There are many reasons you’d want to block light from coming through windows in Cincinnati. Say you want to dampen ambient street light, constant traffic going by, or regular sunlight, dampening the light coming from your windows is important for relaxing and getting quality sleep.
For those dreaming of better sleep, here are a few ways Cincinnati homeowners can best control the light.
Which Window Treatments Block Light The Best?
Lots of Cincinnati window treatments claim to block light, and you can pretty easily divide them into three groups: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Here’s how they stack up.
Light Controlling Window Treatments – The Good
The best window treatments to darken your windows should do these things:
The window treatment that hits all these marks is Cincinnati plantation shutters. When the louvers are closed, shutters create an almost complete seal on your windows, letting almost no light in. Our premier Polywood shutters also come with built-in weatherstripping that covers the gaps around your window frame, making them even more effective. And unlike vinyl shutters, Polywood is guaranteed to warp or bend, which can result in gaps that let light in.
And unlike some gaudy DIY blackout products, shutters look stylish in any space. Instead of looking like some hardware, they’re as pretty as they are functional.
A second option belonging to the “good” category is light-blocking roller shades. These are made with thick and layered material to keep out most light, and extend beyond your window opening. There can be some miniscule spaces around the edges of the shade where light might seep into the room. But for something other than shutters, light-blocking shades make a pretty good option.
Light Controlling Window Treatments – The Bad
In the “bad” category are window treatments that don’t quite get the job done when it comes to blacking out a window. Any kind of fabric window covering, from curtains to drapes, will allow some light in if they aren’t both extremely dense and go past the frame of your window.
Even heavy-duty blinds don’t get the job done, because the slats on blinds don’t lock into each other like shutter louvers do. That means you’re going to get light, even if it’s at a very slight angle.
Light Controlling Window Treatments – The Ugly
Search for “Cincinnati window blackouts” on the internet and you’ll probably find some DIY sheets made to hang in a window frame to block light. Most of them are customizable to your window’s dimensions, and stick to your frame via velcro or another adhesive. And for the most part, they work fairly well.
But there are a few issues with these products. First off, they’re kind of ugly. Many of these products give up looks for function. So if you get a few of these blackout sheets, do it in a spot that you don’t mind looking unstylish.
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Second, for being easy to DIY, you’d better hope that you don’t have to take them up and down much. The adhesive or velcro that attach them to the wall can wear off fairly easily, which means you’ve got no choice but to try another one.
Let Sunburst Shutters Cincinnati Help You Black Out Your Windows Better
To learn more about custom shutters or other window treatments to block light, get in touch with your Cincinnati shutter team. Complete the form below or call us at 513-216-9740 today to schedule a free, no strings attached consultation.