Between the summer sun and the glass-heavy apartments common across Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, blackout curtains are one of the most requested upgrades we install. Done well, they turn a bright, hot bedroom into a cool, dark one in minutes - but not every 'blackout' curtain on the market actually blocks light completely.
What Makes a Curtain Truly Blackout
True blackout comes from the fabric's construction, not its colour. A proper blackout curtain has a tightly woven or coated backing layer bonded to the face fabric, which blocks light regardless of whether the front is cream, navy or bright white. Thinner 'room-darkening' fabrics reduce light but still let a soft glow through - useful in a living room, less so in a bedroom you want fully dark.
Common Mistakes We Fix
The most common issue we see is a track that's too narrow for the window, leaving strips of light down each side. We size every blackout track 15-20cm wider than the frame and slightly higher, so the fabric fully overlaps the glass. The second issue is fitting blackout alone with no sheer layer behind it - most households end up wanting a softer daytime option too, so we usually recommend a day-and-night double track from the start.
If you're planning a blackout curtain for a nursery, bedroom or home cinema, our team can bring fabric samples to your home, measure your exact window and quote a fixed price on the spot - with no advance payment.