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One of the bedrooms is set up fairly well to block outside light to aid in sleeping:
using black-out panels, with regular curtains on top for aesthetics (to block out light coming straight through from the windows)
the curtains/panels are long enough to brush the floor (to block out light coming from underneath)
the curtain rods are the "return rod" type (with 90 degree angles on the ends so that the curtain edges can rest flush against the wall, to block out light coming in from the sides)
magnetic strips attached to sides of windows and sides of curtains (to further block light coming in from the sides)
the curtain rods are attached to the wall several inches above the windows (to block light from top of window)
above the rods, a wooden board is attached to the wall with metal brackets. A piece of black-out fabric (about 1 foot high), covered by curtain fabric, is attached to top of board and hangs down over the top of the curtains, like a valence/cornice box (to further block light from top of window)
It's not perfect. Some light still gets in through the cracks. But when the sun is up, with the curtains drawn and my eyes closed, I notice hardly any difference when I cover my eyes with my hands. So it is good enough.
Now I want to darken the other bedroom too. If possible, I want to improve upon my prior design. Not necessarily in light-blockage, but in ease of use.
I intended the curtains in the 1st room to be easy to open and close, to let in light and air during the day. But now I rarely even open one of the curtains. The curtain rings tend to snag on the curtain rod corners, so that I have to stand on the bed in order to reach the top and open/close the curtain. I tried attaching a wand but it didn't work out well (partly as there are really 2 parallel rods - more detail than I want to get into).
So. Pull-down black-out blinds with side channels might be good in light blockage and ease of use. But I want to be able to leave the window partially open to let in air at night, while still blocking the part of the window that is closed (especially as a street light shines towards the window). The windows in this bedroom slide open to the side, not up/down, so a pull-down blind would be less than ideal.
Black-out window inserts would block light well, but wouldn't allow air in. Plus it would be inconvenient to have to put up and take down the inserts every day, and store them somewhere during the day.
This product uses flexible rods to pin blackout material to the window. Interesting, but more trouble than I'd want to go through every day.
This product uses velcro strips to attach blackout material to the window. Interesting, but more trouble than I'd want to go through every day.
So. My current idea is to use a similar design as the first room in terms of blackout panels covered by curtains. But rather than using a curtain rod and curtain rings, to use a curtain track. That should make it easier to pull the curtains open and shut.
I want to attach the track to the ceiling, to avoid needing the wood board attached with metal brackets (for covering the top). This should also reduce the amount of light getting in from above.
Yet, most tracks are straight. They don't curve at the edges like return rods. So I would use flexible curtain track to be able to curve the ends.
But the track is supposed to be supported every 10 inches or so, while the ceiling joists are further apart. So maybe I'll attach the track to a board (...wait, wasn't I trying to avoid that? Yes, but...), and attach the board to the ceiling joists. That way I can also attach some fabric over the edge of the board as a valence/cornice like in the first room.
Still to consider: should I put up parallel tracks, to also allow hanging sheers?
edited to add:
I wonder if it would work to position the track right against the ceiling edge. Then I wouldn't need a curved track in order to have the blackout panel edges flush against the wall. But then I might need 3 parallel tracks - an inner track for the blackout panel, a center track for sheers, and an outer track for pretty curtains. Although if the sheers are pretty enough, I suppose I could do without curtains. Hmmm.
It's not perfect. Some light still gets in through the cracks. But when the sun is up, with the curtains drawn and my eyes closed, I notice hardly any difference when I cover my eyes with my hands. So it is good enough.
Now I want to darken the other bedroom too. If possible, I want to improve upon my prior design. Not necessarily in light-blockage, but in ease of use.
I intended the curtains in the 1st room to be easy to open and close, to let in light and air during the day. But now I rarely even open one of the curtains. The curtain rings tend to snag on the curtain rod corners, so that I have to stand on the bed in order to reach the top and open/close the curtain. I tried attaching a wand but it didn't work out well (partly as there are really 2 parallel rods - more detail than I want to get into).
So. Pull-down black-out blinds with side channels might be good in light blockage and ease of use. But I want to be able to leave the window partially open to let in air at night, while still blocking the part of the window that is closed (especially as a street light shines towards the window). The windows in this bedroom slide open to the side, not up/down, so a pull-down blind would be less than ideal.
Black-out window inserts would block light well, but wouldn't allow air in. Plus it would be inconvenient to have to put up and take down the inserts every day, and store them somewhere during the day.
This product uses flexible rods to pin blackout material to the window. Interesting, but more trouble than I'd want to go through every day.
This product uses velcro strips to attach blackout material to the window. Interesting, but more trouble than I'd want to go through every day.
So. My current idea is to use a similar design as the first room in terms of blackout panels covered by curtains. But rather than using a curtain rod and curtain rings, to use a curtain track. That should make it easier to pull the curtains open and shut.
I want to attach the track to the ceiling, to avoid needing the wood board attached with metal brackets (for covering the top). This should also reduce the amount of light getting in from above.
Yet, most tracks are straight. They don't curve at the edges like return rods. So I would use flexible curtain track to be able to curve the ends.
But the track is supposed to be supported every 10 inches or so, while the ceiling joists are further apart. So maybe I'll attach the track to a board (...wait, wasn't I trying to avoid that? Yes, but...), and attach the board to the ceiling joists. That way I can also attach some fabric over the edge of the board as a valence/cornice like in the first room.
Still to consider: should I put up parallel tracks, to also allow hanging sheers?
edited to add:
I wonder if it would work to position the track right against the ceiling edge. Then I wouldn't need a curved track in order to have the blackout panel edges flush against the wall. But then I might need 3 parallel tracks - an inner track for the blackout panel, a center track for sheers, and an outer track for pretty curtains. Although if the sheers are pretty enough, I suppose I could do without curtains. Hmmm.