What are the best blinds to block out light?

If your relationship to light in the morning can only be described as ‘vampiric’, worry not. A peaceful night’s sleep can be achieved with just few key changes to your window coverings.

Our body’s basic rhythms, including our sleep and wake cycles, are tied to light exposure. According to the NHS, ‘Regular poor sleep puts you at risk of serious medical conditions, including obesity, heart disease and diabetes – and it shortens your life expectancy. Here, Denton Blinds offers our best solutions to blocking out light.

Blinds with a blackout lining

Roller Blinds

Roller blinds come with a wealth of design and colour options, are easy to operate and provide exceptional light control. This can be particularly welcome in the summer months to help stop little ones waking up at 5am with the sunshine.

Roman Blinds

Roman blinds create a beautiful drapery effect, adding warmth, comfort and a little extra finesse to your surroundings. They are also available in a huge range of styles, and offer complete control over the amount of light filtering through.

Vertical Blinds

Vertical blinds are particularly great for rooms which need to adapt to multiple uses, such as studies, offices, living rooms or kitchen and dining rooms. If you twist the slats to a 45 degree angle, you’ll retain all the privacy you need, whilst still letting light in during the day.

Wooden Blinds

Wooden blinds are not primarily considered a blackout blind, but are inherently very effective at blocking light. They combine functionality with a certain elegance; if you are lucky enough to get a lot of bright sunshine directly into your room, you can tilt them just enough to cast your room in a pleasant glow, whilst eliminating uncomfortable glare.

Alternative solutions

The only places that light can get through a wooden blind are between the holes where the string ladders pass through, so layering blinds is a great option. Not only this, but you get to combine different colours and textures to really complete the look of your room.

Perfect fit blinds fit next to the glass windowpane, making them an ideal accompaniment for going behind a style that fits onto the wall, creating a double layer of protection against any intrusive light. If you don’t know whether your blinds should fit inside or outside the recess then check out this handy guide.

Additionally, if your curtains are a bit outdated, worn out or just aren’t blocking enough light, installing a blind behind existing curtains can make all the difference. Not only can you keep a favourite pair of curtains, but it’s a simple and cost-effective solution.

Other tips to beat a bad night’s sleep

If you’ve done all you can to create the perfect, light-free environment, the following tips can help you take full advantage of your newly darkened room and stylish blinds.

• Cut down on stimulants such as caffeine in tea or coffee, especially in the evening.
• Exercising can help burn off any excess energy you might have.
• Too much food or alcohol can interrupt sleep patterns. Getting into a routine can help with temptations to over-indulge.
• Smokers often have a more disrupted sleep, so try cutting down or stopping altogether.
• Try to relax before going to bed – deal with worries or a heavy workload by writing out things to be tackled the next day.

Denton Blinds provide customers with a fantastic range of high quality, stylish blinds. Our selection will be tailored to your precise window measurements – there are types and designs of blind to suit any interior design scheme. As well as our attractive and practical blinds, we have a team of skilled, professional fitters who can efficiently install your chosen blind to guarantee seamless functionality. Simply get in touch with our helpful team today with any enquiries – we operate across Burton upon Trent, Kettering and the surrounding areas.