Do You Need Thermal Curtains or Blackout Curtains?

 

Curtains have a major role to play in the overall aesthetic and appearance of the houses. However, a basic curtain is certainly not enough for your beautiful home. After all, window coverings are not all about bringing a decorative touch to the home. When it comes to considering the comfort factor ensured by the curtains, adding an insular lining to the regular window curtains is a sound idea.

An insular lining on the curtains not only helps to regulate the temperature of your home but also dim outside noises. And in terms of insular lining, you have two choices: thermal effect curtains and blackout curtains.

What Are The Blackout Curtains?

Tightly woven, layered, or dense fabrics like suede, velvet, and felt feature in the blackout curtains. The blackout liner, which is usually a component of the blackout curtain, might also be added to regular curtains for creating the same impact. The main reason to use blackout material as a window or long door curtain is to keep out the light from streaming in your home in places where you don’t want it. They are also useful in insulating your home by blocking harsh sunlight.

The synthetic linings in the blackout curtains make them unsuitable for ironing, bleaching, and even placing them in the washing machine. You can steam and spot clean these curtains to keep them in good condition. You will find clear instructions about taking care of the curtains on the label. Make sure to follow the instructions while washing the curtains.

What Are The Thermal Effect Curtains?

Glass is a poor insulator, makes the window the largest avenue of heat loss in homes. Though the seal can prevent some heat loss, the seal degrades over time. Thermal curtains can also filter the unwarranted natural light, but their primary function is to insulate the home. 

The double or triple-layered fabric of these curtains comes with a polyester-film vapour barrier and a thick backing of insulating material. Thermal window coverings are either polyester, wool, or cotton curtains. The thick backing also prevents the outdoor noises from high-traffic areas and busy streets from coming in.

Typically, thermal curtains should be completely hand-washed using warm water and a mild detergent. You can also place the curtains in your washing machine on the gentle cycle annually. Then, hang the curtains to dry and lightly iron the material. Furthermore, you would need spot cleaning with a damp cloth, and regular dusting is good enough to keep the curtains clean for a year.

Choosing Between Thermal Curtains and Blackout Curtains

Choosing the right type of curtain for your home mainly depends on what you count as your biggest issue. Go for blackout curtains if your home is thoroughly insulated already, and natural light is the major problem. On the other hand, thermal effect curtains are the better choice when natural light is not your issue, but you are annoyed with those drafty windows. However, both these types of curtains would reduce these two issues to some extent. So, even if you get thermal curtains instead of blackout ones for blocking natural light, you will not be entirely disappointed.

Also, you cannot distinguish between the thermal and blackout curtains based on colours and designs. The only thing you can do is to pay attention to the weave and the quality of insulation in the curtain that you are planning to buy.

Hopefully, this discussion has cleared up your doubts about whether to get thermal or blackout curtains for your home. It’s time to go curtain shopping for your home now!