This Design Upgrade Can Actually Help You Fall Asleep Faster

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Good sleep can be hard to come by, but great design—specifically, installing a pair of the best blackout curtains—can help you achieve it. You might be skeptical about the design part f you're picturing something drab and black or gray, but these window treatments come in many more colors and patterns than that. For instance, The Shade Store has launched collections even maximalist design lovers would approve of with interior design stars like Nate Berkus and Robert and Cortney Novogratz. So we tapped them to explain how to buy a blackout curtain that's chic and functional. We also reached out for guidance to Adam Skalman, The Shade Store's vice president of sales development and training; interior designer Betsy Helmuth of Modern Interior Design by Uploft; and Lauren Robbins, founder of Lauren Robbins Interiors. With their help, we've narrowed down some of the best blackout curtains the internet has to offer.

Like all curtains, blackout shades take a little effort to get right. "People think of drapes as just, you know, slap up one on either side and close them, but there's a lot to think about," says Helmuth. "Drapes don't have to be an expensive purchase, but they do have to be a strategic one." That's especially true for blackout curtains. You need a really dark room to get a restful night's sleep, and blackout curtains can ensure minimal sunlight, city lights, or street lights can shine in—if they fit your window well. Perfecting the fit requires some research and careful measuring.

For the best results, you also need to mount your blackout curtains correctly. Blackout curtains tend to be the thickest, heaviest window treatments you can buy, so it's important to use a sturdy curtain rod and install it the right way. "A lot of times, those telescoping rods probably aren't the best thing to use because they're not really going to hold the weight of a blackout curtain," says Robbins.

Below, we've rounded up the best blackout curtains, including plenty of affordable picks and some dramatic velvet drapes you'd never guess have a blackout lining. We also included expert answers to common questions, including the best material for blackout curtains and how to measure for blackout curtains.

Whether you're searching for a durable, insulated pick or simply want a stylish way to block out sunlight, we made sure to spotlight functional pieces that work as well as they look. Click through the items that caught our attention and get the rest that you deserve.

Cotton Velvet Curtain

Add drama to any space with these velvet curtains in an eye-catching mustard color. The heaviness of the fabric automatically provides elegant privacy, and nothing will get past the blackout lining. "Blackout curtains are so hardworking, minimizing light and elevating the way someone lives in their space," Berkus says. "But they can also be good looking, adding a pattern or colorway that will complement the overall design of a room." We'd say this gold set fits the bill.

Bantam Solid Blackout Curtains

Temperature control is the other piece of the blackout curtains puzzle. Hanging some up will help keep the cold out in the winter and the heat out in the summer. According to a customer review, this chic set from Wayfair gets the job done. "I have never received more compliments on curtains [than] I have with these," one satisfied shopper wrote. "I have shared the link no less [than] 20 times in my home decor FB groups. I would 100 buy them again! They are a great weight for winter and hang so nicely...."

Custom Drapes

"The most important thing is to make sure that they fit the window properly...to ensure that no light peeks through, especially in the bedroom," Berkus says. What better way to make that happen than with custom drapes? The Shade Store lets customers choose from eight distinct drapery styles with endless customization options, including blackout lining.

Sleep Blackout Curtains

"If you're looking for the perfect blackout drapery for your windows, it's important to consider both form and function," Skalman says. Beyond light and temperature regulation, curtains can reduce noise. If you have little ones who need complete silence to doze off, we suggest heading over to Pottery Barn Kids.

Peace & Quiet Blackout Curtains

Pottery Barn also offers blackout curtains for an adult's office or bedroom. These subtle chambray panels are perfect for city dwellers who continue to work from home and need help muffling the street noise.

Boucle Blackout Curtain Panel

"If you're insulating from sunlight to primarily keep heat out…there are different options for everything so it's good to know what you need," the Novogratzes say. It's essential to have window coverings that minimize the sun and keep your home cool. These bouclé panels do that for a very reasonable price.

HPD Half Price Drapes

On the hunt for a contemporary look and feel? These budget-friendly Amazon curtains mimic silk and won't disappoint. Hang them as close to the ceiling as possible to create the coveted illusion of extra height in a room.

Goblet Pleat Drapes

Pleated blackout drapery is a classic silhouette that checks every box, and customizing some is a treat-yourself moment you won't regret. After all, you can't put a price on sound sleep and impeccable style. "We've currently finished a project in The Bird Streets [neighborhood] of L.A. with huge windows and are working on another one in NYC, and we always recommend creating a custom treatment to make a bold statement," the Novogratzes say. "There are places to save in design and places to splurge. Think of a large window as an artistic moment—you want to adorn it with a gorgeous frame."

Seaton Textured Cotton Blackout Curtain

Natural textures like cotton tend to be more expensive, but they're also more reliable quality-wise for curtains. They block light well and drape beautifully, making them a great backdrop for a bedroom or home movie theater. Block that pesky window glare for daylight gaming or sports watching parties.

Belgian Flax Linen Blackout Curtain

Helmuth advises that selecting your blackout curtains should be one of the last steps of your design process because they need to fit in with the scheme you've created for your space. "They're such large elements in a room," Helmuth says. "They're really tall and can be really wide when shut. They need to go gracefully with the rest of the design." These linen curtains come in plenty of color options, so whether you've opted for a soft neutral or need a pop of color, you can use them for the perfect finishing touch.

What Material Should I Pick?

When picking the material for your drapes, Robbins says a linen or cotton set is always a safe bet, as they drape well. Naturally, you’ll want to steer clear of sheer fabric. “A thinner kind of gauzy material is definitely something I would stay away from when you're looking for blackout curtains,” Robbins says. “The thicker the better.”

Unfortunately when buying blackout curtains, it can be trickier to tell the quality of the synthetic fabric. “It can look a little stiff and doesn't look like nice, luxurious fabric, instead it looks kind of like a plastic shower curtain liner,” Helmuth says.

How Should I Measure For Blackout Curtains?

When measuring for your drapes, Robbins advises to measure from the bottom of the crown molding all the way to the floor. One crucial step a lot of homeowners miss is to measure for the sides of the window, as this is where light often seeps in. Robbins suggests going past the width of the window casing to decrease light gaping. If you don’t have enough fabric to cover the sides, Helmuth cautions that the fabric will be taut, rather than undulating to conceal the edges of the window.

“People buy blackout blinds and think that they're fine, but then they notice that there's this thin ribbon of bright light that's coming in on all sides, because there's light seepage between where the window frame is and where the blind is,” Helmuth says.

Helmuth’s formula for finding the right curtain size is that your drapes should be 1.5 to 2 times the width of your window. “If you have a 40-inch wide window, which is pretty standard, then each panel needs to be 40 inches in order for you to have the appropriate amount of undulation or extra fabric to close and to conceal that seepage.”

Where Should I Put Blackout Curtains?

Blackout curtains fit well for daily use in the master bedroom, but their effect is desirable in other areas of the home. Nurseries can use the blackout effect for nap time in the middle of the day, and those who travel internationally could benefit from the drapes as they adjust to the time change. Plus, if your living room’s sleeper sofa doubles as your guest bedroom, putting blackout curtains in there helps the space transition from day to night easily.

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