GUIDE
Dimout: how to choose the right curtains and blinds
Just as there are many different reasons for wanting to darken a room, there are also several ways of doing it. In the bedroom, the need may be to shut out as much light as possible, while in a TV room it is often enough to reduce glare and reflections.
There are several dimout solutions, from curtains to roller blinds and other blinds. In this guide, we go through how the different options work and what sets them apart.
If you want to see the full range, you'll find our dimout products gathered together on one page.
Roller blind
Many people probably think of roller blinds first when it comes to blackout. A blackout roller blind shuts out the light so you get it really dark, and is an easy way to darken the room. What's more, we have several different models to suit your particular window!
For example, we have no-drill roller blinds Tension and Multifix, standard roller blinds that are suitable for both wall and recess mounting, and also a patterned collection of children's roller blinds.
For blackout with a roller blind, it is a good idea to let the roller blind extend a few centimetres onto the wall to minimise light transmission. It is also good if the roller blind is under-rolled, so that the fabric sits as close to the wall as possible. Our blackout roller blinds are supplied under-rolled as standard. Bear in mind that with recess mounting there will be some light transmission at the sides, as the roller blind's brackets take up a centimetre or so on each side.
Curtain panels
If you want a hotel feel at home, dimout curtain panels are a brilliant option. A dimout curtain is easy to draw when you want to shut out the light, and it also looks really good in the window.
For a real hotel feel, choose a double track and hang sheer curtains on the inner track and dimout curtains on the outer one. This makes it easy to switch between light filtering and dimout. All our curtains come with a multipurpose curtain tape that lets you choose exactly the heading style you want – read more in our curtain guide.
Something worth bearing in mind if you want to darken a room with curtain panels is that there will be a gap at the sides, as the curtain usually doesn't sit completely flush against the wall. A good alternative, if you have the option, is to hang curtains from wall to wall in the room to avoid light transmission at the sides.
Roman blinds
For those who want both a blind and a stylish curtain valance, the Roman blind is just right. Nova is a Roman blind that provides both blackout and a sound-absorbing effect, making it perfect for the bedroom or TV room, for example.
The Roman blind can be mounted on a wall or ceiling, or inside a window recess. With recess mounting, there may be a gap at the sides of the fabric, so for the best possible dimout effect we recommend mounting the Roman blind on the wall or ceiling so that the fabric extends a little beyond the window. However, the fabric will not sit completely flush against the wall, so there will still be a small gap. The further the Roman blind extends onto the wall, the less light will filter in.
Pleated blinds
You can also choose blackout fabrics for our pleated blinds. These have a double-layer fabric, known as honeycomb, which conceals the cord holes so that no light gets through.
Vertical blinds
The vertical blind is a type of blind that works particularly well in large window sections where other blinds fall short. With vertical fabric slats that can be tilted, you can vary the light transmission, and you can also draw the whole blind aside when you don't want any light filtering at all.
Frequently asked questions about dimout
Which colour darkens the room best?
It's easy to think that dark colours darken a room best, but that isn't true. Light colours darken a room just as well as dark ones – it's the composition of the fabric, not the colour, that determines how effective the dimout is.
Will the room be completely dark with dimout fabric?
Even if the fabric is dimout, light can seep in from the sides if the curtain or blind doesn't cover the whole window. To minimise light transmission, choose a blackout roller blind that is wider than the window, or curtains with an extra blackout layer that cover the whole wall. See our full range of dimout products to find the best solution for your windows.
What does it mean when a curtain is dimout?
Dimout is a category that includes both curtains that shut out light completely and curtains that darken the room considerably.
Some curtains have an extra blackout layer that blocks all light, while others are dense enough to reduce light transmission significantly without an extra
layer.
Which blind darkens the room best?
A blackout roller blind or dimout Roman blind mounted outside the window recess, on the wall or ceiling, darkens the room best. For the room to get really dark, the blind must be wider than the window and cover the sides as much as possible.
What is the difference between a dimout fabric and a room-darkening fabric?
Within the dimout category, there are both complete blackout fabrics and room-darkening fabrics. A complete blackout fabric often has an extra layer on the back that blocks out all light, while a room-darkening fabric lacks this layer but is still thick enough to reduce light transmission considerably.
How do I make the bedroom completely dark?
To make the room completely dark, choose a blind with blackout fabric or curtains with an extra blackout layer. Make sure to cover areas where light can seep in, for example by combining a wide roller blind that covers the sides of the window with wall-to-wall dimout curtains.
To compare different options, take a look at our full range of dimout products.
How do I clean dimout curtains?
Curtains without a blackout layer can usually be machine washed. Curtains with a blackout layer, on the other hand, should be spot-cleaned and wiped with a damp cloth. Always follow the washing instructions for your specific curtain!
Which curtain darkens the room best?
A curtain with a blackout layer darkens the room best. Without this extra layer, the room won't get completely dark.
Can you iron dimout curtains?
Yes, many curtains can be ironed. Curtains without a blackout layer can usually be ironed directly on the fabric. Curtains with a blackout layer should be ironed on a low heat with a pressing cloth on the front to avoid heat damage. Always follow the care instructions for your specific curtain!
Extra tips for dimout
Sleep cool
Close your blackout blind in the bedroom a while before you plan to go to bed. A blackout blind also helps to keep the heat out, and if you shut out the sun for a while before bedtime, you can enjoy a cool, comfortable temperature in the room.
Colour choices
Our blinds come in lots of different colours and patterns – and did you know that our light-coloured blackout fabrics darken the room just as well as a dark one? So you can pick and choose from all the variants exactly as you like! We've gathered our blackout products on one page for anyone who wants an overview.
Darken the room where your children sleep
Since the very youngest children also sleep during the day, we recommend choosing a blackout blind for the room where they sleep. A dark curtain can make the room a little darker, but a blackout blind shuts out the light and reduces the heat from the blazing sun.