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The best blackout curtains for bedroom sleep block light completely, hang long enough to cover the window edges and match your room’s style. A white or linen-look blackout panel suits most bedrooms, while navy, sage and velvet panels add color and usually need a liner for full darkness.
This list is part of my bedroom ideas guide, and pairs with my relaxing bedroom essentials. Each pick has a strong rating from a big pool of reviews, and I read those reviews to check the darkness claims.
Some colorful curtains are room darkening rather than full blackout, so I note that on each one. Darkness at night is one of the simplest sleep upgrades there is.
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Top Picks
| Category | Product |
|---|---|
| 🏆 Best Overall Blackout | NICETOWN White Blackout Curtains |
| 🌾 Best Linen Look | MIULEE Linen Blackout Curtains |
| 🤍 Best Layered Look | INLINAS Blackout With Sheer Overlay |
| 🌊 Best Navy Pick | BGment Navy Room Darkening Curtains |
| 🌿 Best Sage Green | Sun Zero Easton Blackout Curtain |
| 🌲 Best Velvet | RYB HOME Velvet Curtains |
| 🧩 Best Liner | DriftAway Blackout Curtain Liner |
| 🪟 Best Roller Shade | AOSKY Cordless Blackout Roller Shade |
My Take as a Trainer
The darkest bedroom is the one with no gaps, so measure first and choose second.
- Want it simple? NICETOWN white or MIULEE linen look for real blackout in a neutral room.
- Love color? Navy, sage or velvet, plus the DriftAway liner behind them.
- Need total darkness? The AOSKY roller shade inside the frame with curtains on top.
- Renting? A liner on your current rod is the easiest upgrade.
Starter plan: hang the rod higher and wider than the window this weekend, then add curtains that reach the floor.
#1🏆 Best Overall Blackout
If you want a curtain that looks light from the inside and still makes the room dark, this is the one to start with. The black liner is sewn into the back, so the white front stays crisp.
White works with almost every bedroom style, from coastal to minimalist, and keeps the room feeling bright when the curtains are open.
Coach’s note Hang the rod 4 to 6 inches above the window frame and extend it past each side, so the panels cover the edges where light leaks in.
What People Say
Reviewers call these the best blackout curtains they’ve found at any price, and many say they also cut street noise and keep the room cooler.
The main note is that they arrive folded, and the creases take time to drop out.
Overall sentiment Positive
Best For
Light, bright rooms that still need to go dark.
Style
Coastal, minimalist, japandi and white bedrooms.
Key Benefits
- Sewn-in black liner
- Also helps with heat and noise
- White front works with any decor
#2🌾 Best Linen Look
Linen-look curtains give you the relaxed, natural texture of neutral and japandi rooms with real blackout performance behind it.
They come in eight sizes and lots of colors, including sage green and ivory.
Coach’s note In a neutral room, match the curtain to your bedding or go one shade lighter than the walls. Low contrast is what makes a bedroom feel calm.
What People Say
Reviewers say the room goes completely dark, even facing streetlights or a parking lot, and that the linen texture looks more expensive than the price.
There are very few complaints. One reviewer noted they keep the room so dark it feels like midnight during the day, which is the goal for most buyers.
Overall sentiment Positive
Best For
Neutral, japandi and sage green bedrooms.
Colors
Beige, ivory, sage and more.
Key Benefits
- Linen texture
- Blackout and thermal insulated
- Many sizes and colors
#3🤍 Best Layered Look
This curtain gives you the soft, layered look of sheer curtains during the day and a darker room at night, without a double rod.
It’s a good fit for romantic, cottage and boho rooms where a plain panel feels too flat.
Coach’s note If a curtain isn’t fully blackout, close the gap at the top and sides. A wraparound rod or a liner behind it makes a big difference.
What People Say
Reviewers love how pretty and elegant they look and say they darken the room well. Several bought more than one pair.
A few say they are very close to blackout but not total, with a warm glow coming through on bright days.
Overall sentiment Mostly Positive
Best For
Soft, romantic and cottage rooms.
Darkness
Very dark, not total blackout per reviewers.
Key Benefits
- Sheer and blackout in one panel
- Grommet top, easy to hang
- Soft layered look
#4🌊 Best Navy Pick
Navy curtains are a classic match for navy, white and coastal bedrooms. These are a budget pick with a huge number of reviews.
Be clear on what they are: room darkening, not full blackout. Pair them with a liner if you need true darkness.
Coach’s note Measure your window before ordering. These come in many lengths, and the 63 inch default is short for most bedroom windows, so choose the length that reaches the floor or sill.
What People Say
Reviewers say they make the room plenty dark for the price and help with summer heat, and many love the color. Some double up panels for extra darkness.
Several are honest that they aren’t proper blackout curtains, with a small amount of light getting through.
Overall sentiment Positive
Best For
Navy, white and coastal rooms on a budget.
Darkness
Up to 85% per the listing; add a liner for full blackout.
Key Benefits
- Huge range of colors and lengths
- Thermal triple-layer fabric
- Budget friendly
#5🌿 Best Sage Green
Sage green curtains bring a soft, natural color to a neutral room, or tie a sage room together. This is one panel, so most windows need two.
It blocks most light rather than all of it, which suits rooms where you want darkness without a heavy look.
Coach’s note Order two panels for a standard window and make sure the combined width is about twice the window width, so the curtains look full when closed.
What People Say
Reviewers say they block sunlight well and help keep a room cooler, and they like the color and how they wash.
The most common tip from reviewers is to order two, because one panel doesn’t cover most windows.
Overall sentiment Positive
Best For
Sage green, earthy and cottage rooms.
Buying Tip
Sold as one panel, so order two.
Key Benefits
- Blocks most light
- Reduces outside noise
- Soft sage color
#6🌲 Best Velvet
Velvet curtains are the finishing touch for moody bedrooms. They hang in heavy folds and make a room feel warm and wrapped up.
Darker colors darken a room well, but these aren’t true blackout curtains, so add a liner if you need full darkness.
Coach’s note Pick a velvet one shade deeper than your walls for a rich, cocooned look, and keep the rest of the room simple so it doesn’t feel heavy.
What People Say
Reviewers love the rich color and thick, high-quality fabric, and many have bought them in several colors for different rooms.
One reviewer pointed out they’re a single layer without blackout coating, so lighter colors let more light through.
Overall sentiment Positive
Best For
Moody, navy and dark green bedrooms.
Darkness
Room darkening; pair with a liner for blackout.
Key Benefits
- Thick, soft velvet
- Rich colors
- Helps with drafts
#7🧩 Best Liner
Already have curtains you love? A liner adds blackout and insulation without replacing them. It hangs behind your current panels on rings.
It’s also the fix for room darkening or velvet curtains that let some light through.
Coach’s note Liners are the easiest blackout upgrade for renters too. Hang them on the same rod and nobody sees them from the room.
What People Say
Reviewers say the room goes very dark even in bright sun, and several mention it helps keep the house cooler. Many found them easy to hang.
One reviewer received a set with missing rings, so check the box before you start.
Overall sentiment Positive
Best For
Keeping curtains you already love.
Fit
Made for 84 inch grommet curtains per the listing.
Key Benefits
- Turns most curtains into blackout
- Thermal insulated
- Rings included
#8🪟 Best Roller Shade
A blackout shade inside the window frame plus curtains on top is the darkest setup you can get. The shade blocks light at the glass and the curtains cover the edges.
Cordless shades are also tidier and safer around kids and pets.
Coach’s note Measure the inside of the window frame in three places and use the smallest width. A snug shade leaks less light at the sides.
What People Say
Reviewers say they’re easy to install, easy to raise and lower, and block a lot of heat and light. Several replaced shades in a whole house.
A few saw some light at the edges, and one reviewer noted the edges curled slightly at first.
Overall sentiment Positive
Best For
Layering under curtains for full darkness.
Measure
Inside-mount measurements matter most.
Key Benefits
- Cordless free-stop design
- Heat insulating coating
- Many sizes
How to Hang Blackout Curtains for Total Darkness
Most light leaks around curtains, not through them. Mount the rod 4 to 6 inches above the frame and 6 to 10 inches past each side, choose panels that reach the floor, and use a wraparound rod or a liner if you see light at the edges.
Darkness is one of the basics in my sleep hygiene guide. If light is only part of your problem, my list of things sabotaging your sleep covers the rest, and the best bedroom colors for sleep will help you pick curtains that match a calm palette.
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Do Blackout Curtains Really Help You Sleep?
They can, especially if streetlights, early sunrise or shift work keep your room bright. A dark room supports your natural sleep cycle, and many people sleep longer without the early light.
What Is the Difference Between Blackout and Room Darkening Curtains?
Blackout curtains block nearly all light, usually with a coated or lined back. Room darkening curtains block most light but let some through, so pair them with a liner for full darkness.
What Color Blackout Curtains Are Best for a Bedroom?
Any color can be blackout if it has a liner. White and linen tones keep a room bright by day, while navy, sage and velvet add a cozy, moody look.
How Long Should Bedroom Blackout Curtains Be?
Floor length usually looks best and blocks the most light at the bottom edge. For a standard window with the rod mounted above the frame, 84 or 96 inch panels are common.
This article is about bedroom design and general sleep habits, and it isn’t medical advice. If you regularly struggle to sleep or feel exhausted after a full night in bed, talk to your doctor.
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