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4 September 2026 · The Porch Tale team · Updated 9 October 2026
How to choose blackout curtains for a bedroom
Width, drop, eyelets and lining: what to measure and check before you buy blackout curtains.
Blackout curtains do two jobs: they keep a bedroom dark enough to sleep in, and they make the room feel finished. Getting the size right matters more than the fabric.
Measure the pole first
Measure the length of the pole or track, not the window. Curtains hang best when the pair is about one and a half times as wide as the pole, so they look full when drawn. Hang the pole wider than the window, and the curtains will block more light at the sides.
Decide the drop
Measure from the pole to where you want the curtain to end. A curtain that just clears the floor looks neat. One that touches it looks fuller but collects dust. Eyelet tops hang a little lower than the pole, so allow a few centimetres.
One panel or a pair
A single panel suits a narrow window or a door. A pair suits most windows, and you can draw them to either side. Our navy blackout curtains come as one panel or two.
Look at the lining
A black back layer is what makes a curtain blackout. Check the product photos for a layered weave with a black back. Light will still show round the edges, so a wider pole helps.
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