Curtains · · Luranio Journal
Sheer vs blackout curtains: which one for each room
How sheer, dim-out and blackout curtains differ, and which to choose for the living room, bedroom, study and kids' room.
Most rooms need more than one kind of curtain. The question is which layer does the work in which room.
What each fabric does
- Sheer: lets in 30–60% of light and keeps the view. Softens glare and gives daytime privacy from outside.
- Dim-out: blocks roughly 70–90% of light. Rooms stay usable but screens are readable.
- Blackout: blocks up to 99% with a three-pass lining. The only choice for real darkness.
Room by room
- Living room: sheer plus dim-out on a double track. Sheers for the day, dim-out for movie nights.
- Bedroom: blackout with side returns so light does not leak at the edges, plus a sheer for daytime privacy.
- Study or home office: a sunscreen roller blind or sheer to cut glare on screens.
- Kids' room: blackout, ideally motorised so it can close on a schedule for naps.
Getting the fullness right
Curtain width should be 2 to 2.5 times the track length for a full drape. Less looks thin, especially with sheers.
Not sure what you need? A Luranio consultation is free and takes 30 minutes.