Image courtesy of Room Resolutions

There are a lot of reasons you’d want to block light from coming through windows in Southern California. Say it’s from ambient street light, constant traffic going by, or normal sunlight, blocking the light coming from your windows is important for a good night’s sleep.

For those dreaming of better sleep, here are a few ways Southern California homeowners can best block light through their windows.

What Window Coverings Block Light The Best?

Lots of Southern California window treatments claim to help black out your windows, and you can pretty easily divide them into three groups: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Here’s what you need to know.

Light Blocking Window Treatments – The Good

The best window treatments to block light from your windows should do these things:

• Effectively prevent light from pouring in.

• Adjust easily based on your needs throughout the day.

• Look fantastic.

The window covering that best fits all these criteria is Southern California plantation shutters. When the louvers are closed, shutters form a seal on your windows, blocking almost all the light. Our premier Polywood shutters also come with built-in weatherstripping that fills in the gaps along your window frame, so very little light enters your home. And unlike cheaper shutters, Polywood will never split or crack, which can cause gaps in between the louvers and frame.

And unlike some cheaper DIY blackout solutions, shutters look stylish in your home. Rather than looking like some hardware, they’re as fashionable as they are functional.

Another option for the “good” category is light-blocking roller shades. These are made with thick and layered material to block out most of the sunlight, and extend past your window opening. There can be some miniscule spaces around the edges of the shade where light might seep in. But for something other than shutters, light-blocking shades make the cut.

Light Blocking Window Treatments – The Bad

In the “bad” category we have window coverings that don’t quite get the job done when it comes to blacking out a window. Any fabric window treatment, from curtains to drapes, will allow some light in if they aren’t both incredibly thick and extend past the frame of your window.

Light Blocking Window Treatments – The Ugly

Search for “Southern California window blackouts” online and you’re likely to find some easy to use DIY sheets that you can hang up in your window frame to completely black it out. Most of them are customizable to your window size and shape, and stick to the window frame via velcro or another adhesive. And for the most part, they work fairly well.

But there are a few problems with these products. First off, they don’t look great. The majority of these products sacrifice looks for effectiveness. So if you get a few of these blackout sheets, do it in a spot that you don’t mind looking unstylish.

Let Sunburst Shutters Southern CA Help You Black Out Your Windows Better

To find out more about indoor shutters or other window treatments to block light, get in touch with your Southern California shutter team. Use the form below or call us at 888-611-2474 today to get a free, no strings attached consultation.