusion of additional height to a room. Curtains can fall to the level of your floor or end about an inch above your floor space.

When you're looking at the width of your curtains, include an additional four to six inches to your measurements on either side of the window. Extra fabric on either side means the curtain will block light when the curtains are drawn and won't block the window when they're open.

Other Features

Blackout curtains can also help protect your furniture, rugs and other decorative items from fading. If your curtains come with a dual top treatment, you can decide whether you want your curtains to hang pleated or bunched. Some curtains come individually or as a set, so be sure to find out what your favorite style offers.

Beyond Curtains

After you've decided on your blackout curtains, explore other ways to dress up any room. Upgrade your bedroom with a new comforter or quilt set from our bedding collection or finish the look of a hardwood floor with creative character by layering it with something from our selection of area rugs. Infuse a pop of personality on a blank wall with picture frames where you can feature your favorite special moments, people and places.