Top Three Benefits of Blackout Curtains in Bangkok

Top Three Benefits of Using Blackout Curtains in Bangkok (Article 1)

Living in Bangkok to a lot of us means living with the heat and the sun light. Every time we go outdoors we instantly feel how hot the weather actually is. Even walking 5 minutes outdoors means a lot of perspiration and endurance against the Bangkok heat. When we return back inside, the first thing we all want is a rest from all the heat and sun radiation, blackout curtains help us a lot in this regard the most. Blackout curtains help to keep homes cool and maintain temperature indoors effectively.

When you are living indoors, normal curtains could not help maintain the cool air currents from your A/C from diffusing outside. Normal curtains do not have that tightly knitted black lining materials that Blackout curtains have. However, please make sure that the blackout curtains are of a good and thick variety. Many curtains are sold in the name of “blackout curtains” however like most products, they come in a variety of qualities and thicknesses. The thin varieties would not be able to block out the sun light as well as the thick varieties, so the name “blackout curtains” is not the ‘be all and end all’ of curtains. The "blackout" label only indicates that some blackout linings have been stitched within the curtain fabrics. To get the really good quality curtains, you have to make sure to touch and feel the fabric textures and test out the fabric against the light to measure the translucency of the curtains.

Blackout curtains do not block out sun light 100%, some thin varieties only block out 70-80% of the light, the thicker varieties can block out more. To make sure you get a 100% sun light blocking quality, you could request for a silver black out lining to be added to your curtains. This way you would be sure that no light or heat is passing through your curtains during the afternoon heat.

Other than superior function, blackout curtains are also longer like the yesteryear when they were bulky, stiff, and unattractive.

Nowadays, blackout curtains simply look brilliant. They come in a variety of colors and designs. Some fabric designs have flowery patterns while others have more modern, simple patterns. A great number of black out curtains are made in simple, no design colors for customers who prefer curtains that way. I personally like some simple but nice looking patterns on my curtains. Some curtains look great with the diamond patterns while others look better on modern square patterns.

Here are some things you need to know before installng blackout curtains in your home (Article 2)

Before switching from the existing curtains in your home to the modern ultraviolet protecting blackout curtains, you should first know the primary driver for the movement from standard curtains toward blackout curtains.

Why do most of Bangkok residents make the effort to switch from standard curtains to blackout curtains?

The chief purposes of blackout curtains are to block out sun light and heat radiation, and to maintain privacy while staying at home. Too much sun light coming through the windows can make your home furniture hot and can make you feel uncomfortable when using them for activities like working on a computer or watching the television. Not only does the sunlight make your chairs and tables hot, they also create glares in the computer and TV screens. It is therefore not a
surprise that many people living in Bangkok choose to furnish their windows with high quality curtains as they want the best protection from the sun rays and increased comfort living inside their homes. The sun light not only produces excessive heat and light, it also produces ultraviolet radiation which can be a detriment to the furniture and interior of your home as the sun rays pass through the windows during the hot afternoons.

With proper blackout installation, you wouldn't have to worry about these problems any more.

This is why blackout curtains are so awesome. 

Before we talk about all the great values and benefits of blackout curtains, what exactly are they, and why are they called "blackout curtains", are they black in color?

No, they are not, they actually come in all kinds of colors and designs ranging from the bright colorful floral patterns, to the elegant, three-dimensional texture designs.

If they are not call 'blackout curtains' because they are solid black in color, then do they make your room completely pitch dark?

Yes and No.

Well...

Here is the deal.

When you hear about blackout curtains, you couldn't be sure what the other person is refering to unless you ask them what type of blackout curtains they are talking about. There are actually many types of curtains that are considered as 'blackout curtains'. Some shops sell the foam-backed curtains as 'blackout curtains' because they block out 100% of the sun light. However many claim that these foam-backed curtains are toxic and that one should not be exposed to them for an extended period of time. 

With the health concerns of using foam based curtains, scientists have developed the blackout lined curtains that contain blackout fabric sewn in between the curtain fabrics. The lining is stitched in between the fabrics so that it is not visible from the front or the back. These modern blackout curtains are safe for extensive exposure and they also do the job of protecting us from harmful solar radiation. In addition, they also block out the sun light up to 90%, with the thicker, darker fabrics blocking up to 95%. To be fair, at that range the percentage does not even matter any more, your room would be dark enough for all practical purposes. 

These technologically advanced curtains have a special lining feature that are thermally insulated and energy saving because they can block out the sun light and its ultraviolet radiation without being a danger to your health. They are also light and soft to the touch. These innovative blackout curtains are extremely user friendly as well as health friendly. By themselves, they might not block out the light completely 100%, but they do block out ultraviolet radiation completely.

If you really do want your room to be pitch black, and don't want to compromise your health, you could add a silver backing behind your curtains. These silver backings are to make your room completely dark, the material is used to line the back side of your drapes.

In most cases though, adding a silver back lining isn't really necessary, the blackout curtains by themselves are sufficient to ensure that your home has a nice and cool indoor environment to live in. 

Well, aren't my existing curtains doing that already?

Yes, but not even close to the capacity that blackout curtains have.

Normal curtains only blockout the sun light partially, it is not even close to 75% of the light entering your home during midday, and they almost don't even block out any ultraviolet radiation at all. The thicker varieties would block out sun light better than the thinner ones, but even the thick, traditional curtains are not as efficient at thermal insulation, room darkening, and solar radiation protection as blackout curtains. 

Most people don't want to buy anything unless it really gives them a lot better value than what they currently have. 

So are blackout curtains worth it? 

If you live in Thailand, then the answer is...

Definitely and without a doubt!

Even if you are living in other countries, the value is still worth it. 

It is given that living in a hot country like Thailand, the decision to install blackout curtains is definitely a wise choice. 

For people who live in cold climates, the thermal insulation features help to protect you from the cold temperatures outside. Blackout curtains help to maintain and stabilize the room temperature inside your house, so that you would won't have to be bothered whether the weather outside is hot or cold. 

The decision to invest in blackout curtains are definitely for the long run, as blackout curtains are more durable and long lasting than standard curtains. Some varieties also have a dust resistant feature which helps to control dust inside your room. These dust resistant features also help to making house cleaning easier and quicker because you would not have to clean your curtains as often.

Blackout curtains have improved throughout the years, from the plastic-texture polyester to a softer, more pliable texture that is comfortable to touch and is also less static-prone. With the modern technology enhancing curtain fabrics’ features, complete UV protection with the new textures has now become the norm in Bangkok. Many homeowners are changing their curtains and switching to use UV and light blocking curtains, also known as blackout curtains, as these types work better in hotter climates than the traditional, non UV-blocking ones. They last longer and they are more energy saving as they block out the heat more effectively thereby reducing your air conditioning needs.

Some people in Bangkok are still attached to their current curtains but this is not a problem as well because you can turn them into blackout curtains by adding a UV protecting lining at the back. The blackout linings are normally used when homeowners decide to keep the existing curtains however for those who would like to change theirs, the option to buy standard curtains added with blackout lining would be more costly as the stitching costs of blackout linings are double that of the in-built blackout curtains. In both cases however, the benefits are the same as they preserve the condition of your interior furnishings and reduce the energy costs of cooling your home. The in-built UV blocking curtains are the more cost-effective solution of reducing solar heat and radiation as the tailoring cost is lower and it is no wonder that they are extremely popular among the people living here. Some of the blackout curtains are also easy to take care of as they do not hold on to dust so you wouldn’t have to constantly vacuum them. 

There are other benefits of switching to blackout curtains than reducing sun glares, heat, and radiation into your homes. The blackout curtains are more multi-layered than their traditional counterparts and they keep out the noise better. Noise disturbance reduces the comfort of living in your homes as you would get less brain rest during rest hours, and less concentration during work hours or even watching the TV can be less fun with excessive noise in the background.

It is well-documented among the science community that noise pollution can lead to many health problems such as fatigue, anxiety, and restlessness etc. Everyone wants their bedrooms to be a place of peace for relaxation and rest. Noise pollution is known to cause brain fatigue and restlessness, higher intensities may even lead to depression. The noise dampening qualities of blackout curtains ensure that one could have a bit of peace and quiet, to have a place of relaxation away from the hustle and bustle of a busy, working day. 

This is why blackout curtains are popular on a global scale and in all countries. They not only block out the sun light, solar heat, and UV radiation, they also provide thermal insulation and noise dampening features as well. 

Some of the blackout varieties have anti-dust properties that ward off dust from collecting on their surface. The fabric curtain is not only ordinary fabric which holds onto dust, it has a special smooth, soft surface that does not hold on to dust, making curtains cleaning an easy task. 

Our shop, Fabric Plus, offers several designs of blackout curtain fabrics that control airborne dust and these ones are better for your health too as they wouldn’t release a lot of dust when you are cleaning your home.

Another factor that encourages people living in Bangkok to switch to blackout curtains is that they simply look great. Many of the blackout curtains have gorgeous designs and they can give any home an added element of elegance and glamour. The curtain fabric is of higher quality and its texture boosts the sharpness of colors and designs, creating more appeal than the traditional curtains. They are not only used for homes and offices, they are always used at the work places like media rooms and photography studios as they serve the purpose of complete light and shadow control.

Blackout curtains come in all shapes and kinds, from the extremely professional, no-design look to the flowery, design filled kinds. They can also be used for all kinds of curtain styles from the classic triple pleated style, grommet tops to the modern eyelet models. The blackout fabric is remarkably versatile as technology in this fabric industry has come a long way.

It is evident that blackout curtains provides tons of benefits to everyone residing in Thailand. The weather and the climate in this tropical country is warm at best, and could even reach unbearable degrees during the hottest Thai summers. Living at home means turning on the air conditioner 24/7 and pulling down the shades, and even that is not enough. At best it gives you complete privacy, but at worst the solar radiation heats up the rooms in your home creating a hot, sweat-inducing atmosphere.

At Fabric Plus Co Ltd, we offer a great variety of energy-saving blackout curtains from the professional no-design features to the colorful, pattern filled look. We also offer a numerous styles that would be suitable for installation in your homes. We offer a complete solution to all your blackout curtain requirements, should you wish to keep your existing curtains you also get the option to get the blackout linings tailored into them.

Please give us a call at 02 223 4828 for any questions about our blackout curtains and how we can be at your service.

Fabric Plus Co Ltd (ATM Decor)
354/1 Phahurat Road (Little India Textile Market)
Bangkok, Thailand