Have you ever wondered if blackout blinds or curtains will actually help you sleep? The short answer is yes they will. And here’s why:
Light Is The Enemy Of Sleep
Light is the most important external factor that affects sleep. It is all to do with your body's natural circadian rhythm. Everyone has an internal body clock that signals when you should feel sleepy. Traditionally, society is awake during daylight hours and asleep during the darkness of night. A healthy circadian rhythm is in sync with sunset and sunrise, therefore your body naturally reacts to this indicating that nighttime is time to sleep.
Of course most of us don’t want to be waking up at sunrise everyday, especially in the summer months. In order to get the recommended eight hours of sleep we need to trick our brain into thinking it is still nighttime. Blackout blinds and blackout curtains block out the rays of sunrise prematurely waking you from your peaceful slumber.
Light, both natural and artificial, slows the creation of melatonin, the hormone that sends the message to your brain that it is time to sleep. This makes it much harder to get a great night’s sleep. The first step to making your bedroom conducive to sleep is to make it dark.
You may think that it is dark outside, however, street lights, the night sky and general light pollution can make its way into your bedroom making it harder to fall into a deep sleep. The kind of sleep we all need to feel well rested. Blackout blinds and blackout curtains will block out any light from outside.
How Do Blackout Blinds & Blackout Curtains Work?
Normal curtain fabric is woven in such a way that there are tiny gaps in the weave. Although you can’t see them, these gaps allow light to filter through into the room.
Blackout blinds and curtains and blackout lining fabrics are made of a thick opaque fabric. The fabric is made in such a way that it doesn’t allow light to filter through. With blackout blinds and blackout curtains it is imperative that they are fitted correctly. Any gaps around the edges will allow light to shine through and defeat their purpose. You will want your window to be completely covered. For tips on how to measure curtains read our helpful guide.
For help choosing the perfect blackout blinds or blackout curtains browse our fabulous range of fabrics.