A blackout curtain that still lets in a bright strip of light along the top or sides is one of the most common complaints we hear - and almost always fixable without replacing the curtain itself.
Why Light Sneaks In
Light at the top usually comes from a track mounted too close to the ceiling with a gap behind the fabric header. Light at the sides comes from a track that's the same width as the window, so the curtain has nowhere to overlap the frame when closed.
Fixes That Work
For the sides, extending the track 15-20cm past each edge of the frame solves most cases - we build this into every blackout order by default. For the top, a pelmet (a fabric-covered board above the track) or a wrap-around return at the ends of the track blocks the gap completely. For a truly sealed, cinema-dark room, we can also fit a side channel that the curtain edge slides into, similar to a blackout blind.
If your existing curtains are letting light through and you're not sure why, send us a photo on WhatsApp - we can usually tell you the fix before we even see the window in person.