Australia
Blockout Curtains: A Plain-English Guide for Australian Homes
What blockout curtains are, how well they block light and heat, which rooms need them, and how to pair them with sheers in Australian homes.
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Updated October 2026 · By Sam K, Fabrica Kraft
Quick answer: Blockout curtains have a special lining that stops light passing through the fabric. They're best for bedrooms, nurseries, media rooms and west-facing rooms that heat up in the afternoon. For a truly dark room, choose floor-length curtains, mount the rod high and wide so light can't sneak around the edges, and order about twice the rod width in fabric so there are no gaps when they're closed.
Australian summers bring two problems that curtains can help with: early sunrise and afternoon heat. Blockout curtains tackle both. But a blockout lining on its own isn't magic. How the curtains are measured and hung makes as much difference as the fabric. Here's what you need to know.
What are blockout curtains?
A blockout curtain is a normal curtain with an extra lining sewn to the back. The lining is a tightly woven or coated fabric that light can't pass through. "Blockout" is the word most Australians use; in the US and UK, the same thing is usually called "blackout." They mean the same thing.
You can choose blockout lining on almost any curtain fabric. That means you're not stuck with a narrow range of colours. A soft linen look, a rich velvet or a bright pattern can all be made blockout. With our curtains, a 100% blockout lining is an add-on for both indoor and outdoor curtains.
Blockout vs room darkening vs sheer
| Type | How much light gets through | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Blockout (lined) | Virtually none through the fabric itself | Bedrooms, nurseries, media rooms, shift workers |
| Unlined curtain | Soft, filtered light; colour shows through | Living and dining rooms |
| Sheer | Plenty of daylight, softened; daytime privacy | Living areas, behind a blockout layer |
Sheers should never get a blockout lining. It defeats the point of a sheer. If you want both soft daylight and darkness, use two layers instead (more on that below).
Do blockout curtains keep heat out?
They help, especially when they're closed before the sun hits the window. Windows let in a lot of summer heat, and a heavy, lined curtain adds a layer between the hot glass and the room.
The size of the benefit depends on fit. In laboratory tests by Glasgow Caledonian University for Historic Scotland, properly lined traditional curtains cut heat loss through a window by about 14%. Those tests looked at keeping heat in during cold weather, but the same principle applies in reverse: the more closely the curtain covers the window, the better it works.
To get the most out of them in summer:
- Close them early on west- and north-facing windows, before the afternoon sun hits.
- Go floor length so air can't easily circulate under the hem.
- Mount the rod high and wide so the curtain overlaps the frame on every side.
- Use 2× fullness so the curtains overlap in the middle when closed.
- Consider a pelmet or ceiling-mounted rod to reduce air moving over the top.
In winter, the same curtains help keep warmth in. Open them on sunny days to let the sun warm the room, then close them at dusk.
Which rooms need blockout curtains?
- Bedrooms: summer sunrise can be before 6 am in much of the country. Blockout helps you sleep past it.
- Nurseries and kids' rooms: daytime naps are easier in a dark room.
- Media rooms: no glare on the TV.
- West-facing rooms: the hottest afternoon sun comes from the west.
- Shift workers: anyone who sleeps during the day.
How to get a truly dark room
Most light leaks around the curtain, not through it. Here's how to stop that:
- Extend the rod 150 to 250 mm past the window on each side. Light spills in at the edges if the curtain only just covers the frame.
- Mount the rod 100 to 150 mm above the frame, or close to the ceiling. This blocks the gap at the top.
- Choose floor length. Sill-length curtains leave a band of light at the bottom.
- Order 2× the rod width in fabric, so the panels overlap in the middle.
- Measure the drop at both ends and use the shortest, so neither end floats above the floor.
Our mm guide to measuring for curtains walks through each step.
Layering sheers with blockout curtains
This is the most popular setup in Australian living rooms and main bedrooms, and for good reason. During the day, you close the sheers for privacy and soft light. At night, or on a scorching afternoon, you close the blockout layer too.
- Use a double rod, or two rods: the sheer closest to the glass, the blockout curtain in front.
- Measure each layer separately. The back rod is usually a little shorter.
- Give sheers a bit more fullness (2.5× to 3×) so they look soft, not see-through.
Our double-width Warwick sheers (Antigua, Patio, Syros and Taormina) are about 3,200 mm wide, so even wide sheer panels have no seams. See sheer curtains and our sheer curtains guide.
Choosing fabric and colour
- The lining does the blocking. You can choose a light fabric colour and still get a dark room.
- Look at the back of the lining. The lining is the side that faces the window. A light or reflective lining bounces some of the sun's heat back out through the glass, which helps in summer.
- Heavier fabrics like velvet add extra insulation and a luxe feel. See velvet curtains.
- Outdoor areas: blockout lining is available on outdoor curtains too, for alfresco rooms and pergolas that get harsh western sun.
Check colours in your own light by ordering swatches.
Blockout curtains vs blockout blinds
| Curtains | Roller blinds | |
|---|---|---|
| Light at edges | Very little if hung high and wide | Often a thin gap at each side |
| Insulation | Better when floor length and full | Thinner layer |
| Look | Softer, adds texture and colour | Minimal, tucks away |
| Best for | Bedrooms, living rooms, sliding doors | Kitchens, bathrooms, small windows |
Many people use both: a blind for daily use and a curtain for full darkness and softness.
Ready to order?
Browse our blockout curtains or start from any fabric in our made-to-measure curtains and add the 100% blockout lining. Panels can be made up to 3,050 mm wide and 3,660 mm drop, in 2 to 3 weeks. Shipping is free anywhere in Australia, and prices are in AUD. For care tips, see how to clean curtains.
Frequently asked questions
Are blockout and blackout curtains the same?
Yes. "Blockout" is the common Australian term, and "blackout" is used in the US and UK. Both mean a curtain lined to stop light passing through.
Do blockout curtains block 100% of light?
The lining stops light passing through the fabric. Some light can still get in around the edges, which is why hanging them high, wide and floor length matters.
Do blockout curtains keep a room cooler?
They help, especially when closed before the sun hits the window. Floor-length, full curtains that overlap the frame work best.
Can you put blockout lining on sheer curtains?
No. It would stop the sheer from letting light in. Hang a separate blockout curtain in front of the sheer instead.
Which way should my bedroom face for blockout curtains?
Any bedroom benefits, but east-facing rooms get the earliest sun and west-facing rooms get the hottest afternoon sun.
