Can Roman Blinds Be Blackout?
Can Roman Blinds Be Blackout?
Yes. Roman blinds remove all light transmission through the fabric. Perfect for bedrooms. Also called ‘Voile’ or ‘Sheer.’ These fabrics can be very sheer or very opaque depending on the density of the weave.
There are several factors that affect how lightproof your roman blinds:
- Length of the blind. The longer the Roman Blind, the more light it can block off from coming inside your home.
- Thickness: As a general rule, thicker Roman Blinds are better at blocking out light than their thinner counterparts. It’s important to remember, however, that you must also consider how opaque a fabric is before buying it to make sure you’re choosing one that will work for you.
- Color: The more light-reducing dyes and finishes a fabric has, the better it will be at blocking out light.
- Lining: The more layers a Roman Blind has, the more light it can block off. Fabric layers of different types and weights are used to make Roman Blinds that vary in opacity.
Many roman blinds are available with a blackout lining that allows a privacy option when you want to let the light in and block it out when you want to. The blackout lining is also ideal for blocking heat from entering your home.
Some of the blackout options are made from thermal linings and others are made of natural fabrics like cotton, linens, and silk. Natural materials such as cotton, linen, and silk will absorb heat through their body but not as much as synthetic linings do.
Synthetic fabrics are very thin and tight and allow air to move through them while blocking light while they still allow air to pass through easily.
Blocking heat is also possible with blackout lined roman shades made with synthetic materials. They are not as effective at blocking light, but they absorb heat quite efficiently.
Do Roman Blinds Need Rods?
No. There are no rods or rod pockets sewn into the classic Roman shade. Cords lift the fabric and force the stacking into soft folds, allowing the shade to fit into a small space.
You don’t need to use rods for your Roman Blinds even if it does not have a header, because you can turn the fabric upside down, so the side with all the loops faces up. You can just put it right on your window sill. If your blind does have a header, you can also use this in place for hanging it.
Roman Shades also come with cords and chains, but these are optional extras since you can make them stand up by themselves with just the loops on the fabric. Cords help to keep the shades straight if they are not affixed to the wall or the sill of a window if there is no header.
Cords are great for rooms that have bigger windows because they allow more room for the fabric to open and close fully. The bigger the window, the more room is needed for the cord to move freely, and only with curtains, it tends to tangle quickly when moved around too much.
Beaded or fringed Roman shades are often used behind drapes that are lined with a thin piece of fabric. This second layer makes them seem heavier and will allow them to fall much smoother.
Beaded roman shades with just one layer of fabric are great in kitchens and bathrooms where they can create privacy while still allowing light to enter through their loops. Also, do not forget about the thermal linings for roman shades.
These linings are more effective as heat blockers than light-blocking linings and they are also an option to add if you want even more thermal insulation.
