When it comes to designing a bedroom, the goal is usually about prioritizing stylish tranquility. Fixtures that remind us of hotel stays—like blackout curtains, upholstered bed frames, and luxury bedding—can be shortcuts to achieving more serene sleep. At the same time, most of us don’t want to feel like we’re checking into a hotel every night before bed.
So we incorporate customizable details that don’t strip a space of its coziness, like high-quality sheets that match our sleep patterns, down pillows with customizable loft, and even high-quality toiletries like a luxurious shampoo or nourishing body wash. And while each of these details can be easily swapped out by preference or what’s decidedly on trend in color and pattern, blackout curtains, which can be a valuable tool to have in your sleep arsenal, don’t have the same versatility.
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“I’m a big believer that your environment should support rest and restoration, and blackout curtains can help create that,” says designer Alvin Wayne. “That said, I’ll pause on them if a space needs more natural light during the day or if the curtains visually overpower the room. It’s all about balance.”
Curtains are among the most important finishing touches of a bedroom, and to ensure that yours effortlessly balances style with function, two designers are sharing their tips for shopping and hanging the best ones.
A Linen Option
We approve of Quince’s bedding made from European linen, but the textile is also capable of making your bedroom pitch black thanks to a light-blocking backing. The airy linen is a welcome departure from the typically heavy fabrics in this category, and the opaque effect of the lining . For home theaters, living rooms, and other spaces where you don’t need total darkness, you can choose between three levels of light filtration—slightly sheer, room darkening, and blackout.
A Patterned Pick
For those in search of a better sleep solution that still has personality, Anthropologie offers a number of blackout curtains in fanciful patterns and prints. These curtain panels, in a frayed and striped linen fabric, boast a curtain rod pocket that extends upwards, elongating the panel and making your ceilings feel even taller. The frayed edge adds a laid-back element to the fabric while the white polyester backing ensures complete darkness, even during the midday sun.
Most Color Options
If your need for darkness is imminent (e.g. you just moved into a new street-facing apartment), Nicetown offers a slew of colorful blackout curtains on Amazon with speedy shipping turnarounds. With over 45,000 stellar customer reviews to their credit, these curtains are beloved for their ability to completely block out light, affordable price point, and high-quality fabric. This set is only available with a curtain rod pocket, but there are over a dozen length and width combinations to help you find one that matches your exact bedroom window dimensions.
Most Affordable
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Given that nighttime hours are slim during Scandinavian summers, the Swedes know a thing or two about making sure their bedroom is in total blackout darkness when they’re ready to snooze. Ikea’s Majgull is a best-seller for good reason. It’s affordable for those in search of a soft blackout fabric and even includes hemming tape, so you can fine-tune the fit to your window frame without shelling out for a custom set.
A Traditional Floral
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Light-blocking curtains can easily look utilitarian or heavy in an otherwise airy and bright living room. For the traditionalist, choose a playful floral that’s reminiscent of old block prints for a collected look. Pepper Home’s offerings are completely custom, meaning you can select the length and width, curtain rod type (pleats, rings, rod openings, or clips), and you can even add a trim if you’re going bold.
More AD-Approved Blackout Curtains
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“I love the luxe texture of the worn velvet curtain with blackout lining from West Elm,” Wayne says. “The velvet adds depth to a room, and the blackout lining is incredibly effective without sacrificing style.”
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“The Emery linen blackout curtains from Pottery Barn are great for a more relaxed, organic look, because they have the softness of linen but the function of a full blackout,” Wayne says. “They’re ideal for coastal or minimalist bedrooms.”
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For a custom service that still has an approachable price tag, look to The Hues, a service that commerce editor Audrey Lee tested to turn her bedroom into a suite. “These curtains are amazing for keeping the sun out,” says Lee. “The first few weeks I had them, it felt bizarre to be woken up by my alarm in such darkness—however, soundproof they are not.” With everything done online, you can browse the website and choose a fabric color, grommets, header and lining type, and size. You can also either choose from pre-set standard sizes or enter custom measurements for a bespoke treatment.
How to Shop for Blackout Curtains
Since blackout curtains prioritize function over elegance—making it possible to sleep until noon even if you’re not working the night shift—it can be difficult to source options that work well while still maintaining a strong sense of style. Finding ones that don’t kill the vibe often comes down to your choice of fabric and pattern—which, from our research above, extends from lighter linens to moodier velvets, and can incorporate a range of trims and flourishes.
“They should still fit your aesthetic, while also providing the light blockage that you are looking for,” says Lee Crowder, national director of design and model experience at Taylor Morrison.
Measuring the length of your ideal panels will help narrow down your search. You want your curtains to gently “kiss” the floor of your space, ever-so-slightly touching the floor without pooling at the bottom. Next, you’ll want to make sure that the width of your panels will cover the extent of your window so light doesn’t peek through at the edges.
“Always hang them high and wide, which will make the room feel taller and allow the window to feel larger,” Wayne says, adding that layering helps diffuse the heaviness of a thicker shade. “Pair blackout curtains with sheers underneath for softness and versatility.”
