Thermal Lined vs. Blackout Curtains

Blackout Curtains

• Blackout curtains are typically found in hotel rooms because they block light at all times of the day and night. These curtains typically feel stiffer and heavier to the touch than traditional curtains. Additionally, they are a popular option for bedrooms because they not only have light-blocking properties, but can also shield a room from exterior sound. Blackout drapes are often used in conjunction with sheer curtains to provide a stylish look to a room.

Thermal Lined Curtains

• These curtains look a lot like so-called normal curtains because they are available in a wide range of styles and materials. Styles such as grommet tops, tab tops, long drapes and standard curtains all may be made with a thermal backing, which faces out toward the window. Linings in thermal curtains also allow them to be used as blackout curtains. Heat transfer in homes occurs primarily through windows. Thermal lined curtains are designed to keep heat out of a room during the summer and to hold in heat during the winter. The key to thermal lined curtains is to use them properly to conserve energy. During the summer, curtains should be closed to minimize air conditioning use inside a house. In the winter, however, these curtains should remain open during the day to take advantage of the sun’s heating, and then closed at night to keep out cold air.

Difference in Linings

• Thermal linings are made with the idea to regulate temperature. They’re generally made of 100 percent cotton, wool or polyester and coated on the window side with acrylic foam or a layer of aluminum, which provides insulating properties. Blackout linings are made with a cotton-polyester mix. Blackout linings are typically stiff and placed between drapery fabric and an outer cotton lining. Certain lining fabrics, such as silks, can help protect curtains from the damaging effects of ultraviolet rays, thereby extending curtain life by 10 to 15 years. Suede lining, which produces an approximate 50 percent blackout effect, can provide ambient lighting.

Usage

• Thermal lined drapes are popular for windows with southern and western exposures, where the sun is strongest in the spring and summer. Blackout curtains have been traditionally used in hospitals, science labs, photography labs or similar areas in addition to bedrooms where darkness is desired. Home media rooms are another area where blackout curtains are widely used.