If you’ve ever tried to sleep through one of Boulder’s bright mornings — especially in summer — you’ve probably found yourself searching for blackout drapery or blackout curtains. With over 300 days of sunlight each year, Boulder homeowners need window treatments that manage glare, block unwanted light, and create true darkness for restful sleep.
But here’s the part most people don’t realize: blackout drapery alone rarely provides 100% darkness. It can dramatically reduce light, yes — but achieving a true blackout requires more strategy than choosing the right fabric.
Before you invest in custom blackout drapery for your Boulder home, here’s what you need to know about what works, what doesn’t, and what realistic expectations look like.
Blackout Drapery vs. Blackout Curtains: What’s the Difference?
People often use the terms interchangeably, but there is a slight difference:
Blackout Drapery
Custom-made, lined with blackout material, designed to cover your window precisely with proper fullness, length, and hardware. These are higher-end, more effective, and more stylish.
Blackout Curtains
Typically store-bought panels labeled “blackout,” often lighter-weight and usually not fully blackout unless lined with premium materials.
Custom blackout drapery outperforms blackout curtains every time — but both still face the same fundamental issue:
Light leaks.
And in Boulder homes with large windows, uneven frames, open floor plans, and high ceilings, light leaks are extremely common.
Why Blackout Drapery Alone Rarely Achieves Full Darkness
Even the best blackout drapery or blackout curtains struggle to eliminate all light because of four predictable problem areas.
1. Light Gap at the Top
Unless your drapery is mounted at the ceiling or inside a recessed track, there is always a small space where early morning sunlight sneaks in. Boulder’s altitude amplifies this — your room gets bright earlier than you think.
2. Light Gap Along the Sides
Standard decorative rods allow light to pour in on both sides of the window.
You can reduce this by:
- Using a traverse or ripplefold track
- Extending the rod well beyond the window
- Adding returns (wraparound sides)
- Using side panels with extra fullness
But even with perfect custom blackout drapery, there is still potential for some light leakage.
3. Light Gap at the Bottom
If your blackout curtains or drapery don’t fully touch the floor — or if they “float” slightly above it — light will bounce underneath.
Even a half inch can make a noticeable difference.
4. Window Construction and Frames
Many Boulder homes (especially in Louisville, Superior, Erie, and new North Boulder builds) feature:
- Deep window wells
- Imperfect window frames
- Wide sliders
- Corner glass
- Bay windows
These shapes make it easier for stray light to enter, even with well-installed blackout drapery.
So Can You Actually Achieve a True Blackout? Yes — But Not With Drapery Alone
To get a true blackout bedroom (the kind hotels aim for), you need a layered approach. The most effective solution is:
Blackout Shade + Blackout Drapery = Maximum Darkness
Here’s why this works:
- Shades eliminate side light
- Drapery eliminates top/bottom bounce
- Double layering catches stray light from both angles
- Drapery adds softness, insulation, and style
- Shades handle precision; drapery adds performance
The best combinations include:
- Blackout roller shades + blackout drapery
- Room-darkening cellular shades + blackout curtains
- Dual shades (sheer + blackout) + decorative drapery
- Motorized blackout shades + ripplefold drapery
This layered approach is extremely popular with Boulder homeowners who work night shifts, have young children, struggle with light sensitivity, or simply want a hotel-quality sleep environment.
Best Practices to Get the Darkest Room Possible
Even if you’re sticking with blackout drapery or blackout curtains alone, you can maximize darkness by choosing:
✔ Ceiling-mounted tracks
This eliminates the top gap.
✔ Extra-wide drapery panels with high fullness
More fabric = fewer opportunities for light to leak through edges.
✔ Wraparound rods or returns
These reduce side light leakage.
✔ Floor-grazing length
A perfect hemline blocks bottom light.
✔ Heavier fabrics + true blackout lining
Not "room-darkening" — actual blackout lining.
✔ Motorized drapery for full closure
Manual panels sometimes stop short or aren’t pulled fully tight; motorization eliminates that.
The right design details make a big difference.
Why Boulder Homeowners Are Upgrading to Blackout Drapery
Given Boulder’s intense sunlight, dramatic temperature swings, and early morning brightness, blackout drapery and blackout curtains offer several benefits:
- Better sleep
- Improved insulation
- UV protection for furniture and floors
- Reduced glare
- More privacy
- Better room temperature regulation
But the most important benefit? Control.
You decide how much light you want — from full brightness to nearly pitch black.
Want a True Blackout Bedroom? We Can Help.
At Bumble Bee Blinds of Boulder, we guide you through:
- Blackout drapery vs blackout curtain options
- Layering strategies
- Fabric selection
- Hardware choices
- Motorization
- How to handle tricky window shapes
- Realistic expectations for your specific home
We bring samples directly to your home so you can see how fabrics look in your natural light — and so we can evaluate where light leaks are likely to occur.
With a custom solution, you can create a space that’s dark, quiet, and truly relaxing.
FAQs
1. Are blackout drapery and blackout curtains the same thing?
Not exactly. Blackout drapery is custom-made and typically more effective, while blackout curtains are usually store-bought panels.
2. Can blackout drapery make my room 100% dark?
Rarely. Drapery significantly reduces light but usually still allows small leaks unless combined with a blackout shade.
3. What’s the best way to achieve a true blackout bedroom?
A blackout shade paired with blackout drapery is the most effective solution.
4. Will blackout curtains fade in Boulder’s sunlight?
Quality fabric with proper lining holds up very well, even in high-altitude light.
5. Is motorization helpful for blackout drapery?
Yes — motorized tracks ensure the panels close tightly and evenly, reducing light leaks.