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These are perfect for the bedroom, living room, or anywhere else you need total darkness.
Bright light is one of the biggest culprits for sleepless nights. Whether it's a street light beaming in right through your window or a car passing by your house at night, if you're sensitive to light, you'll want to keep your bedroom dark. The best course of action here? Invest in blackout curtains or shades. Of course, not all so-called "blackout" products actually block out sunlight well, so when we wanted firsthand recommendations, we turned to members of our own team. Several of us actually have blackout drapes and Roman shades we swear by.
If you're looking for budget-friendly and even kid-friendly picks for your bedroom or other areas in the home, keep reading. We tapped our editors to share what they love about their blackout window treatments and kept the list of recs small, so you don't end up with decision fatigue. After all, there are many brands on the market that offer blackout curtains and shades. What makes our suggestions different is that, among all the ones out there, these are the products we personally chose for a mix of affordability and functionality. We've tested these for months, if not over a year, so we can tell you they are truly worth buying.
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TWOPAGES has one of the largest selections of window treatments at affordable prices. It'll take you a couple of days and some fabric swatch books to decide what you want (unless you're very decisive), but you will find what you want here. "My husband and I wanted blackout drapes in the bedroom and had heard good things about TWOPAGES in terms of quality and affordability, so we ordered some swatch books and landed on the velvet material in chocolate. The fabric is so soft, and the color added a moodiness to our pink room, which I love," says Senior Commerce Editor Marina Liao.
"When I pull them closed, the room is drenched in total darkness, which is great when we're sleeping in on the weekends or recovering from the flu and need complete darkness for rest. We've actually woken up on the weekdays to our alarm ringing at 7:30 a.m. while thinking it was still 3 a.m.—the drapes block out a lot of light. They also block out the cold draft coming from our window A/C unit in the winter—a godsend because our bed is right next to it.
I was a little worried the velvet would attract dust, as the material is notorious for that, and we have a dog who sheds a lot, but the dust is barely noticeable. The panels can be machine-washed on the delicate setting, which is a huge plus and a relief because it makes upkeep of this velvety fabric that much easier."
We all know Etsy is the best place to find unique home decor, artwork, handmade crafts, and more. So unsurprisingly, this spot is also perfect for custom pieces like blackout shades.
"Because my three bedroom windows are too tall for most ready-made Roman shades, I had to find custom options. I wanted something that looked elevated yet didn’t cost $500+ a panel (I needed to buy three, after all)," says Digital Director Blair Donovan. "After months of searching and comparing pricing across nine different brands, a PR friend showed me Roman shades from an Etsy seller that she had in her own apartment. I’ll admit, these were still a splurge, but I love absolutely everything about them. They’re made to order based on your window dimensions, and they come in your choice of fabric and color, plus an optional trim. You can pick between different linings, too. I ordered an all-white linen-blend design with a blackout finish—and it really works. In fact, my room stays so dark every morning that I have to turn my bedroom lights on first thing when I wake up, regardless of how sunny it is outside."
If you didn't know, blinds.com is part of The Home Depot family, so if you're looking for budget-friendly, reputable shades, this is the spot to go. This blackout set comes in many dimensions and colors, and won't cost you an arm and a leg if you need multiple shades.
"When you're a parent of young kids and desperate for sleep, you outfit every bedroom window with these blackout shades," says Deputy Photo Director Dangi McCoy. "Cost-effective and amazing at blocking out the light, I love them. Not the most gorgeous design elements, but they hide nicely layered under our curtains from when we were childless and well-rested."
For being under $100, they block out sunlight really well, so if you find the size and color you need, add to cart ASAP before they sell out. Plus, if you're planning to put these in a kid's room, playroom, or anywhere else your kids have access to, these won't break at the touch. "They're hardy! My three-year-old likes to play with them, and they're still in great shape," McCoy adds.
Target's home decor section has the best designer-approved, affordable finds (both Shea McGee and Joanna Gaines have collections there!), but did you know you can also buy window treatments there? Yes, the retailer carries a bevy of shades and curtains, all at budget-friendly prices: think under $50. When our managing editor, Sarah Esgro needed blackout curtains to block out light from a store, she turned to Target for an affordable pick.
"It’s not noticeable during the day, but at night, the bright red pharmacy sign across the street from my apartment is very intense and casts a ton of light into my bedroom," she says. "I needed something that would block it out so I could sleep. The grommets at the top do allow some light through, but it’s minimal. These curtains are also thick enough to keep cold air from leaky old windows at bay, but not heavy enough to remind me of hotel-room blackout curtains. The woven polyester fabric is pretty resilient, and it is supposedly washable, though I haven't washed it yet."
When buying blackout curtains, focus on fabric quality, coverage, and installation, says the TWOPAGES team; these factors matter more than just the “blackout” label.
For blackout shades, precision and mounting style are key to achieving effective light control. Look for:
Although blackout curtains and shades are perfect for the bedroom, they can be used throughout the home. According to TWOPAGES experts, here are some good spots to consider.
Home offices: They reduce screen glare and improve focus.
Media rooms or living rooms: They enhance TV viewing and create a better cinematic experience by minimizing ambient light.
Nurseries: They help regulate nap schedules by creating a darker sleep environment during the day.
South- or west-facing rooms: Rooms with strong afternoon sun can benefit from blackout treatments to help manage heat gain and glare.
Before you buy furniture, install or mount anything to your walls, or do any kind of home renovation project, you have to take measurements. It goes without saying that buying window treatments requires this essential step. Yes, some mental math may be required, but the worst thing you can do is spend money on shades or curtains that don't actually fit your windows.
"The biggest mistake is focusing only on the fabric and ignoring installation and coverage. Even high-performance materials won’t create a dark room if there are gaps around the window," says the TWOPAGES team. "Inadequate width, insufficient height, or mounting choices that leave side and top openings are the most common reasons blackout treatments underperform. Effective blackout depends on the combination of fabric, fit, and installation working together as a system."
The shopping team at House Beautiful, is dedicated to finding the best products for your home, whether that be a family-friendly couch for movie nights, outdoor furniture built to last through the seasons, or even a piece as functional and small as a stylish alarm clock. Yes, we cover everything you need for your house. And one of the most important products you could buy is window treatments. Whether you live in a studio apartment or in a sprawling countryside home, you need drapes and shades. And for anyone who likes to sleep in or watch TV in the dark (or both): blackout curtains and shades are a must.
For this story, we spoke with the team at TWOPAGES for advice on shopping for this type of window treatment and asked our editors for their top recommendations. We only included the pieces we love and use in our own homes, keeping the list of products small, to avoid decision fatigue. Best of all, the products are budget-friendly, so if you don't wish to drop thousands of dollars on panels, you've come to the right spot.
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