Darken Your Space with Lined Curtains

Getting the right amount of sleep is critical if you wish to function as a productive member of society. Quality sleep is also important for your health, since your body relies on sleep to repair itself. Not getting the sleep you need can lead to problems at work and can even make routine tasks like driving and operating equipment more dangerous. In fact, each and every year sleepy drivers cause accidents and fatalities because they failed to get enough sleep. Of course, for many that suffer from sleep deprivation, not getting the right amount of sleep isn't done by choice. People struggle to fall and stay asleep for a variety of reasons including an uncomfortable mattress or pillow, excessive noise or even from light pollution. Stray light entering a room can be particularly bothersome for people that must sleep during the day due to an odd work schedule. Still, other people are bothered by even the slightest amount of light such as moonlight or light from the street. Fortunately, there is a solution that can help to block all outside light regardless of its origin - lined curtains.

For the ultimate in black out capability, fully lined curtains can be put up rather than sheer drapes or blinds. Not only is a blackout curtain lining a great way to prevent light from entering your room, but certain linings can even limit small amounts of noise. Thermal lined curtains can be particularly effective for limiting street traffic, which can be an issue day or night. Of course, they are also great at keeping the inside of your room cool, which can make sleeping during the daytime all the more comfortable.

If you happen to have a custom sized window or if you plan to have curtains made by a designer, you will need to first take an accurate measurement of the windows you wish to cover. Although this might seem like an easy task, even one small mistake can mean the difference between curtains that look great and ones that look silly. When taking the actual measurements, be sure to use a metal tape measure rather than one made from cloth. You will be able to get a more accurate measurement and will be able to accomplish the task by yourself if needed. Be sure to take more than one measurement to ensure that everything is correct and then write down your measurements on a piece of paper. The paper will later be given to the designer or used for ordering your own curtains online.

You will want to take the width of the window as your first measurement, keeping in mind that some space should exist on either side to accommodate the curtain rod. Typically, this measurement will be about 7-inches on each side of the window. After getting an accurate width measurement go ahead and take your length measurement. Be sure to measure from your curtain rod down to where you want the curtains to fall. This may seem obvious, but you don't necessarily want the curtains to end right at the floor. Some people prefer the curtains to pool at the floor, so if this is what you'd like to achieve be sure to leave some room to accomplish this.

Yes, that’s right, lined curtains are an eco-friendly alternative to blinds and other types of window treatments due to their ability to block natural light during the daytime and retain heat during the night. Essentially, this means that you can turn down the air conditioner during the day and keep the heat turned down low at night. Apart from the ability to maintain a consistent environment in terms of temperature, lined curtains can also reduce noise from entering your room, which means that you can forget about running your stereo to provide white noise.

If you're interested in making your own curtains then the following video can help you on your way.