How to Make Your Bedroom Darker for a Better Sleep? Update 10/2024

Making your bedroom as dark as possible is one of the most efficient strategies to increase your rest if you work nights, are sensitive to light, or just want a better night’s sleep.

In order to keep your bedroom completely black at all times, you’ll need a method.

For maximum darkness, don an eye mask and use a blackout curtain that sits in front of the window’s blackout blind (or another blackout window treatment like a film) to totally block the light.

Personally, I’ve worked nights in the summer, so I understand how difficult it can be to get to sleep with all of the windows open.

As a result, I’ve outlined for you in this post 19 of the greatest ways to darken your bedroom for a better night’s rest.

How to Make Your Bedroom Pitch Black

Remove all light sources from the room, including lamps and overhead lights, and consider modifying your bedroom’s decor and furniture layout to create a pitch-black environment for better sleep.
How To Make Your Room Dark for a Good Night's Sleep | Sleep Foundation

Detailed instructions on how to achieve this are provided in the next section:.

1: Black Out Your Windows

Using any of the following methods will go a long way toward creating a pitch-black bedroom:.

Blackout Curtains

You may block out a significant amount of light in your bedroom for a low price by using blackout drapes (floor-length curtains).

Make sure the curtain rail is strong enough to support the blackout curtains, which tend to be heavier than standard curtains, before hanging them.

The length and width of the blackout curtains should extend beyond the width and length of the window.

To get the most light-blocking effect from your blackout curtains, be certain that:

  • Above the window frame, the curtain rod is fixed 4-5 inches (10-13 cm).
  • Between 1.5 and 2 times the size of the window frame, the total width of the curtain (both panels) is (measured from the outside).
  • Bottom of the window frame at least 1 inch from curtain’s hem (longer is better if there is no air conditioner, heater, radiator, or other fixture below the window).

Consider the following, as well:

  • With multiple rods overlapping, you can ensure that the curtains can close completely in the middle and block off any light that could otherwise get in.
  • Using a curtain rod wrap-around prevents light from leaking in around the curtain’s borders when the drapes are drawn up against the wall.
  • Create a pitch-black bedroom by adding a second layer of blackout fabric behind the curtain.

Shades

Darkening your bedroom using shades is much easier than with traditional drapes and curtains because shades are simply made of fabric wrapped around a horizontal rod and lowered to just over the window sill.

Solid shades are preferable than slatted blinds for completely darkening a space because there are no holes to let light in.

It’s ideal to use blackout curtains that extend past the bottom of the window to totally block out light and completely darken your room when using shades because they may not sit flat against the sill.

Shades of black are the ideal option for a darkened bedroom.

  • To block out light, cellular shades are offered in either single or double layers.
  • Roller blinds should be made of high-quality materials to withstand the daily wear and tear of use.
  • Practical and adaptable, Roman blinds are ideal.

In order to completely block out the light in your bedroom, you must follow these steps:

  • In order to make sure that the shades don’t let any light leak in from the sides, measure the window from both inside and outside of the frame.
  • If you want total darkness, go with a thick blackout material that is completely opaque.
  • For inside-mounted shades, a bracket is inserted into the upper portion of the window frame, and the shade body locks into the bracket once it is inserted into the frame. Fitting the shade completely and smoothly within the frame requires a shade width of 1/4-1/2 inches less than the window’s inner width, while a shade height of as long as the inner window frame is acceptable (but not longer).
  • The bracket is fixed on the front of the top frame in the case of outside-mounted shades (some people prefer to install it on the wall). This will enable the shade to completely cover the frame’s width. At the same time, the shade’s height should be sufficient to cover the entire window frame.
  • Blinds can be made to look more elegant by adding a light blocker channel or Magnetic Sleepy Tracks to the edges.

Blackout EZ

Using Velcro, Blackout EZ window treatments allow you to attach the blackout fabric over the window edge, making them suitable for people who need to darken their rooms only sometimes and don’t want to use full-length blackout curtains.

Curtain Liner

Using hooks or Velcro to attach a blackout panel to the back of your drapes is an option if you already have drapes in place and don’t want to install an additional rod for a blackout curtain.

If you want to keep out street lights, automobile headlights, and even the sun, you’ll need a curtain liner thick enough to do the job.

Magic Blackout Blind

Using clingfilm-like adhesive, a magic blackout blind blocks out light by adhering to the surface of the window.

Paper Shade

Paper shades are a low-cost and simple way to block out light, and they may be cut to any desired size.

Blackout Window Film

You can cut the blackout film to any size you need and then apply it to your window glass with an adhesive to acquire the desired level of privacy.

With the help of blackout films, a window can be made completely opaque while still providing seclusion.

Garbage Bags

Garbage bags with a thickness of at least 4-5 mm can be taped to the window frame for a low-cost and rapid method of blocking out light.

Many Reddit users have found that draping garbage bags (or even a movie poster) over their bedroom windows is an inexpensive and efficient approach to help them fall asleep after working a night shift.

Cardboard

For a short-term remedy, you can tape cardboard to your window frame, but be mindful that it will not look nice from the outside.

Aluminum Foil

Painting tape or other low-tack tape can be used to attach aluminum foil to a window without damaging the glass or the paintwork around it.

Plywood

Using Velcro to attach a piece of plywood to the window frame is an easy and inexpensive solution to totally block out light without having to drill holes or alter the construction of the window fixtures..

DIY Fabric Curtain

Make your own blackout curtain by placing thick material over the window and fastening it to the wall using thumbtacks if you choose.

Canvas

A simple and effective approach to darken your bedroom is to cover the windows with a layer of canvas.

2: Eliminate Bedroom Light

If you want to ensure that your bedroom is completely dark, you must follow the checklist below to eliminate any light that comes from inside your room.

Unplug Electronics

Because these light spots can stand out in a dark room, turn off all televisions, laptops, power indications, charging cables, and anything else in the room that emits even the tiniest amount of light.

Switch Out Digital Clocks

If you experience sleep anxiety and can’t stop glancing at the clock, switching to a traditional clock or turning the clock away from you or covering it up will help lessen the light in your room and make it easier to sleep.

Ways to make the Bedroom Darker for better Sleep - LN 247

Secure the Door

In order to keep light from entering your bedroom, lay a thick towel or blanket over the door draft blocker and keep it closed while you sleep.

A thick fabric, pillow, blanket, or a permanent blackout film should be used to cover any door panes in your bedroom.

Wear an Eye Mask

If you want a room that appears completely dark, wear an eye mask with padding around the corners and around the nose to prevent light from penetrating.

3: Change the Decor and Furniture Layout

For total darkness in your bedroom, you should make the following décor and furniture changes:

Paint the Walls a Darker Color

You can make your room appear darker by painting your bedroom a darker color than the rest of the house if you have a white or light-colored room.

Rearrange the Room

Make sure that your bed isn’t facing a window or any other source of light. You may also want to follow the Feng Shui design rules for a more peaceful ambiance by rearranging the furnishings.

Combine the Eye Mask With Window Treatments

Wearing a tight-fitting eye mask will block the majority of the light coming in from the windows and from within your room, making your bedroom pitch black in no time.

You should, however, also use blackout curtains and a second blackout window treatment like a roller blind or a curtain liner to block out most of the light coming through the windows.

As an alternative, painting the room a darker color and relocating your furniture can be extremely helpful when used in conjunction with an eye mask and blackout curtains.

Tips for Making Your Room Dark

Good sleep hygiene includes adhering to healthy routines and creating a sleep-friendly environment in your bedroom. Remove any light sources from your bedroom and avoid bright lights before going to bed in order to achieve the greatest night’s sleep possible.

Cover Windows

Sunlight, moonlight, security lights and streetlights can all enter the bedroom through the windows. A blackout curtain may be necessary if your current blinds or drapes don’t block out enough light. Using aluminum foil to cover the window is a cheap and effective way to keep out the sun’s rays.

Mind the Gap

Another potential source of light at night is the gap between the door and the floor. Before you go to bed, turn off the hallway lights or lay a rolled-up towel against the door gap to keep the light out.

Wear an Eye Mask

Even if you can’t completely block out the light, an eye mask may be able to help you get some sleep. You must wear the eye mask the entire time you sleep in order for it to be successful in blocking out light. The generation of melatonin may be inhibited by light penetrating the eyelids.

Stow Away Electronics

It’s advisable to avoid using your cell phone, laptop, or tablet for at least 30 minutes before going to bed in order to get a good night’s sleep. Identify any sources of light in your bedroom, including digital clocks, charging stations and other electrical devices. Cover or store these lights out of the room.

Dim the Lights

During the hours coming up to bedtime, consider switching from strong overhead lights to dim ambient lighting in your home. Melatonin production is suppressed by bright light.

Consider Nighttime Needs

In the middle of the night, you may find yourself needing to go to the toilet or need a sip of water. Rather than using overhead lights to light your path, consider installing nightlights with motion sensors. Limiting the amount of light that you are exposed to can help you sleep better and get back to sleep faster, even if you need enough light to safely navigate your home.

22 Gorgeous Dark Bedrooms - Bedrooms with Dark Color Palettes

Clamp Down the Curtains

Curtains are made to hang loosely and at a slight distance from the wall. Even with blackout curtains, a few stray rays of sunshine can sneak through. Clamping down the corners of your curtains is the greatest technique to keep light from leaking in around their borders. Curtains that adhere to your wall more like a suction cup than a skirt are what you’re looking for.

With command strip clamps, you don’t have to worry about scratching the paint or making a hole when you remove them. As a homeowner, all you need is a few little nails to secure the curtain’s hems to the wall around a window’s opening. In the early morning hours, when sunlight enters from east-facing windows at a nearly horizontal angle, this is the greatest approach to prevent light from slipping in.

Tape or Shroud Every Glowing LED

Turn out the lights once more and cover the window. Take a look around you and notice all of the unintended nightlights that are keeping you up at this moment. For instance, consider the tiniest flicker on the edge of the screen in your bedroom. Your laptop charger’s glowing wire end, or your stereo’s joyful, brilliant blue LEDs. To say nothing of your smart alarm clock. In a bedroom, there are countless potential sources of too-bright LEDs, and the only solution we have is tape.

Begin by cutting little squares of fabric tape like duct tape and covering the LED lights that you don’t need. One for each light on your router, the remote control, the stereo head unit, and the TV. The easier it is to sleep the next night, the more little LED dots you can cover up with tape.

Rather than exposing lights or displays to direct sunlight, cover them instead: For the night, cover it with a clean t-shirt.

Place Your Phone Face-Down

Automated email messages cause your phone to update its background software or momentarily turn the screen back on when they arrive. When you’re sleeping, you may not notice the sudden brightness, but it might quickly wake you up without you even realizing it. If the screen decides to come on while you’re still attempting to sleep, it can keep you awake.

Placing your phone face-down on the bedside table while you sleep is the best approach. Drop a t-shirt on the screen if the case doesn’t completely block it. It’s a great method to avoid waking up in the middle of the night to check your phone.

Roll a Towel Under the Door

The light illuminating the doorway of many pitch-black bedrooms is the most obtrusive source of illumination. Even if you prefer a pitch-black bedroom, the rest of the house is susceptible to daylight and the desire of people to see where they’re going nonetheless. Place a rolled-up towel at the foot of your door to maintain the sanctity of your void-like bedroom setting. Light and air can move freely through your door when the hallway outside becomes bright.

FAQs

How can I make my room blackout?

How long will tin foil applied to the window with water last?

What if I don’t have any money?

Why can’t I have electronics before bed?

How do I block sunlight coming through the door of my bedroom?

How do I cover a window with a blanket?

Would black felt along a window make a room darker by shading it from sunlight?

How do I stop light from coming in on the sides and top of blackout curtains?

What can I do if I don’t have a sleep mask?

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