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| | | Blackout curtains and blinds completely darken a room, creating a lightless space for projection TV viewing or day-shift sleeping. Blackout window coverings are made with an acrylic material formed into a curtain, or used as a coating on the window side of fabric curtains or certain styles of blinds. | | |
| Typical costs: | - Blackout curtains cost $13 -$2,500 per single panel. Costs vary by quality of construction, size, materials, and brand name. Blackout curtain panels come in a range of standard sizes, up to 84 inches long and 30 or more inches wide. Made-to-measure blackout curtains can range from about 30 inches to 177 inches wide and 15 to 124 inches long.
- A single blackout panel made with one layer of acrylic material can cost $13 -$100. A set of two standard-sized, one-layer acrylic blackout panels costs $30 -$80.
- Designer blackout curtains made-to-measure with multiple layers including silks, velvets, or damask fabrics, interlining, complex pleating and accessories can cost up to $2,500 for a single panel.
- Blackout curtain liners can be attached to the window-side of existing curtains. Liners cost $20 -$80 per panel. A pair of liner panels costs $50 -$100.
- Blackout shades (blinds) come in honeycomb, cellular, roller and Roman styles and cost $30 -$140 per shade. One shade covers one whole window. Standard sized blackout shades come in whole-inch widths from about 23 inches wide to 48 inches wide, and can be up to about 64 inches long.
What should be included: | - A blackout curtain panel does not usually include any hangers, clips or hardware unless it is custom-made. Many blackout curtains are sold as single panels, not in pairs.
- Blackout curtain liners should include one or more fabric blackout panels and the hardware necessary to attach the liners to existing curtains.
- A blackout shade should include all hardware for either interior or exterior mounting.
Additional costs: | - If the current curtain rod and rings or clips do not work with the new blackout curtains, a new curtain rod costs $5 -$125. Curtainrods.com sells all types of curtain rods.
- Additional hardware such as brackets, finials, holdbacks, rings, and clips cost $5 -$50 per item or set of items. Style, material (wood, metal, iron, glass) and brand name factor into the costs of hardware.
- Most blackout curtains are easy to install without professional assistance. eHow has a video that shows very basic curtain installation. IronHardware.com gives detailed instructions.
Discounts: | - Department stores and home stores often run sales on curtains, including blackout curtains. Look for sale information in mailed circulars and local newspapers.
- Overstock.com offers a small selection of blackout curtains for discounted prices.
- Bed Bath & Beyond (and some other retailers) mail homeowners and renters coupons on a regular basis.
Shopping for blackout curtains: | - Before entering the first store to comparison shop, measure all the windows that need curtains. The Macy's Measuring Guide provides a description of the necessary measurements, plus an overview of curtain and hardware styles, fabric choices, and design considerations.
- Blackout curtains are sold at many department stores in the"Home" department. For bargains, shop for curtains at Target or Wal-Mart. For something nicer and more expensive, explore Macy's or JCPenney's Made-to-Measure Panels.
- Home stores such as Bed Bath & Beyond carry one or more brands of blackout curtains.
- For certified, fire-retardant blackout curtains that can be used in studios, hospitals, or hotel rooms, look for specialty blackout curtain retailers like www.blackoutcurtains.com.
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Article updated January 2010 |
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