How long should my blackout curtains be?

When buying blackout curtains their lenght is of true relevance. The sun will do all it can to sneak in on the sides of your curtains, and it's easy to forget the little gap by the floor. Most homes have slightly uneaven floors, and therefore we always recommend that you add 1cm to the length of your curtains. Something that is of highest importance when you want an efficient blackout effect!

How do I get the hotel-look for my bedroom?

The hotel-look is a true customer-favorite. Something that characterizes many hotel rooms is that they have a double-curtain solution, a combination of two fabrics that together give that luxorious feeling of textile. The curtain closest to the window is often a more sheer kind that let's the light in but still gives a certain protection against insight, and the curtain closest to the room is of a heavier kind that drapes beautifully, and maybe even has black-out for long mornings sleeping in? The Gotain Hotel-curtain suits perfectly for the hotel-look. It's a tad sheerer than out Thin Linen curtain, doesn't have as much texture and let's in plently of lovely light. The curtain that hangs closest to the room is the one that gives the space most character, choose a Velvet curtain for an elegant look or a Woven Linen curtain for a more natural feeling. Order your curtain samples here !

How much do the black-out curtains black out?

Much! There is a wide span of linings in terms of black-out, that within the industry stretch from dim-out to black-out. At Gotain we use black-out, which ticks all boxes for the highest quality of black-out linings. As always when it comes to darkening - remember to think about hanging your curtains high and wide for the best possible effect.

How does a blackout curtain work?

Gotain's blackout curtains get their effect from a lining which is sewn in the back side of the curtain. For all our curtains we use a blackout-lining, which is the lining that gives the highest level of blackout effect.

How do you ensure a completely dark bedroom?

There are three easy tips and tricks to ensure a completely blacked out bedroom: 1. Choose a curtain rail that runs along the whole width of the room. This way the light won't sneak in on the sides or above the rail. If you have a wall mounted rail or rod - try placining it as high up and close to the ceiling as possible! 2. The sun will try and peek in on the sides of your curtains, and it's easy to forget the little gap by the floor. Most homes have slightly uneaven floors, and we recommend adding 1cm to the length of your curtains, something which is extra relevant when they are to have a blackout effect. 3. A lined blackout curtain is heavier that many other curtains, and therefore it's of highest importance that your rail or rod is mounted correctly. We recommend that you mount your rail on the ceiling, but if you have to mount it on the wall - keep in mind to use a few extra brackets to ensure everything is stabile and stays in place!

Why is sleeping in a dark bedroom preferred?

There are many reasons to why we sleep better in a dark room, but perhaps the most important one is that the light regulates our circadian rythm. When daylight breaks, it sends a signal to our brain that it's time to be awake, active and get going. A dark room on the other hand gives our brain the opposite signals, that it's time to wind down, rest and recover!

Can I wash my blackout curtains?

To get as good blackout effect as possible, we sew the lining to the seams of the curtain. As these two textiles are of completely different fabric compositions and characteristics, you would risk to damage the whole curtain if washing it as a whole. In the case of a stain/dirt we always recommend spot treatment. Clean with warm water and a white cloth - pat the fabric gently and finish with steaming - let dry.

Is it possible to iron blackout curtains?

No, avoid ironing your blackout curtain. To get the best possible blackout effect, we sew the lining to the seams of the curtain. As these two textiles are of completely different fabric compositions and characteristics, you would risk damaging the curtain by washing it asa whole or expose it to too much heat by ironing. Instead we recommend that you steam your curtain to get rid of creases, which is a much more gentle treatment. In case of a stain/dirt we always recommend spot treatment. Clean with warm water and a white cloth - pat the fabric gently and finish with steaming - let dry.

How do you install blackout curtains?

A lined blackout curtain is heavier than many other curtains, and therefore it's of highest importance that you rail or rod are mounted correctly. We recommend that you hang your curtains on a ceiling mounted rail, but if you have to mount them on the wall - keep in mind to use some extra wall brackets to ensure that everything is stabile and stays in place.

Guides & Inspiration

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Ask the curtain expert

How to: Blackout Curtains

Blackout curtains make it easier to block out the morning light and create a better sleep environment. Whether you love long sleep-ins or simply want the rest of the family to sleep a little longer, we have collected three tips to help you maximize the blackout effect.

Our Black-Out Curtains

Blackout Woven Linen Curtain

Blackout Roman Blind Woven Linen

Black-Out Bouclé Curtain

Blackout Roman Blind Bouclé

Blackout Curtain Cottage

Blackout Roman Blind Cottage

Blackout Roman Blind Sakura

Blackout Curtain Panel Sakura

Black-Out Velvet Curtain

Blackout Roller Blind

Decorate with Blackout Curtains

THINK HIGH, WIDE AND LONG

For the best possible blackout effect, we recommend a curtain track that spans the entire width of the room. This prevents light from sneaking in at the sides or above the track. Using a wall-mounted rail or rod? Mount it as high and as close to the ceiling as possible to minimize light leakage from above.

Sunlight will always find a way to peek through the edges, and one often-overlooked spot is the gap at the floor. Since most floors are slightly uneven, we recommend adding 1 cm to the curtain length—a small but significant detail for achieving the best blackout effect.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT MOUNTING

A lined blackout curtain is heavier than most other curtains, making it especially important to secure your track or rod properly.

We highly recommend mounting your track to the ceiling for maximum stability and light control. However, if a wall-mounted installation is necessary, be sure to use additional wall brackets to keep everything secure and prevent sagging over time. A well-mounted curtain ensures both functionality and longevity of your curtains. Click here for our video guides of how to mount your track or rod.

BLACKOUT ROMAN BLINDS

Gotain’s blackout Roman blinds are custom-made to your exact measurements and fit both small and large windows — for example in children’s rooms where long lengths are not ideal.

However, it's important to keep in mind that blackout curtain panels always provide the most effective solution for completely blocking out light. Still, a blackout Roman blind will also help keep stubborn sunlight at bay.