The Difference Between Blackout and Room-Darkening Window Shades

Hunter Douglas is a leading brand in the window treatment industry, providing a wide range of products to enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home while also serving practical purposes. When it comes to window treatments that offer light control, two popular options are room darkening and blackout shades. While these two types of shades may sound similar, they differ in terms of light control and functionality. In this blog, we will explore the difference between Hunter Douglas Room Darkening and Blackout shades, to help you make an informed decision when choosing window treatments for your home.

While every Hunter Douglas product allows some measure of light control, some products offer more room-darkening benefits than others. A key consideration is fabric or material type and color. Sheer fabrics typically soften and filter sunlight, providing light-dimming options. Semi-opaque and opaque fabrics block light, but do not completely eliminate it.

Fabrics and materials designated as semi-opaque or higher will offer room-darkening benefits. Keep in mind that while these fabrics and materials darken a room, they will not entirely eliminate light. 

We cannot guarantee blackout capabilities because the product, application, location and mount type will affect this. However, to reduce light gaps, we recommend outside mount products, except for Duette LightLock™. The LightLock system features patent-pending light control technology that absorbs light, preventing it from entering the room, and it is our only product that can provide true blackout when measured, ordered and installed correctly.

Room Darkening Shades

Hunter Douglas Room Darkening shades are designed to reduce the amount of natural light that enters a room, making them an excellent option for those who prefer to sleep in a dark environment. These shades offer some degree of light control, blocking out most of the sunlight, but they do not completely eliminate it. Room Darkening shades are ideal for bedrooms, nurseries, and media rooms where you want to reduce the amount of light but still maintain some visibility.

Hunter Douglas Room Darkening shades come in a variety of materials, including woven fabrics, cellular fabrics, and roller shades. These shades are available in different styles and colors, allowing you to customize them to match your home decor. With Hunter Douglas Room Darkening shades, you can enjoy the benefits of light control while maintaining some visibility.