Wake Up When You Want: Super Affordable Blackout Shades and Curtains

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: mountain house reveal: our soft yet secretly sultry downstairs guest bed + bath

We all love the look of a soft, light-filtering curtain or roman shade in our bedroom. That is until the sun rises and the blazing sun wakes you up WAY before your alarm clock. Especially if you are someone who can’t seem to fall asleep till 1 am it’s tragic (that’s me and I am working on it). I mean all we really want is a sensible, no light allowed sleeping cave, right? Fortunately, there is a simple and VERY effective solution to this life-disrupting issue…the blackout curtain (or shade).

Yes, there is a special kind of window treatment that will block out the sunlight, giving you the ability to sleep in longer and even have movie nights in the day time (aka no more sunlight glare). Plus they can help regulate the temperature in your home because its job is to block out the outside elements. I’m not mad about any of this:)

However, like most things great, they can be pricey thus potentially killing your dreams of properly sleeping in ever again (or tricking your children into sleeping in). So to help, we have rounded up our favorite and very affordable options. Here we go…

Curtain Panels



photo by tessa neustadt | from: elliot’s nursery reveal

If you already have a curtain rod set up (FYI here is the right way to do it if you need help) then switching out your more sheer curtain panels for blackout ones seriously couldn’t be easier. Since finishing the LA house, Emily has installed them in nearly every bedroom in every house she has designed since. It just makes staying asleep longer so much easier (the dream – and many more REM cycles). And like I hinted earlier, it’s almost 10000% necessary for kids’ bedrooms (i.e. naptime and sleeping in). This way there is far less chance of them seeing the sunlight and thinking they are done sleeping. You need as much spare time as you can get!

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: portland master bedroom reveal (and how to pull together your own dreamy suite)

So if you are in the market here are our favorite affordable curtain panels.

1. Chambray Blackout Curtain Panel | 2. Bryce Solid Max Blackout Thermal Curtains| 3. Heritage Plush Velvet Single Curtain Panel | 4. Black Buffalo Blackout Curtain | 5. Small Check Curtain Panels | 6. 2-Pack Blackout Curtains | 7. Blackout Pompom Curtain | 8. SANELA | 9. Block Curtain Panels | 10. Seaton Textured Blackout Curtain | 11. Heritage Plush Velvet Single Curtain Panel | 12. Aruba Blackout Curtain Panels | 13. Edalene Curtain Panels | 14. Henna Blackout Curtain Panel | 15. Room Darkening Draperies

If you are looking for color, I personally love #1 and #3. The texture of the fabrics with not only protect you from sunlight but will add extra visual depth to your space. But I am a sucker for a white curtain so #6 gets my vote. However, it’s pretty hard to resist the awesome and classic pattern of #4.

Now, if you aren’t into full-on panels, may I interest you in a roman shade??

photo by tessa neustadt | from: master bedroom refresh with parachute home

Roman shades are a big EHD favorite. You can find at least one in almost every project. They are clean, sophisticated and down right elegant. But what is important to keep in mind when buying blackout roman shades, is that you are going to want to make sure that you pick an inside mount. Why? Well if you mount the shade on the outside of the window frame, there is a high chance that the light you are so desperately trying to block will come pouring out. No good, if you ask me.

BUT, if you want the best of both worlds (window treatment edition) then you can always have a blackout roman shade with curtain panels on the outside. This way you can have a guaranteed TOTAL, NO LIGHT room situation. Or you can use more sheer curtains if you simply like the look but still want the blackout option for sleeping.

These are our affordable blackout roman shade picks…

1.Achim Cordless Blackout Window Roman Shades | 2. Luxe Roman Shades | 3. Dover Cordless Roman Shade | 4. Lifestyle Roman Shades | 5. Modern Roman Shades | 6. Porch & Den Blanton Grey Cordless Blackout Roman Window Shade | 7. Classic Roman Shade | 8. Cordless Fauxsilk Roller Roman Shades | 9. Insulating Cordless Blackout Roman Shade | 10. Crossweave Cordless Roman Shades & Blackout Lining | 11. Room Darkening Cordless Lift Blackout Roman Shades | 12. Handmade Custom Roman Shade

I really love #9 and #10 but I also think that #4 could work in almost any room. But after I was done searching, I came across this one in beige and I think would bring a ton of texture to a room. Just wanted to share the wealth:)

So in conclusion, if you are looking for ways to help you sleep a bit better, or have a job with irregular hours, OR have children then I hope this little post helps. May a “no light allowed sleeping cave” be in your near future.

Love you, mean it.

How do you all feel about blackout window treatments? Any tips when shopping or personal affordable recommendations? We want them all:)

Opening Photo Credits: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Mountain House Reveal: Our Soft Yet Secretly Sultry Downstairs Guest Bed + Bath

The post Wake Up When You Want: Super Affordable Blackout Shades and Curtains appeared first on Emily Henderson.