If you’ve ever tried to sleep through early sunlight or glare on your screen, you know why blackout window treatments exist. It is obvious that when someone is choosing curtains or shades, they are not just blocking light. They are actually trying to make the room feel better, quieter, softer, more private.
But once you start searching, the question becomes less simple: “Should you choose blackout curtains or blackout shades?”
Although both promise darkness and comfort, they work and look very different. Here we have compiled this designer’s take on how to decide what really fits your home, lifestyle, and light needs.
Why Blackout Window Treatments Matter More Than You Think
A well-designed blackout treatment does three things at once: it blocks outside light, regulates temperature, and adds polish to your interior. It’s not just for people who want to sleep late. Most of the homeowners choose them for media rooms, nurseries, and even offices where glare makes a computer screen unreadable.
As per our experience, what most of our valued clients don’t realize is how much control you can gain with the right material and fit. At Joydeco, we design every blackout curtain and shade around your window’s accurate dimensions — not an estimate. In reality, those small gaps are what let light creep through in the first place.
Note: The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that well-insulated blinds can reduce energy loss by 10-20%, saving you money on heating and cooling costs.
We are confident to say that precision is what separates a good night’s rest from another 6 a.m. wake-up call.
Blackout Curtains
While staying in a hotel you might have wondered and definitely quietly loved how pitch-dark and quiet the room felt, that’s the power of blackout curtains. They’re designed from dense, layered fabrics, often linen, velvet, or polyester blends and with special liners that block out 95–100% of external light. When made from dense fabrics like Joydeco’s Custom Blackout Curtains, they can block nearly all daylight when fully drawn. They also add a quiet, insulated feel you’ll notice the moment you close them.
When blackout curtains work best:
-
Bedrooms where you want total darkness.
-
Living rooms that need insulation or sound reduction.
-
Homes in busy or hot climates where temperature control matters.
Because the fabric overlaps the window frame, blackout curtains naturally stop most edge light. Add thermal lining and you also keep summer heat and winter drafts out a small change that can make your room feel five degrees more stable year-round.
Moreover, unlike off-the-shelf panels, Joydeco’s custom curtains let you choose every detail: pleat style, fabric weight, and length. A designer can even match colors to your paint or flooring through a Free Design Consultation, something customers say takes all the guesswork out of online ordering.
Sarah from Atlanta, our satisfied customer, has insight about blackout curtains:
“I went with Joydeco’s blackout curtains for my bedroom and to be honest it’s a night and day difference… literally. The mornings stay calm, and the room looks like a boutique hotel :) ”
Struggling to find the best curtains for good night sleep? Read on to explore our top blackout curtains recommendations!
Blackout Shades
If you prefer a cleaner, minimal look, blackout shades are your friend. They sit close to the glass, use less material, and disappear when you raise them.
They’re ideal for people who love function without bulk and for windows where space is limited.
Joydeco offers several blackout shade options:
- Roller Shades: crisp and simple; the fabric rolls up neatly at the top.
-
Roman Shades: softly folded, bringing texture and elegance to formal spaces.
-
Cellular (Honeycomb) Shades: structured pockets that trap air for energy-efficient insulation.
Each is made with high-opacity materials that block glare while maintaining a tailored aesthetic. A properly measured inside mount minimizes light gaps, and for complete blackout, an outside mount can be customized during your consultation.
When blackout shades work best:
-
Small rooms or windows where heavy drapery would overwhelm.
-
Modern interiors that value clean lines.
-
Spaces where easy operation and low maintenance are priorities.
"We are happy to share our amazing experience with Joydeco, they installed blackout roller shades in our nursery, and our baby naps like a dream (that was a nightmare for us). Excited to write that they look sleek and block light better than anything we tried before." Lisa, Denver
Which One Is More Energy-Efficient?
Both curtains and shades contribute to energy savings, but they do it differently. Curtains rely on mass: thick, layered fabric that slows heat transfer and muffles sound. While shades, especially cellular ones, use trapped air pockets that work like natural insulation.
In practice:
- Curtains are stronger in winter, when you want to retain heat.
-
Cellular shades excel in summer, reflecting sunlight and keeping rooms cooler.
If you’re serious about lowering your utility bills, pairing the two a shade inside and a curtain outside gives you the best of both worlds.
Buying Tips from Joydeco Designers
When we help clients choose between blackout curtains and blackout shades, we start with three questions:
1. What do you want the room to feel like?
Warm and layered (curtains) or open and structured (shades)?
2. How much light do you actually need to block?
Full darkness for sleeping, or just glare control for work?
3. What’s the room’s personality?
Traditional spaces often shine with pleated curtains; modern ones thrive on minimal shades.
Other small but meaningful tips:
- Choose energy-efficient window coverings if you live in an area with strong seasons.
-
Match your window treatment color to wall tones for a seamless effect.
-
Don’t underestimate lining, it’s what turns a “dark” curtain into a true blackout curtain.
Accurate Measuring Matters
A common reason blackout window treatments fail is poor sizing. If the curtain rod ends where the window frame ends, light spills from the sides. If a shade leaves even half an inch of space, the effect is ruined.
That’s why Joydeco includes a step-by-step How to Measure Curtains guide or you can skip the math altogether and book a Free Design Consultation. Our experts help you measure accurately over video or in person so your blackout solution fits the first time.
The Joydeco Difference
We believe that there’s no “one-size-fits-all.” Each blackout treatment begins with your space, your light, and your taste. We at Joydeco help you select the right fabric, lining, and finish, guiding you step by step until your windows feel complete. Maybe it’s a roller shade that disappears when the movie starts, or soft blackout curtains that make your bedroom feel like a retreat. We are on a mission to customize your curtains as per your imagination and ready to bring your dreamy ideas to reality.
Explore our collections:
- Custom Curtains
- Blackout Roller Shades
- Blackout Roman Shades
- How to Measure Curtains
- Book Your Free Design Consultation
