As any new parent will tell you, sleep is one of the greatest challenges you’ll face when having a baby. The amount of sleep you get is determined entirely by the sleeping patterns of your child, which is why it’s so important to develop healthy sleep routines from an early age.

Blackout curtains and blinds (also known as blockout curtains and blockout blinds) are highly recommended by baby sleep consultants to create an ideal sleeping environment for your little one. A solid night’s sleep is vital for healthy development in children, helping to promote growth and vascular health, while increasing attention span and learning ability. A well-rested baby means a happy baby, which means a happy mum and dad!

Not just beneficial in the nursery, blackout curtains and blinds are ideal for the ultimate shift workers… the mums and dads! Parents are up night and day juggling their children’s sleep cycle while maintaining jobs and housework, with block-out curtains and blinds helping to create a dark and soothing environment to get the sleep needed to balance a busy lifestyle.

How to select baby room curtains

For the optimal blackout bedroom experience, combine both block-out curtains and blinds together to ensure the most soothing sleep environment possible. This solution creates a double layer of blackout fabric, with the blackout curtains accounting for any light spills around the edges of the blackout blinds.

For nurseries, the most popular option is to use blackout blinds as the main window covering, complemented by decorative curtains on top. This winning combination is perfect for blocking light during daytime naps, while the decorative curtain can be customized to suit the décor of your child’s room. As an added benefit, decorative curtains can be easily changed in the future if you redecorate, without the cost of installing a new blind system.

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Sheer curtains are another popular selection for children’s rooms, as they create day time privacy while still allowing soft natural light to stream through. This effect can be created with sheer curtains over blackout blinds, or with our dual blinds which offer both semi-transparent and blackout roller blinds on the one control system.

Ensure safe installation of your blackout blinds and curtains

Once you’ve made a decision about the blackout curtains and blinds that are right for you, it’s important to ensure the blinds and curtains in your children’s room are installed safely.

At Abbey Blinds and Curtains, safety is our top priority and our products are always installed to Australian child safe guidelines. With over 28 years of experience installing blinds and curtains for nurseries and children’s rooms, we guarantee a safe and reliable installation every time.

Our main objective is to ensure controllers, brackets and rails are securely fixed to the walls so there is no risk of strangulation or danger. In some older homes the walls become weak, creating a risk of the brackets becoming unstable. Using a professional installer eliminates this risk by ensuring brackets are securely installed.

Looking for safe, reliable installation of blackout curtains and blinds? Contact us today to find the right solution for your nursery.

You may think this a trick question. After all they’re both made up of material that covers the window, right? The terms curtains and drapes often get used interchangeably and that might be because as far as most people are concerned they do the same thing. But actually, there are some subtle but important differences that we’re going to share with you.

Drapes

Drapes are the classic nobleman of the two, usually they signify opulence because of their weightier, thicker make up. They are usually made of heavier material and are lined. This makes them good for keeping out the light and even drafts from the window. As well as being made of a denser material, they are usually use more material as they are pleated and gathered. Drapes also tend to hang all the way to the floor, unlike curtains.

Curtains

Distinctively curtains are generally lighter and can also be lined. In recent years blackout lined curtains have become increasingly popular. Not just for night workers who need to get their z’s in the day, but for families that have difficulty keeping their baby and small children asleep past 5 am. Or simply anyone who wants to be woken by their alarm, not the sunlight.

Curtains can be short and reach the bottom of the window. In larger room curtains that reach the floor often give a more fitting look to the size of the room. Long cut, lined curtains can be a great middle ground to meet both blocking out light and drafts as well as decorating the room and providing a stylish finish.

Should you get curtains or drapes?

Ultimately this comes down to you and the purpose and style you want to create. Curtains can usually be opened to reveal the full width of the window to allow all the light in when you want it and close fully to shut it out when you don’t. The material is usually much lighter texture and easier to manipulate and position. Drapes have heavier material but also more of it. This can mean that they may need to be tied back when they are open. In this case they don’t fully expose the window, which is intended to create the feeling of luxury.

Most people look for the balance of practicality and design. Modern, simplistic, uncluttered design and fashion has meant that drapes aren’t as popular as they once were. You will find them in restaurants and hotels that convey an element of luxury.

Summary

Whether you decide to opt for curtains or drapes both will offer a good way to keep out the light and make an impact on the design and look of any room. Often classed as a finishing touch the correct design can have a big impact on the overall look and feel your trying to achieve, as well as potentially help you get a bit more shuteye by extending your morning sleep.

Contact Abbey blinds and curtains and our mobile showroom will come to you.