How to totally block light through bedroom windows?

[mart]

Light coming through top, sides and bottom of curtains is keeping me awake at crack of dawn. I have already moved to other bedroom away from South facing.

I've thought about covering all the glass with that black paper that used to be used in art classes. Don't know if it will totally block light though.

There are some daft ideas on tinternet as you can imagine-things like thicker curtains, velcro on edge of curtains. I want to do a proper job. Not going as far as a tin of black paint though.

I want a blokes perspective on it. I don't need to see the garden from the bedroom-I can go outside for that. In any case it looks the same as next doors when it snows heavy.

So what are we gonna do guys about blocking this light ?

Has anyone done this successfully? Surely I can't be the only one who has put up with the problem.

Not wanting to wear a blind fold, and no auto-darkning elmits

 

[steveo3002]

how nice does it need to look ?

well cut bit of hardboard and some velcro on the inside? some thing similar on the outside?

when we stay in spain they have like a light weight roller door similar to a workshop door that they lower down outside , works a treat and keeps it pitch black

 

[Burdekin]

Blackout blind.

 

[armalites]

We have heavyweight blackout liners on our curtains, sure there some light bleeding around the sides but it's nowhere near enough to keep you awake.

Surely this is a first world problem?

 

[gaz_moose]

ive a black out blind and light still gets in round the edges.

id go with your cardboard, although I would opt for a light colour to reflect the sunlight so it don't warm it up loads.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

We use gro blinds for the kids. Suction cup to the glass. Work well.

Previously made a frame out of 2x1 and stapled cardboard over it.

 

[blackolive (Ste)]

A venetian blind doesnt work, We've tried it. To be fair I just get up grumpily in the week when its daybreak as I can accrue flexitime and have Fridays off to do useful stuff

 

[Dave Sherwood]

I used reflective film then blackout curtains, Fantastic now. Even with curtains open NO strong sunlight.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Blackout blind will still allow slivers of light in but is about the best option you have other than taping a black bag over the window.
As I work nights I swear by these.
I buy them on eBay for pennies.

 

[Migmac]

Blackout blind.

This ^^^^

During the spring and summer I sleep during the day, black out blinds or blackout lining on the curtains are what i use. You can stop almost 100% of the light coming through.

 

[armalites]

We have a friend in Alaska who lives out in the wilderness(nearest road 30miles+) and the entire gable in his bedroom is glass with no curtains. I asked him what he does in the summer when it's 24hr daylight? He replied "I go to bed at night and go to sleep"

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Have a look at how people black out windows when using a room for traditional photography developing & printing.

 

[8ob]

Wooden window shutters on the outside ?

 

[slim_boy_fat]

 

[Burdekin]

 

[hal 1]

I once screwed some 1/4" plywood over the window in our bedroom when I was working night shift for a few weeks, it worked well but Mrs HAL wasn't too pleased when she had to turn the lights on whenever she entered the room

 

[gaz1]

velvet curtains and a proper curtain rail not stuck out miles from the wall

 

[mart]

Is blackout blind a trade name for the type of blinds,

Just had a look at them. Actually got some but don't like the idea. Thought the name referred to some niche kind of window blinds that sealed out the light.

 

[mart]

View attachment 139662

I want to sleep, not have sex.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Have a blackout blind in the window reveal and screw some battens to the sides so the blind unfurls in the groove between the batten and the window frame, you could paint the groove matt black if you want to stop even miniscule amounts of light being reflected round the blind.