Best Blackout Shades for Bedrooms: How to Get a Darker, More Comfortable Room

Ladder & Loom Window Treatments | Michiana Window Treatment Experts

Getting a bedroom truly dark can be harder than it sounds. Even when a shade is made from blackout material, sunlight can still sneak through the small gaps around the edges of the window.

If you're searching for the best blackout shades for bedrooms, choosing the right type of window treatment—and having it properly measured and installed—can make a major difference.

At Ladder & Loom Window Treatments, we help homeowners throughout Granger, South Bend, Notre Dame, LaPorte, and the greater Michiana area find custom window treatments designed around privacy, light control, comfort, and style.

Here’s what you should know before choosing blackout shades for your home.

What Are Blackout Shades?

Blackout shades are window treatments designed to significantly reduce the amount of outside light entering a room.

Unlike ordinary light-filtering shades, blackout materials are specifically designed to block light from passing directly through the fabric.

They're particularly popular for:

• Bedrooms

• Nurseries and children's rooms

• Home theaters

• Guest rooms

• Shift workers who sleep during the day

• Rooms facing bright streetlights

• Windows that receive intense morning or evening sunlight

But there's an important difference between choosing blackout fabric and creating a room that actually feels dark.

Why Do My Blackout Shades Still Let Light In?

This is one of the most common issues homeowners experience.

You can purchase a shade made with blackout material and still see bright lines of sunlight around the sides.

Why?

Because the shade itself may block light, but there is usually a small space between the window frame and the edges of the window treatment.

That gap can allow sunlight into the room.

If achieving the darkest room possible is your priority, the entire window system needs to be considered—not just the fabric.

Cellular Shades With Side Tracks for Better Blackout

One of our favorite solutions for bedrooms is cellular shades, particularly when they're combined with side tracks.

Cellular shades—sometimes called honeycomb shades—have a distinctive construction made from layers of material that form small cells.

In addition to their clean appearance, cellular shades can provide excellent privacy and light control.

For homeowners looking for enhanced blackout performance, tracks can be installed along the sides of the shade to help reduce the light that would normally enter around its edges.

The result is a much darker environment than you would typically get from a standard shade alone.

Are Cellular Shades Good for Bedrooms?

Yes. Cellular shades are an excellent bedroom window treatment because they combine several desirable features in one product.

They can provide substantial privacy, excellent light control, a clean appearance, and additional insulation at the window.

For a primary bedroom, nursery, children's bedroom, or guest room, cellular shades can be both a practical and attractive option.

And because they're available in numerous colors and styles, you don't have to sacrifice the appearance of your room to get better light control.

Are Roller Shades Good for Blackout?

Roller shades are another popular choice for bedrooms.

Their simple design works especially well in modern and contemporary homes, and blackout fabrics are available for customers who want to dramatically reduce incoming light.

A blackout roller shade can be an excellent solution when you want something sleek and minimal.

However, just like other window treatments, light can potentially enter around the edges.

During your consultation, it's important to discuss whether your priority is simply reducing sunlight or achieving the darkest bedroom possible. That can affect the product and installation method that's best for your windows.

Blackout Shades vs. Room-Darkening Shades

Although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, there can be a meaningful difference between blackout window treatments and room-darkening shades.

Room-darkening treatments substantially reduce incoming light but may not eliminate it.

Blackout treatments use materials intended to prevent light from passing through the shade itself.

For someone who simply wants less morning sunlight, room-darkening shades may be enough.

For someone trying to create a very dark bedroom for sleeping, a more complete blackout solution may be worth considering.

Can Blackout Shades Help With Privacy?

Absolutely.

Privacy is one of the biggest reasons homeowners invest in bedroom window treatments.

When closed, appropriately selected blackout shades can prevent people outside from easily seeing into the room while also controlling incoming light.

This can be especially valuable for homes in neighborhoods where bedroom windows face nearby houses, sidewalks, streets, or neighboring properties.

What Color Blackout Shades Should I Choose?

Blackout doesn't mean your shades have to be black.

Modern blackout and room-darkening window treatments are available in a wide variety of colors and finishes.

Depending on the product, you may be able to choose from shades of:

White • Cream • Beige • Gray • Charcoal • Brown • Natural tones and more

The goal should be to select a window treatment that provides the functionality you need while still complementing your flooring, walls, furniture, trim, and overall interior design.

That's one of the advantages of choosing custom window treatments instead of simply purchasing whatever happens to fit the window at a retail store.

What Are the Best Bedroom Window Treatments?

There's no single answer for every home.

If your biggest concern is maximum light control, cellular shades with blackout material and side tracks may be an excellent option.

If you want a very clean and modern appearance, blackout roller shades may be preferable.

If your priority is timeless style and adjustable privacy, shutters may be worth considering.

And if you want convenience, certain window treatments can also be motorized, allowing you to raise and lower them without manually operating each shade.

The best choice ultimately depends on your windows, your room, and what you want the window treatment to accomplish.

Custom Window Treatments in Granger, South Bend & Michiana

Choosing window treatments online based on a photograph is one thing. Seeing materials, considering the actual windows, and determining how much light and privacy a particular room needs is another.

That's where Ladder & Loom comes in.

We provide window treatment consultation and professional installation for residential and commercial customers throughout Granger, South Bend, Notre Dame, LaPorte, and surrounding Michiana communities.

We offer a variety of window treatment options, including roller shades, cellular shades, shutters, faux wood blinds, sheer blinds, solar shades, zebra shades, Roman shades, vertical blinds, wood blinds, and motorized window treatments.

Our typical process takes approximately 4–6 weeks from the initial conversation through the completed installation, depending on product selection and availability.

And Professional Installation Is Free

When you purchase your window treatments through Ladder & Loom, professional installation is included at no additional cost.

You pay for the blinds or shades—not the installation.

That means your new window treatments aren't simply delivered to your door. They're professionally installed so the finished product looks the way it should.

Ready for a Better Night's Sleep?

If early morning sunlight, streetlights, or a lack of privacy are making your bedroom less comfortable, the right window treatment can make a significant difference.

Let Ladder & Loom Window Treatments help you compare blackout roller shades, cellular shades, side-track blackout systems, and other bedroom window treatment options.

Serving Granger, South Bend, Notre Dame, LaPorte and the greater Michiana area.

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Tell us about your windows, what you're trying to accomplish, and the products you're interested in. We'll help you find the right solution for your home.