Portable Blackout Curtains (Benefits & How to Choose)
See the benefits of portable blackout curtains including what they are, how to black windows out while traveling, how much sleep is needed, and how to choose portable window blackout curtains.
Sleep is an essential element to keep your body healthy and strong. And let’s face it, there are times when you can’t get the z’s you deserve and that even after sleeping, you actually feel more tired. One thing you can work on to help you with your sleep is the darkness in the room.
Melatonin is a vital hormone that promotes rest and if you have more of it, you get to sleep better. The pineal gland in the human body is responsible for producing melatonin and it operates in the darkness while light exposure blocks the entire process. This is why darkness plays a vital role in your sleep-wake cycle according to the NIH.
In fact, a full-lit room can delay and shorten melatonin production, resulting in poorer quality of sleep and other possible health issues, including obesity, anxiety, and even more sleep issues.
Darkening the room can be possible to create the ideal environment that will help you have a better quality of restorative sleep. Portable blackout curtains can help you make this possible and help you with possible sleep issues you may have. And the best thing about it is that they can easily be used and packed anywhere you go.
What Is A Portable Blackout Curtain?
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A portable blackout curtain is a handy material you can use to help you sleep better, especially in specific situations where sleep is hard to come by, like the following circumstances:
• You are on night shift and sleep during the day
• You’re traveling and the place you’re staying in has lightweight curtains that easily allow light in
• You have kids with you, especially babies, and want to take a nap every time you have the opportunity to do so
• You are an insomniac and have the tendency to stay up at night and not get any sleep
Sleep is a vital part of people every day and in order to function effectively during the day and these circumstances make it very difficult to have a good night’s sleep. With a portable blackout curtain, you get to set the room in a darker atmosphere perfect for a restful sleep.
Blackout curtains started as a tool used in World War 2 designed to block out light from escaping, making buildings invisible in the process. Today, this tool is then improved and structured to be used in homes.
There are different types of portable blackout curtains you can get your hands on and they can differ in materials, sizes, heft, and how they are installed. Some may be made of lightweight but dark materials while some are made from heavy types of curtain fabrics to ensure their function and effectiveness.
They are installed just like how a regular curtain is installed. Most of the time, these portable blackout curtains are installed every night and hung on top of your curtains to blacken the room.
Setting up is easy and won’t require any use of tools just to install the curtains. But if there are tools that may be needed to set it up, they’re usually included in the package you buy when you purchase these portable blackout curtains.
It can be an adhesive, string, or even suction cup that can stick the blackout curtains in the windows to completely shield the room from light. And since it is portable, they usually come with some sort of a container, either a bag or a case.
The downside with portable blackout curtains though is that since they are lightweight, some may not totally block out light just as they promised (Depending on the one you choose). And it will take additional minutes off your schedule since you have to install it before sleep and take it down when you wake up.
So you would need to decide if it’s worth the hassle that comes with it. Not to mention all the adjusting you have to do to make sure it completely covers the window.
Portable Blackout Curtain Benefits
Purchasing portable blackout reasons means that you are able to enjoy the benefits that come with it.
Here are some of the basic advantages to expect.
Keep the light out of the room: The primary reason people get portable blackout curtains is that they want to have a dark room to improve their quality of sleep.
Portable blackout curtains, when installed properly and in the right size, can almost completely block outside light, including natural light and street lamps.
If you are one of the people who spend the night at work and the day sleeping, these curtains are excellent for you since they can imitate the nighttime darkness that can help you sleep better.
Using portable blackout curtains gives you control over the amount of light in your room. And you don’t need to be sleeping just to benefit from the darkness. It is also the perfect ambiance for entertainment purposes like for movie and game nights.
Upgrade the quality and value of your home: Installing portable blackout curtains upgrades the home’s value and quality since it is an element that can add to a homeowner’s comfort, privacy, and general way of life. More than purchasing a regular curtain, having the option of using blackout curtains for a darker ambiance is an advantage for home buyers.
Increases the room’s privacy: Since your room will be completely covered when you use blackout curtains, your privacy can also be 100% guaranteed while inside this room. These curtains have the opacity that protects you from creepy strangers and nosy neighbors since they won’t have any visual of you inside the room.
This increased security will make you feel more comfortable and safer, which is what you should really be when inside your own home and room.
Of course, you gave the option to choose the specific level of opaqueness you want your blackout curtains to have. And for maximum privacy, heavy-duty blackout types of window shades are the ideal ones to have.
Reduces sound and noise: Besides light, portable blackout curtains also block out sound and noise to reach inside your room. The noise-reduction feature of portable blackout curtains comes in different levels too.
This is where low-level reduction can block out basic light noises and high level can block some of the outside noise. This is made possible due to the curtain’s heavy material and is perfect for homes within the hustle-bustle of the city filled with traffic sounds and chitter-chatter.
Improves your room’s aesthetics: Besides its function, portable blackout curtains can also serve as a temporary change to your decor that can improve the room’s aesthetics. While the main benefit of blackout curtains is manifested in the dark, it doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate stunning looks when you’re not sleeping. So, make sure to choose blackout curtains with pretty patterns and colors.
Saves energy: Portable blackout curtains also help avoid the heat from getting out of the room through the windows, keeping the room cool or warm without having to consider the weather outside.
This means that you won’t have to work your AC too much just to keep the temperature inside the home at the level you want it to be. With the air (warm or cold) not escaping your room, you save energy in the process and in a result lower your utility bill.
Excellent portability and practicality: Portable blackout curtains are ideal for traveling so you can take them with you anywhere you go.
Easy installation and take down is another advantage you can expect from these curtains, supporting their feature of excellent practicality and portability. Compared to blackout shades, these curtains are lightweight to support their portability.
How Much Sleep Do You Need
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With all the emphasis on a good night’s sleep, is it really that important? The answer to that is definitely YES. A good night’s sleep won’t just affect your day but the quality of your life in general. Scientifically, sleep allows your mind and body to rest and be restored.
And the amount of sleep you need depends on your age, just like how babies and young children need more sleep compared to adults. While most will say that the standard number of hours of sleep you need every day is between 7 to 9 hours, it’s actually just for you adults.
To help serve as a guide, here is a list of the age groups and the corresponding number of hours of sleep that can be considered enough and appropriate for restorative sleep for them.
• Newborn (0 to 3 months): 14 to 17 hours
• Infant (4 to 11 months): 12 to 15 hours
• Toddler (1 to 2 years): 11 to 14 hours
• Preschool (3 to 5 years): 10 to 13 hours
• School-age (6 to 13 years): 9 to 11 hours
• Teen (14 to 17 years): 8 to 10 hours
• Young Adult (18 to 25 years) & Adult (26 to 64 years): 7 to 9 hours
• Older Adult (65 or more years): 7 to 8 hours
While the number of hours is considered the acceptable amount of sleep for each age range, it doesn’t mean that the amount promises excellent quality of sleep. So while acceptable, it is not optimal, which is where portable blackout curtains come in handy.
How Much Sleep Does A Child Need
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A child needs more sleep than an adult does, and the number of hours depends on the age group he or she is in. Newborns typically sleep 14 to 17 hours a day while infants sleep 12 to 15 hours. These hours are also staggered all throughout the day and not just one big-time sleep.
Babies sleep every 2 hours, which can be difficult to achieve peacefully, especially during the day when the light can disturb your baby’s sleep. A portable blackout curtain can help you achieve this goal.
The number of hours of sleep needed by the child reduces as he or she grows older. As a toddler, the child only needs 11 to 14 hours of sleep then 10 to 13 hours as a preschool child, 9 to 12 hours during his school-age years, and finally as a teenager, only 8 to 10 hours according to the Sleep Foundation.
Portable blackout curtains are ideal for children, especially since they are more sensitive to light. This means that they are more prone to wake up and have less quality of sleep if they are exposed to light. A blackout curtain can help you set the proper dark ambiance to avoid this situation.
How Do You Black Out Windows When Traveling?
Blacking out the windows when traveling can be accomplished in by using different materials to replace the heavy-duty blackout shades you have at home, including the following:
1. A high-quality portable blackout curtain
2. Mesh liner
3. A privacy film
4. Aluminum foil
5. Cardboard
Of course, there are many materials you can stick on the window to somehow block the light from your room but the maximum effect can only be possible using blackout curtains. And when you’re traveling, you can’t have the heavy-duty version so you can go for the portable and lightweight one. Read more about the differences between blackout curtains vs shades on this page.
Best Portable Blackout Curtains
In choosing the best portable blackout types of curtains, you need to take into account several factors that can help you decide.
• Durability: Make sure that you choose blackout curtains durable enough to set up and then take out every night whenever you need them.
• Price: Consider your budget and explore the market for the one with a price that matches it.
• Portability: Choose a lightweight option that can be easy to travel around.
• Adjustable: While choosing a smalls and compact blackout curtain can be easier to bring everywhere, it might also not fit some big windows.
• Aesthetic Appeal: You can choose a functional portable blackout curtain without sacrificing aesthetics so choose a pretty pattern you’d love to look at.
• Installation & Maintenance: While most portable blackout curtains are easy to install and take out, make sure you also consider the maintenance necessary to keep their quality excellent. Read more about how to clean blackout curtains here.
Dream Art Portable Blackout Curtain: The Dream Art Portable Blackout Curtain is made from a solid black fabric that features easy installation through its suction cups and 95 to 100 percent sunlight blackout. It is also easily adjustable with a maximum dimension of 51 inches in width and 72 inches in length, and finally 1.43 lbs in weight.
Sun Away Portable Blackout Curtain: The Sun Away Portable Blackout Curtain is made from black polyester that can easily be mounted on the windows using suction cups. This stick-on blackout curtain promises to block 100% of UV rays and light. And it has become popular as a travel curtain that you would want to take with you wherever you go.
Sleepout Blackout Curtains: Sleepout Blackout Curtains are also portable curtains you can use to have a more comfortable and quality sleep even when you’re not at home. It features a thermaguard fabric that easily blocks sound and heat so it functions way more than just a blackout curtain. It also comes with a carrying bag for portability.
See more related content in our article about curtain sizes on this page.
