Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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How To Make DIY Blackout Curtains

File this under “A Lazy Mom’s Trick To Get More Sleep.” I made no-sew, mind-numbingly-easy, shortcut, DIY blackout curtains. Enough adjectives for you? I’m an over-explainer. Anyway, this isn’t the professional way, it’s the cheater way. Haha.

close up of blackout curtain liner fabric placed behind curtain panel in a girl's nursery

First the why. Although the faux wood blinds on Clara’s bedroom window provided a decent amount of light-blockage, I knew blackout fabric would make the room pitch black in the middle of the day (which means it might help with the just-one-forty-five-minute-nap that we’ve been getting these days). To JoAnn fabrics I flew, and purchased 5.5 yards of blackout fabric (which sort of felt like the white fabric on roller-blinds). Thanks to a 50% coupon I got it all for $15.

How I Made Blackout Curtains:

  • I returned home with the 5.5 yards of fabric (I measured her existing curtains to see how much I’d need beforehand)
  • I washed the fabric (it said dry clean only but the lady at the counter said I could wash it on cold and air dry it without any issue and she was right)
  • I unclipped the two fabric curtain panels from Clara’s room and laid one on the floor on top of the blackout fabric to use as a template
  • I cut two blackout curtain panels to the same size as the two curtains

how an affordable blackout fabric liner is layered behind colorful floral fabric to create DIY blackout curtains

  • I debated sewing the back side of the fabric to the back side of the blackout fabric on three sides and then turning it rightside-in to hand sew the top closed, creating a finished panel the same way you’d make a pillow cover
  • I realized I had four minutes before nap time and couldn’t wait to see if the blackout curtain would even make a difference
  • I used my ring clips along the curtain rod to clip the curtain up in front of the blackout fabric without sewing anything together (thanks to the weight of both materials, the fabric drapes down in front of the liner, looking virtually identical to how it looked without it)

Haha, so with that description of virtually identical, I will now share a photo of Clara’s room that looks pretty much the same as many others I’ve shown sans blackout liner. Haha. But know that it’s there. Lurking.

baby girl's pink nursery with colorful blue and green floral curtains featuring a hidden blackout curtains

So yeah, I’ll probably go back and sew at least a few sides of them together like a proper semi-dysfunctional seamstress (remember, I’m not exactly old friends with Oh Brother, but for now… it works). Clara has been giving us about 90 minutes for naptime instead of 45 for the past two days since we added it (we’ll take it!) and now sleeps 12+ straight hours overnight (from 7:30 pm to 8 am). In the keep-it-real department, she has always been an awesome night sleeper (I take no credit, it’s just how she was made) so this was more about attempting to convince her that napping for more than 45 minutes in the 12-ish hour span of day between that awesome night of sleep is a good idea. It was a total bonus that her usual 7:30 wake up time scooched back to 8.

So those DIY blackout curtain liners are well worth the fifteen bucks and fifteen minutes spent. Sleeping until 8 for the past two days has been amazing life saving, especially since we’ve been going to bed around 2am due to book stuff. But it’s all worth it! Can’t wait to share sneak peeks of our book shoots and other how-does-this-word-doc-become-an-actual-book stuff as we go (now that the final manuscript is in as of last night, well, this morning at 2:14am). Woot!

Have you guys taken any shortcuts lately? Are you all in complete disbelief that Clara runs around all day long and only naps for 45-90 minutes? When the Bowers came to visit Will was regularly serving up three hour naps and Jeremy couldn’t believe how Clara would pop back up a little over a half-hour later and be raring to go. And yes, I was jealous of their sweetly slumbering son. Very, very jealous. Do you know how much backsplash tile we could start installing over a nice three hour chunk of time? Haha. That’s ok though, we definitely can’t complain about the awesome night sleep Clara has given us pretty much from day one. And the fact that we can put her to bed at 7:30 and hammer away from 8 o-clock on is pretty darn awesome.

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Comments

  1. annabelvita says

    Good work supermom! I think it’s great this way as if you ever wanted to use the fabric for something else or replace her curtains but keep the black out you won’t need to worry about it… but I guess it is better to sew it…

    I made my first ever thing on a sewing machine over Christmas! It’s a cat made out of pyjamas and although it’s really funny looking and realistically looks rubbish, I’m totally in love with him! Here he is: http://annabelvita.com/turn-old-clothes-into-a-cuddly-new-kitten

    Reply

  2. Lizzie says

    One of the best baby shower gifts I was given was a set of handmade blackout curtains from one of my BFF’s interior decorating moms. That baby can snoooooooze.

    Reply

  4. Sarah says

    We love our blackout curtains in our master bedroom! The first night we slept in our new house, we had no blinds or curtains and when the sun started shining directly in our bedroom window at 5:30 a.m., my husband went and slept on the floor of the closet. I bought cheapie blackout curtains from Target the same day. haha

    Did you ever consider just using some stitch witchery tape around the edges for a slightly more finished, but still very quick, fix?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I did think about that, I just didn’t know if I’d end up melting the liner (it’s sort of plastic/rubber feeling, so I worried using the iron would singe it- haha).

      xo,
      s

    • Rosie says

      blackout liner can be ironed, just not on very high heat. And be careful how you store them if you they’ll be off the windows for a while… the light blocking layer can peel off if it get stuck to itself, which leaves light spots in the curtains. Ask me how I know… :)

      We LOVE blackout drapes at our house… been using them since the first “spring forward” with a baby in the house and now we have them in ever bedroom. A bonus is that they also have some nice thermal properties too, so they can help with your heating bill. If you REALLY want to help your heatin bill, ask for the “warm windows” liner that runs bout $30 per yard at JoAnns. Not cheap, but worth it if you’ve got a real heat seive in the house. We lined the curtains that cover the sliding glass door with it and it makes a HUGE difference. :)

  7. Bboss says

    From what I read about you in your blog, it sounds like she is channeling your energy level. If you asked your mom, I bet she would call it payback?

    Reply

  9. Cathy says

    I didn’t know blackout fabrics existed. Awesome! I’ve been meaning to do something about my bedroom curtains because I cannot stay asleep when there’s light shooting into my room. Thanks for yet another great tip! :)

    Reply

  10. Amanda @ Our Humble A{Bowe}d says

    I made black out curtains for my younger son, too. He’s a great napper, like 3 hours, but still doesn’t sleep through the night consistently. Last night the first time he woke up was 4:30, compared to the usual 2:30. But he can sleep through almost anything. Oh, and he goes to bed at 9:00. Definitely be thankful for Clara’s good night sleeping!!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yes, I’m so grateful! We always talk about how we lucked into that (she was a sleepy night girl from birth, to which my mom says “the next one is going to throw you for a loop”). Haha.

      xo,
      s

    • JennyB says

      So true! Our 2 year old has never been a great night sleeper. He makes it through a whole night about once or twice a month…maybe! I’m pregnant with #2 and hoping that he’ll have Clara’s sleeping habits. I don’t know if I can take TWO kids that can’t sleep through the night! Mama’s TIRED!

  11. heather says

    If I was writing a book, taking secret photos, making secret projects, writing blog posts for my own blog and another blog, checking facebook and twitter for messages so I could respond and see what was going on, dealing with sponsors, giveaways, questions, comments, kitchen renovations, a toddler, a dog and not sleeping I would have made these exactly the same way.

    It works, it’s awesome, and here’s to hoping 90 minute naps become a regular.

    Reply

    • heather says

      nix that comment “I would have made them the same way”. I would have crumpled into a pile of tears under that stress and chaos long before I ever made it to Joannes.

      You’re superwoman.

    • heather says

      Hmm, you’re probably right, thought it might be nice to pretend she’s exhausted after saving people so much. I bet when no ones looking she’s in sweats with a pint of ben and jerry’s watching the jersey housewives. I still give you the slow clap for being superwoman-esque.

    • heather says

      Superman totally is into laptops in the cafe as he writes a autobiography.

      Batman wants people to think he gets his fitness on, but in reality he eats greasy spicy fried chicken and laughs with his mouth full at Tosh.0.

    • Kathy says

      haha! yes! And Sherry says that she’s amazed at Clara’s energy! :-)

      I’M amazed that you guys can start working on house projects starting at 8 PM after such a full day! Wow.

  13. Courtney says

    my 10 month old son is the exact same way. Sometimes he will only sleep 30 mins throughout the day. Maybe we should try something similar to help him sleep during nap time. He is fantastic night sleeper though (12+ hours) and has been that way since he was about 6 months old, so I can’t complain too much.

    Reply

  14. Monika says

    Congrats on finishing the book. Can’t wait to get a copy! I can’t imagine how intense that must have been! It sounds like Clara is a very good sleeper. I think a range of 11 to 15 hours of sleep is normal for her age and each kid seems to pick a number of hours and go with it. Our son’s # is 12: naps 2 hours but only sleeps about 10 hours at night. Sometimes I wish he’d sleep 12 hours at night and forgo the nap altogether! Ahh, getting up at 8 sounds so good ;) We installed black out shades a while back, they do help!

    Reply

  15. em says

    This is one of those “why didn’t I think of that??” moments. I ended up buying hideous curtains from Target for my daughter’s room when we started needing blackout curtains. They are so poorly-made that I’m sure your no-sew cheater version looks far more professional. And, of course, mine were more expensive.
    Well, I’ll be using this trick for my son’s room in the future.

    Reply

  16. susan says

    I have one child, now 14, who would get up 4:30 to 5:00a.m. even in his tween years. I gladly paid big bucks for black out Kirsch shades. They look great and keep out the morning sun that blazes into his room. I am happy to say that now he will sleep sometimes until 8a.m. and this makes me a happy camper. Very clever idea you came up with.

    Reply

  17. Jessica says

    Don’t worry….my little one (who is a month older than Clara) only sleeps for 45-90 minutes during the day herself. We have a small house and have to tiptoe to make sure she doesn’t wake up sooner than that…lol I might just have to try this trick!

    Reply

  18. Lady says

    Sherry, if you decide to sew the blackout on, put the wrong sides of both fabrics together. Then stitch on the side and top seams of your curtain panels (so stitch over your side and top seams on the flowered fabric again).

    Reply

  19. Blanca says

    Totally off topic but have you seen this? I just made one for my daughter in the shape of a kangaroo since we call her that when I carry her in my moby. I also included all the other little funny nick names I have for her. I just printed one on photo paper and it came out great.

    http://www.tagxedo.com

    I thought you would like to include one on Clara’s wall.

    Reply

  20. Ashley says

    Sherry, huge congratulations on your final manuscript! What a tremendous accomplishment.
    On the sleep commiseration front:
    I’ve got three girls (9,6 and 3) and learned that the old adage about 45 minute sleep cycles is so true. So it does seem that if after the first 45 minutes there’s a distraction (e.g. too much light/noise), the little stinkers will pop their heads up and be rearing to go. If those distractions were kept to a minimum, they would often move through that light sleep into the next 45 minute cycle. Some little daytime sleep champs can make it through several of those without batting an eye, it seems. Anyhoo, more info than you needed. And may not be scientifically proven, but this was totally my experience back when the little ones did naps.
    Yay for black outs, and cute fabric on those curtains, too!
    Though I’m a very infrequent commenter, I do love reading you guys every day.

    Reply

  21. Katy says

    I love blackout curtains! I use them myself because I am super sensitive to light. Mine aren’t the prettiest so now I am definitely going to have to try this method!

    ~katy

    Reply

  22. Jen says

    I have been working on the same add-blackout fabric-mission. I have been evaluating my short cut options as I actually love his curtains and prefer not to damage them or make them wonky with my in-progress sewing skills. :) I, would adore if he would sleep longer in the morning. Lately we are lucky if he sleeps until 4 AM. Yup. In the morning. The first 6 months of his life he woke at 3 am (always with in a 4 min window) and no amount of nursing, rocking, bribing, or begging would get him back to sleep. When he sleeps in? He sleeps until 6. And he goes to bed at 8 (if he chooses not to yell from his room for an hour). He, thank goodness, at 2.5 still takes a nap most days – between and hour and two, when I’m lucky.

    and hammer? Man, you are lucky with your bean. We can’t even sneeze or he will wake up. For real. Sound machine & fan later – a sneeze is ok, but just one, very quiet, stiffled one! ;) his sister is luckily a more sound sleeper.

    Reply

  23. Jen says

    I have some curtains in our sun room that after I sewed them I decided they were too long. I pinned them to a more proper length and haven’t taken them off the rod to sew them. And that was probably 8 months ago. Ah, shortcuts. Now my secrets out :)

    Reply

  24. Rebecca @ the lil house that could says

    Hm good to know that Joann’s sells that stuff! The old Joann’s I used to go to was awful and I never believed bloggers when they found awesome fabric at that place. Thankfully I found a better one with loads of options. I am also sewing-phobic (my machine still sits in its box…) but it felt good just before Christmas to pick some fabric, place it on the counter and declare “2 yards please!” I think Joann and I have started an affair :)

    Reply

  26. Angie says

    We purchased blackout curtains for my twin boys’ room- 3 windows facing the afternoon sun side of the house. We went from 1 hour naps to 2 1/2 – HEAVEN! We also went from 6:45am wake up to 7:30-8am wakeups… why didn’t I do it when they were newborns? I recommend it to all my mommy friends who complain about nap time.
    So glad you got a few more minutes to recharge each afternoon!

    Reply

  27. Brandi @ His Shabby Her Chic says

    I’ve been looking for blackout curtains for a while now and haven’t found any I like. All of our windows are single paned so it gets might cold, especially next to the sliding glass door. I never thought to go to Joann’s.

    They look great by the way!

    Reply

  28. Amanda Jones says

    Since that blackout fabric is fairly thick, I wouldn’t sew it like a pillowcase if I were you. I would cut it a little smaller than the curtain, iron the edges of the curtain over twice on those three sides, and ‘slide’ the blackout fabric in. Then, just sew down the three sides. That way it won’t look all bunchy and weird after you flip right side out using the other method :) You will have to fold the corners a little differently but I’m sure you will figure that part out as you are ironing. Oh, and make sure you use a needle rated for that fabric….probably a 14? I would go blue or purple on it (the singer brand needles are all color coded…)

    Reply

    • Heidi P. says

      Wow super smart. I just got a sewing machine for Christmas (yaaay hooraaay!) and can finally (hopefully) finish my curtain sewing project. The one I started two years ago. But only got as far as cutting and pinning the fabric. lol

      Blackout fabric = the best. You should totally do some in your room too. Even though you probably sleep through the night, I’ve discovered that the less light there is, the *better* sleep the I get and wake up feeling ready to wake up. Which is kind of like heaven. :)

  29. Jen says

    My theory is that kids are the sleepers they are. Parents of kids who sleep well write books about what they believe they did right, and parents of kids who don’t write books like “Go the F*** to Sleep.” Congratulations on getting one who naps enough to let you work! :)

    Reply

  30. Karen F says

    congrats on submitting the manuscript! that must be a huge relief (and I cannot wait to read the book when it comes out)!!

    Also, my youngest is about 18 months older than Clara – I wish Clara was a little older, because you are giving me all these awesome ideas too late! :)

    Reply

  31. bridget b. says

    i continue to be amazed at Clara’s night sleeping! my daughter takes a 2 hr nap at daycare, but only sleeps about 9 hrs at night (from 9pm-6ish)

    i recently made the colorful curtain valance for our laundry room with fabric and a LOT of heat’n bond hem tape. totally the lazy way, but i can’t sew to save my life and the final product looks decent. :)

    you can see a picture of it here: (last picture- http://623designs.tumblr.com/housetour)

    Reply

  32. Julia @ Chris loves Julia says

    Our little Greta has her bath at 5:30 pm and is in bed by 6pm. She sleeps until about 7:30 and then takes about a 2 hour nap around 11. We LOVE her sleep schedule. However, when she is up–she is UP and active. Very active. In fact, everywhere we go, at least one person comments about how she is always moving and how I must be so tired. I always reply, “She plays hard…but she sleeps hard, too.” And having our whole evenings to get projects done is worth every last jump fest I participate in throughout the day.

    Reply

  34. Shannon @ Bungalow960 says

    I am going to have to make these! Our neighbor has a malfunctioning motion sensor light that blinks on and off all night long. Do you think I could do this the lazy way and seal the edges with fabric tape?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I think that could work! I was afraid of using anything iron-on because I worried the iron might melt the blackout material (it’s sort of rubbery and plastic-ish – like the material on a roller shade).

      xo,
      s

  35. Meredith @ La Buena Vida says

    True story–I am so sleep deprived right now that I thought the title was “Fitness Minute, Fifteen Dolla Black Out Curtains”. It totally made sense in my head, because if we actually had black out curtains, I might get to work out in the mornings before Lizzy got up. But then I got to the end of the post and there was no fitness. Oye vey–I need a nap! And to give these curtains a shot!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH. Comment of the day awarded at just 10:50 am. Hilarious. In general I just think the word fitness is hysterical. I picture leg warmers and blown out bangs.

      xo,
      s

  36. Malissa says

    I work in a design center and we regularly sell yards of black out liner to DIYers and many have told me they had trouble getting the rubber side of the liner to slide through their sewing machine (read: they were really frustrated). One woman told me that she used wax paper and basically just layered her face fabric, the liner and wax paper and stitched right through all three. When she was done she just tore the paper away. Just a friendly, unsolicited tip :)

    Reply

  37. Lea B says

    This is a fabulous idea! My daughter is going to be 2 this month and she’s also always been a great sleeper, but her naps have become shorter and shorter. We went from 2 2.5 hour naps a day and sleeping 12 hours at night to one 60 minute nap (and it’s hard to get her to take that nap) and 10 or 11 hours at night. I’m pretty positive this is because she is equating sunlight to awake and play time now. I’m going to make some of these for her new “big girl” room when we move.

    Reply

  38. Madeline says

    Oh how I miss my blackout curtains from my college days! Haha! Gosh if I had them now, I would NEVER get to work. :) Enjoy those extra Zzzzsss!

    Reply

  40. Kat says

    I’ve been searching the blog for the last hour for curtain/blind guidance! Yay on blackouts (those may be coming for an east-facing bedroom) and wahoo on your entire inspiration in helping this new homeowner feel all DIY/decorator capable. I’m stumped, though, and hope you can quickly help me sort out the bane of my existence (dramatic much?) – blinds under curtains. I love the light ones I think I see in some of your rooms, but with the light in the photos, I can’t tell if they’re blinds, shades or I’m just imagining them. Can ya throw a tired and too-much-on-public-display-in-the-new-‘hood gal a bone and help out? I’m already a “high and wide” devotee, just need inspiration for the “whats” to hang “hows”. Thanks!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      They’re white faux wood blinds (places like Home Depot will cut them down for you). They’re nice for privacy when you don’t want to close the curtains and partial light blocking (ex: to shoot rooms for the blog, sometimes we like them half-closed so some light comes in but they’re not super blown out boxes).

      xo,
      s

  41. Donna Jean says

    I’m so thankful that my 18 1/2 month old still takes 2 90+ min naps a day! We’re expecting baby #2 in June (due on my son’s 2nd birthday!) and I think that I would have died by now if he only took one 45 min nap because that is when I get to nap, too!! We’ve been hanging a large, dark blanket over the window in his room to keep it dark, but I think I see a trip to Joann’s in my future – that blackout fabric is probably much more effective and would, without a doubt make the window much more aesthetically pleasing!

    Here’s hoping to many 90+ minute naps in your future!

    Reply

  42. Amy says

    I agree with Em…I bought black out curtains for one of my daughters rooms and they really don’t work that well.

    Naps? I have 3 daughters that hated them. None of them took naps past 3 years. I’m crossing my fingers for you that Clara does better than that :)

    Reply

  43. Corie says

    The curtains look fuller, too! Bonus! :)

    I think kids are either good nappers or good night-time sleepers. I have one of each, and they’re 4 & 6 years old now so they both sleep like normal people at night NOW(for the most part), but my oldest was a bad bad bad night-time sleeper/awesome napper and I definitely felt more rested when my second came along with the reverse idea – he barely napped and always slept well at night.

    Maybe if I had a third he would do well at both? Or, he could be bad at both. Eeek. I better stick with two. ;)

    Reply

  44. Anna says

    Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! So proud of your manuscript submission efforts!!! (and the blackout curtains rock – i made myself some for the summer here in scotland – waking up at 4am because of the light is no fun).

    Reply

  47. Megan Mack says

    Great thinking with the blackout curtains!

    A side note, it’s not surprising to hear that Clara slept an extra half hour in the morning when her naps lengthened. Apparently sleep begets sleep. Well to a certain extent, you probably can’t get her sleeping any later but the more rested kids are the better and longer they will sleep. Check out the book “Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child” by Dr. Marc Weissbluth. The book covers sleep stuff through age 3. And maybe it could be helpful when you have a second child that isn’t as great a sleeper as Clara!

    Reply

  48. Teresa @ wherelovemeetslife says

    I am so completely jealous of your all night sleep… I work full-time and my little man hasn’t slept through the night..ever! 1-3 hours tops at a time. It’s tough, but we manage. I would love to be able to put him down at night and get a lot of stuff accomplished! Oh well, you make the best of what ya got huh. I need curtains for all the rooms in the house but the kitchen..sad huh. I would totally take advantage of a JoAnne’s coupon if I could just get my hands on one!

    Reply

    • Amanda says

      Usually you can get the coupons on Joann’s website and just print them out (I print out multiples and check out a bunch of times if they only let me use one coupon per check out). They’ll also usually have their flyers with their coupons right inside the door of the store as you come in, in case you forget to print one out ahead of time. :-)

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