Where do we cover
At Select Blinds & Shutters we offer a free home consultation where we bring our full range of fabrics to you. This allows you to view the fabrics in the natural light in your home. Our friendly team can guide you with the latest fabrics and always best pricing.
We cover all areas of central Scotland including Glasgow, Edinburgh, East Kilbride, Motherwell, Hamilton, Airdrie, Coatbridge, Lanark, Carluke, Lanarkshire, Stirling, Falkirk & Grangemouth.
Blackout Blinds FAQ’s – Find out everything you need to know
If you are considering new blinds for your home or business then Blackout Blinds are worth every penny. They are stylish and come in thousands of colours and patterns to suit every decor and every room. Read our Blackout Blinds FAQ’s to find out everything you could ever need to know.
A ‘blackout blind‘ is a window or door blind made from opaque fabric which blocks out light from outside entering a room. Blackout blinds can be a roller blind, a roman blind, a skylight blind or vertical blind, however, roller and roman blinds tend to block out the most amount of light.
You can have a blackout blind in a bedroom if you are sensitive to sunlight or if you have a street light outside of your window. You may work nights and need good quality sleep in the day and a blackout blind will help with this. A blackout blind is brilliant for children’s rooms whatever their age to ensure they go to bed on time in the summer and aren’t woken up early by the sunlight in the morning, as well as if they are still needing a nap in the day. They are also great for bathrooms as they ensure no one can see in from the outside, as well as blocking the natural light out in the evenings and early mornings.
Good quality and sleep are important to ensure we can function properly when we need to. Lack of sleep can lower your immune system and general ability to cope with everyday pressures as well as your health and well being, so having a good blackout blind in your bedrooms is vital.
Blackout material is a foam-backed, opaque fabric specifically used to blackout the light. Blackout fabrics are most commonly found in hotel rooms as curtain linings or bedrooms and bathrooms in homes and properties as they block out much of the light that would enter through a window when curtains or other types of blinds are closed.
- Blackout blinds come in a variety of blind styles and types, including roller, roman, vertical and skylight
- They block out the natural light and UVA rays entering a room
- They blackout street lights that may keep you awake at night
- They offer thermal insulation to a room. During the summer they will keep a room cooler if they are closed as they block out the sun in the day, and in the winter they will keep your room warmer as they stop the warmth escaping. Their thick material make them particularly effective and they can significantly reduce the impact of draughts so your room is kept at a more consistent and livable temperature, making it easier to sleep any time of the day and year
- They can result in reduced energy consumption in your home or business
- As well as blocking out light a blackout blind can also offer some noise reduction. If you live on a busy road with cars passing or lots of people walking by then a blackout blind will reduce some of the outside noise entering a room. This is great if you work nights and need to sleep in the day and if you have children that still nap in the day or when you want to get them to bed easily without the distraction of outside noise
- They are a great choice for families with young children as blocking out the lighter evenings in the summer means you can still get them to bed on time, they can nap during the day in a darkened room and they will stay asleep later during the lighter summer mornings
- Blackout blinds come in a variety of fabric types
- They come in a vast array of colours to blend in with your colours scheme and now come in lighter colours too
- There are many patterns available for you to choose from to match your decor
- A blackout blind tends to be a cheaper alternative to blackout curtains
- They offer a minimal and modern look to your home or business
- When shut they offer you complete privacy and when fully open you can see a full view from your window
- You can control just how dark or light your room is by simply lowering your blinds
- Blackout blinds have a second blackout layer which makes them thicker than standard fabrics, meaning they look and feel excellent quality
- They can fit inside or outside of your window or door recess
- They will make your room look bigger compared to curtains as there is no bulky material either side of your window or door frame when they are open
Generally, there are four types of blackout blind available. Roller blackout blinds, Roman blackout blinds, and Skylight blackout blinds are made from a thicker fabric which makes them the better option for blackout compared to Vertical blackout blinds which give you partial blackout. The vertical panel slats in a Vertical blind can let light in when they are fully closed compared to Roller, Roman and Skylight blinds which fully close as one panel of material across your whole window pane, so these are better if you want a full blackout option. There are other benefits to Vertical blinds so it really depends on what you are looking for.
Roller blinds are probably one of the most popular blackout blind options and this is probably down to buyers not realising there are other blackout options available. Roller blinds are a great choice as they are easy to maintain and keep clean, they are easy to open and close using a child and pet-safe cord which can be made to fit either side of the blind. They offer complete blackout for a room as well as complete privacy when they are fully closed. They come in a huge range of materials, colours, patterns and styles and if you are having them made to measure you can opt for a thicker material for your roller blind. They offer a functional, contemporary and modern look to any room and you can choose the colour and pattern to match your decor and style. Roller blinds tend to be cheaper than blackout curtains due to less material being needed. Roller blinds will also make your room feel bigger compared to curtains as the blind fits inside or just outside of your window recess meaning there is less material either side of the window frame compared to curtains. There is a fraction of light that can enter a room with a blackout roller blind and this is the tiny gap between the side of the blind and the window recess.
Blackout roman blinds are a less common option compared to blackout roller blinds and this is probably due to most people thinking of roller blinds when it comes to blackout. A roman blind can look a bit more stylish, classy and luxurious compared to a roman blind as there is more material used. They are easy to open and close using a pully or cord which is child and pet-safe and can be made to fit either side of your blind for your convenience. They offer light and noise reduction as well as full privacy when they are fully closed and a full view when they are fully opened. A roman blind can be half-opened so it covers half of your window offering some light to enter your room as well as partial privacy. Roman blinds can be fitted inside or outside of your window or door recess and fitting offers a different look. You will still get some light entering a room when they are fully closed and this is in between the slight gap of the material and the side of your window recess. This is reduced if you have your roman blinds fitted outside of the recess of your window frame. Again they will make your room feel bigger compared to curtains as there is no excess material either side of the window frame when open or shut and this makes your walls look bigger. A blackout roman blind looks amazing if you have several windows to cover in the same room.
Blackout skylight blinds are brilliant options for roof or skylight windows as they keep the suns glare out on hotter days when it is beaming down, block out the light in the evenings and mornings which can prevent you from going to sleep and result in you waking up early. They are a great option for bedrooms, bathrooms, conservatories, extensions and sunrooms. They are attached to your skylight window frame at the top and you close them by pulling the bottom metal edge of the blind which moves it down the tracks which are attached to the side of the skylight window. Opening them is just as easy and you pull them up from the closed position with the bottom edge to the top of the window and it moves back up the tracks. Skylight blinds are great and probably the only option for skylight windows as they don’t swing about when your window is open, hang down as they roll up into the roller at the top of the blind when they are open and they click to the bottom of the window when they are shut.
Some vertical blinds are available with thicker fabrics which are designed to offer partial blackout and they are usually made from a PVC type material that can also offer water resistance. Vertical blind panels overlap each other when they are closed so they offer better light resistance compared to a Venetian blind, however, not as much blackout as a roller, roman or skylight blackout blind which all close as one panel of material. Some light can still enter through the vertical panels when they are fully shut, however, their benefit compared to other blackout blind options is that you can angle the vertical panels to give you as much or as little privacy as you want. This also means that in the summer months you can have them partially shut which doesn’t completely block out all of the light in a room. Vertical blinds are less effective at blocking out any noise from outside or providing thermal insulation as the vertical panels mean there isn’t one panel of material as there are in roller, roman and skylight blinds. Vertical blinds can be made to open and close from the middle of your window or from either side.
Yes, good quality made to measure blackout blinds will do exactly that as the foam-backed, opaque fabric is specifically designed to block out 100% of the light from outside. There will still be some light that enters around the edge of the blind, however, if they are made to measure and fitted well this will be minimal.
Yes, we all get a better sleep when a room is dark so a blackout blind will stop the light entering a room in the summer evenings, summer mornings and if there are street lights outside of your bedroom all resulting in a better quality and good nights sleep. A blackout blind will keep your room completely dark regardless of any light outside.
A blackout blind will reduce the amount of heat entering your room via your windows by as much as 24 per cent so if kept fully closed and in some cases, depending on where your window is located if they are half-closed they will keep your room cooler compared to other blinds and curtains.
A blackout blind will keep your room warmer in the winter as they are made from a thicker material compared to other types of blinds and this means they keep the warmth in and prevent the cold air and draughts from outside getting in.
It is impossible to see through blackout blinds as their material is thick and its foam-backed, opaque fabric means that no light can enter through them as well as you not being able to see out or anyone outside see into your room.
The size of a blackout blind can vary depending on the type of blind you go for. Roller blinds tend to be the best option for full blackout for wider windows due to their weight and they are usually available in widths from 300mm to 3000mm and drops from 300mm to 1800mm depending on the fabric. Vertical blackout blinds are also a good option because of their weight, however, remember they don’t block out as much light as a roller or roman blind. Roman blinds are less favourable for wider windows as there is a lot of fabric used to make a roman blind, again though it will depend on the type of fabric you want and it is always a good idea to use a professional blind company who will be able to advise you on all of this.
Blackout vertical blinds are probably the best option for wider windows due to their weight which means there won’t be as much strain put on the fixings and your recess and walls. They also have multiple fixing points which again is better for wider openings, and they can be made to open and close from the middle of your window or from either side. However, the downside to vertical blinds is that they don’t block out as much of the light as other blackout blind options do.
Blackout Roller Blinds are another good option for a wider window opening and if too wide to hold one roller blind you can always have 2 blinds to cover one window. A good blind company will be able to advise you on the maximum width they would recommend for a roller blind as if they are too wide they can bow in the centre, as well as putting too much strain on the fixtures, your window recess and walls. You can have a roller blind’s opening and closing chain or cord made for either side of your blind and you can even have them made to open and close via remote control.
Blackout blinds come in thousands of different colours, patterns and material. The biggest colour choice comes in roller or roman blinds compared to vertical blackout blinds where the colour options are more limited.
Whether they are roller, roman or vertical blinds they will look amazing in any room, however, the blackout version is most beneficial in bedrooms, bathrooms, nurseries and home offices in the home and work really well and are versatile enough to use in an office or work environment.
You can have a blackout blind in any type of property, whatever age or style and in a home or business. There are so many styles, materials and colour choices that you can have them made to measure in to look amazing in your interior decor and style.
Blackout roller and roman blinds come in a huge variety of material, colours and patterns so it is really easy to find something that matches your colour scheme and style.
You name it there will be a pattern you want for your roller or roman blackout blind, there really is so much choice.
There aren’t really many disadvantages of a blackout blind if that is what you are looking for.
Different types of blackout blinds will offer a blackout option to a varying degree.
Roman Blinds are probably the best option for a full blackout and the most stylish giving you style as well as function. The blackout lining used on the back of a roman blinds fabric provides the blackout function so it doesn’t impact the style or range of colours and patterns you can choose from. They can be made to measure in the tightest of window recesses, however, there is still minimal light that can enter through the bottom and side of the blind when it’s closed.
Roller Blinds generally offer the largest choice of fabrics and colour options and close in one panel so they are a great blackout option, however, you do still get a small amount of light that can enter through any slight gap between the blind and the window frame.
Vertical Blinds offer the least amount of blackout compared to a roller and roman blackout as the panels will allow some light to enter a room even when fully shut. As an example, a window 100cm x 100cm with a slat size of 89mm will have approximately 14 slats of fabric in a vertical blind. Even though each panel overlaps the one next to it they still all allow a certain amount of light to come into the room and can often give vertical glare lines.
Yes, a blackout blind can be made to measure and are the best option if you are looking for a full blackout option as they will be made to your precise window measurements. Most good blind companies will also come out to your home or business and will offer you a free measuring and fitting service and this means if they don’t fit, it is their responsibility to resolve and make you new blinds that will fit perfectly.
A made to measure blackout blind will be made to your window or doors exact measurements. Most windows are standard sizes however window recesses arent always so made to measure will mean they will fit perfectly and block out more light.
You can buy off the shelf blackout blinds, however, although most widows are standard sizes there are always variations in the widths of the recess from top to bottom. This means if you buy off the shelf blinds there could be a chance they don’t fit your window perfectly and won’t blackout as much of the light at the sides as a made to measure blackout blind would.
You can buy off the shelf blackout blinds and they come in standard window sizes, however, there really is no such things as a standard window, as homes across the UK have been built to different specifications, by different people and at different time periods. If you have an unusual window size you can buy the next size up and cut them or if your roller blind is too big when you come to fit it you can reduce it in size, however, be aware it is a really tricky job, it will ruin the overall finish of the blind and it won’t ever look as good.
Made to measure roller blinds are not much more expensive compared to off the shelf standard roller blinds, will fit your window perfectly and last for years to come.
Blackout roller and roman blinds can fit inside or outside of your window recess, the finished looks are different so always look around and on the internet to decide which style and finish you want to go with. A roman blackout blind will block out more of the light if fitted outside the recess than a roller blind as they fit flush to the wall.
The material of a blackout blind prevents the light from getting through.
Blackout roller, roman and vertical blinds are really easy to clean and maintain, you should dust them regularly and can wipe them with a clean damp cloth occasionally.
Yes, you can have blackout roller or roman blinds fitted to a door window or a whole patio door.
It depends on the type of blackout blind you go for as to how to fit them. If you buy off the shelf then follow the instructions and most importantly always use the right fittings and fixtures for the type of wall you are attaching them to. A good and professional blind company will offer a free home measuring and fitting service which take the stress out of fitting them yourself, as well as the mess or fear of getting it wrong and it ends up as a DIY disaster.
We would always advise that you buy a made to measure blackout blind from a professional and reputable blind company as it will fit much better than a standard off the shelf blind. This means less light will enter your room as well as having a free measuring and fitting service so all that you need to do is decide on the type of blind you want to go for and its material and fabric.
Blackout curtains typically feature tightly woven fabric to block out unwanted sunlight or have a blackout material sewn into them. Thermal curtains have a thermal fabric sewn into the back of them and they will reduce noise from outside, block out sunlight and reduce energy bills.
If you choose to have a blackout blind you don’t need curtains unless you want them for your finished style and look. They do what they say they will do and block out the light, sound and cold which a normal curtain wouldn’t do.
A blackout blind is a better option to curtains as they will cost less, they don’t overcrowd your room and will make it look bigger, they are easy to keep clean and maintain, they aren’t as heavy as curtains putting less strain on the fixtures, fittings and walls they are attached to and they can make a room look, cosy, modern and minimal.
Blackout curtains will be heavier, more expensive, make your room look smaller and need more cleaning compared to a blackout blind.
At Select blinds, we take pride in our ability to manufacture blinds to order. Using a range of materials and fabrics, we can take your needs, specifications and instructions and use them to create blinds of any colour or style.
We offer a wide range of blinds, curtains and more to keep your home comfortable all year round. We make all of our blinds to your specifications and offer a wide range of different fabrics, materials and colours for you to choose from. No matter what colour or style you are searching for, we will have it.
We keep a selection of popular blinds in stock and these can easily be adjusted to suit your needs and fit your windows perfectly
For made to measure blinds, you can select your favourite colour and style.
We offer vertical, roller, Venetian, shutter, Roman and many other styles!
All of our vertical blinds are child safe. We know the dangers that can be present with improperly designed blinds, that’s why we focus on manufacturing blinds that no child or pet can get snagged in
Add a stylish statement to any room with the right curtains. As simple as they may seem, the right colour of curtains & pelmets can be an instant mood changer for anyone that enters the room.
Select Blinds cover; Glasgow, Stirling, Coatbridge, Livingstone, Bathgate, Motherwell, Cumbernauld, East Kilbride and the surrounding areas across Central Scotland.
If you are looking for Blackout Blinds then we have a wide selection of standard ones to choose from or we offer a free made to measure; measuring and fitting service in your home or business in Glasgow, Stirling, Coatbridge, Livingstone, Bathgate, Motherwell, Cumbernauld, East Kilbride and the surrounding areas. Contact us today on 0808 301 9018 and one of our team will be happy to answer any questions you may have or book your free measuring and quoting appointment.