Blinds and Shades for the Bedroom

Lifestyle Considerations

When deciding on window treatments for a bedroom there are some important considerations to take into account depending on personal lifestyle.  If you sleep during day hours because of a night time job or just prefer not to get woken up with the sunrise in the morning, you may want to invest in shades or blinds that are specifically designed to filter out light.  These window treatments are especially helpful for children’s rooms and nurseries to help children and infants develop healthy sleep patterns, providing a good night’s rest for kids and parents alike!  You may also want to take into account whether you often have trouble falling to sleep at night, or whether you are an early riser who enjoys early morning sunlight as a way to kick-start the new day.  Your personal habits will effect how you choose blinds and shades for your bedroom.

Good Sleep Habits

Experts pinpoint the atmosphere in the bedroom as a common cause of insomnia.  They recommend a dark, cool room to people who have trouble sleeping.  This can be accomplished by the use of blackout roller blinds and other light-blocking window treatments.  Another helpful tip for people with insomnia is not having a television in the bedroom and creating a nightly ritual before going to bed.  Also key is going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, even on weekends when many people erroneously try to ‘catch up’ on sleep.  Creating a routine and a dark, restful environment are the keys to good sleep habits. 

Available Options for Window Blinds

Blinds with shutters and slats provide the best light control.  Any thick, opaque blind or shade will also provide darkness- wooden and faux wooden blinds or slats, aluminum blinds, roman shades, etc.,- but without additional light-blocking features such as a blackout lining, cracks of light may come through even the most opaque of materials. 

Blackout roller shades and blackout shades and blinds are perhaps the most widely available option, eliminating 98-100% of light and are a great alternative to slats or louvers.  Many of these blinds also block out UV Rays, helping to avoid fading of paintings, carpeting and upholstery.  Make sure to double-check item descriptions to see if UV-Ray blocking is a feature of the blinds you select.  When light is of paramount concern, shade or blinds may be installed using an outside amount (on window trim) to avoid cracks of light showing through on the peripheral edges.  These options can be found by looking for products and colors that are identified as ‘blackout’ or ‘room-darkening’.  Often these blinds are white facing the street and can be colored for the inside of your home, creating a uniform look from the street but adding color on the inside to match the décor in your bedroom, adding additional style.

Cellular Vertical Room-Darkening Blinds also provide a significant amount of light reduction and are more efficient than regular vertical blinds in blocking drafts and solar heating.  These are the best option for people who prefer the look of vertical blinds and would like the option of allowing some light in by tweaking the position of the slats, but are also looking for the light-blocking feature. 

Light-filtering or semi-opaque shades allow some outside light to enter through the window to create a soft glow even when the shade is fully lowered, and may not be suitable for people who prefer their room to stay completely dark throughout the morning and day hours.  Santorini Light-filtering vanes create long shadows that can create a soothing, unique look in a bedroom.  Santorini window shades also come in a room darkening option to provide more light filtering if you prefer to not have the shadows. 

One nifty option for the bedroom is the more modern remote-controlled blinds that are now widely available for an additional investment.  Imagine slipping into bed and reading or listening to soothing music for a while, then being able to use your remote control to close the blinds more tightly when you decide it is time to lie down and sleep!  This is also a popular option for people who have trouble getting in and out of bed easily, such as the elderly or the bed-ridden. 

The Natural Alarm Clock

One unique consideration may only be useful if you prefer to wake up by natural sunlight in the morning.  In modern times people traditionally wake up using alarm clocks, but the natural rising of the sun can create a natural alarm clock for people who prefer to rely on natural rhythms for their sleep habits.  For some people, waking up by sunlight just doesn’t work- they are such deep sleepers they need the ringing of the alarm clock to jostle them awake and give them that first burst of adrenaline.  For others, the gradual stirring caused by the natural glow of sunlight on the eyes gently rouses them out of sleep in a more relaxing way.  Some studies have suggested waking by natural sunlight may be especially useful for mental health by stabilizing your 24-hour internal clock and signaling your brain to become alert.  If this sounds like something you might be interested in, you may opt for shades and blinds that allow more light in or even operate on a timer or remote control.