Blackout Blinds: What Actually Blocks Light

Not all “blackout blinds” actually block out all light — the real difference comes down to the fabric backing and how the blind is installed, not just the label on the product.

How Blackout Fabric Actually Works

A blind is only truly “blackout” if it uses a fabric with an opaque backing layer — usually a foam or vinyl coating laminated to the back of the material — that stops light from passing through the weave itself. A dark-colored fabric without that backing will dim a room but still let light glow through, especially around bright midday sun or the long daylight hours of an Edmonton summer evening. If full darkness is the goal, the fabric construction matters more than the color.

Blackout Roller Blinds vs. Blackout Zebra Blinds

Both of our roller blinds and zebra blinds are available with blackout-backed fabric options, and each achieves a similar level of light blocking through the fabric itself — the difference is more about style and function than darkness:

• Blackout Roller Blinds use a single, continuous blackout panel. When fully lowered, there’s one clean edge to seal against, which some homeowners find gives the most consistent blackout coverage for straightforward rectangular windows.
• Blackout Zebra Blinds pair blackout-backed solid bands with the same alternating sheer/solid design, so you can still bring in soft, filtered light during the day and switch to full blackout at night — useful if you want flexibility rather than a single all-or-nothing setting.

Getting to Near-Total Darkness: Sizing Matters

Fabric backing gets you most of the way there, but light leaking around the edges of the blind is usually what stops a room from being fully dark. For genuine blackout performance, we recommend an outside mount that extends a few inches beyond the window frame on all sides, and side channels or a close-fit frame that seal the gaps where the blind meets the wall. This is a detail worth discussing during your in-home measurement, since it depends on your specific window and wall setup.

Who This Matters Most For

Shift workers who sleep during daylight hours, parents managing a nursery or young child’s nap schedule, home theatre rooms, and bedrooms with south- or west-facing windows all tend to benefit most from a genuine blackout setup — particularly during Edmonton’s long summer daylight hours, when the sky can stay bright well into the evening.

Motorized Blackout Blinds for Convenience

If you’d rather not reach a high window or manually adjust your blackout blind twice a day, our Motorized Blinds are available with the same blackout fabric options. A remote or app lets you lower them at bedtime and raise them in the morning without getting up — a small convenience that adds up if you use the room daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will blackout blinds make my room completely dark?

With the right fabric backing and a properly sized, sealed installation, they get very close to fully dark. Some light can still creep in around edges without side channels or an outside-mount overlap, which is why we look closely at your specific window during measurement.

Is blackout fabric only available in dark colors?

No — the opaque backing does the light-blocking work, so blackout options come in a range of colors and tones, not just black or navy.

Can I get blackout in either zebra blinds or roller blinds?

Yes, both product lines offer blackout-backed fabric options. Which one suits you better usually comes down to whether you want the flexibility of zebra blinds’ sheer-to-solid range or the simplicity of a single roller panel.

Book a Free Measurement

The best way to know exactly how dark your room can get is to have us measure it in person. Book a free in-home consultation and we’ll walk you through blackout fabric samples and the right mounting approach for your window. Call 780-219-9999 or reach us at highendblinds@hotmail.com to get started.

We serve Edmonton, St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Beaumont, Leduc, Spruce Grove, and Fort Saskatchewan.