Outdoors At Home A blog about home living, especially outdoors.

Did you know that installing blackout shades can prevent nearly 100% of all light from entering your room? The shades themselves are easy to install and work well in a variety of rooms including your bedroom, home theater room and even in a child’s room to help them fall asleep quicker during their daytime nap. Apart from providing a dark environment, they can also cut down on energy costs during the winter, while keeping the room cool during the summer.

While blackout shades can be purchased in a variety of different looks to complement your home or bedroom decor, nearly all of them are resistant to stains and dust. As mentioned previously, these shades are a cinch to install and many can be adhered to the window using adhesive for a more permanent solution if desired. Not only are these type of shades affordable, but they also can be installed in a matter of seconds.

If you’re looking for something more refined and adjustable then you’ll want to concentrate your search on roller shades. Using the simple pull of a string, these shades can be opened and closed to provide total darkness only when needed. Unlike traditional blinds or curtains that leave a gap around the perimeter, these shades stick close to the window frame through the use of a track system. The tracks themselves are quite small, giving them an unobtrusive appearance. While light may still creep in toward the bottom and top of the shade system, the amount of light that makes its way in will be nearly imperceptible. For complete darkness it may be best to install a simple valance, which will prevent light from entering toward the top of the fixture.

The best place to shop a wide selection of blackout shades is online, where you’re also likely to find the best pricing. Cost will vary widely depending upon the material you select and the size of your windows. Most local and online sites provide a variety of different shade systems, so it’s important to look around before settling on your final selection.

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