curtains hung up during the day

Whatever light sleeper knows the struggle falling comatose and staying asleep when in that location is low-cal coming from outside keeping y'all awake.

Sure, using heavy defunction or even coma defunction can make a world of difference in blocking natural lite. However, fifty-fifty people that apply blackout curtains ofttimes face one predicament that prevents them from completely blocking calorie-free from exterior.

This all too common dilemma is that sunlight seems to always leak out from the top and sides of defunction. Light shining around your curtains, of course, defeats the purpose of using light-blocking curtains for slumber. No thing how good the quality of your curtains is, this trouble still can persist.

Nevertheless, this problem completely treatable. Yous can block light entirely from seeping effectually the edges of your curtains by using the 3 methods below:

Method ane: Applying magnetic tape to your curtains

Method 2: Installing a wrap-around mantle rod

Method iii: Attaching calorie-free blocking window blinds

With these three methods discussed in this mail service, you can block the low-cal from leaking around the pinnacle and sides of your curtains in a price-effective way.

However, before you use any of these methods yourself, information technology is important to know if your curtains are gear up properly, to begin with…

Mutual bug with your curtain set upwardly that allow sunlight to leak around the edges

curtains from a side angle

Plainly, if you have abnormally alpine, wide, or weirdly shaped windows, your curtains might non be able to completely block out all the sunlight. However, there are a few different reasons why lite can shine around your curtains edges that simply that accept to practice with the fix upwardly of your curtains.

Fortunately, a few unproblematic tweaks and adjustments tin solve the following problems…

Your defunction are the incorrect size

Using the wrong size curtains is the near obvious reason why light might be shining effectually the edges of your curtains.

Y'all tin can have the best curtains in the world but if they are but as well small for your windows, you still will take light spilling over.

"How can yous fix this?" you might ask.

Well, the only way in which you can prepare this problem is by biting the bullet and just buying some new curtains. This fourth dimension, still, you lot must exist absolutely certain that your new curtains cover the size and shape of your window. Take the fourth dimension to measure the length and summit of the windows y'all are trying to cover and buy your curtains according to those dimensions.

Your defunction aren't fix properly

Another common reason why light can smooth effectually the edges of your curtains is that your curtains simply are not installed properly. Your drapery rod could be installed besides depression or your curtain brackets might non exist installed to properly fit the length of your window.

If your curtain rod is installed besides shut to the top of your window, your pall might not hang high plenty to block out light coming from the top of the window. If your brackets for your rod are as well close to the sides of your window, then your curtains might not be able to extend far enough to fairly cover the sides of the window.

"How can y'all set up this?" you might enquire.

The only way yous can solve these issues is past reinstalling the curtain brackets and the rod.

To exercise so, remove the screws holding in the brackets. Adjacent position the bracket first and then that your defunction come at least three inches above the acme of your window and at to the lowest degree three inches from the sides of your windows equally well, and drill your brackets back in. With your brackets positioned this way, your curtains can completely cover your windows as well as the edges where light seeps through.

Your defunction aren't close enough to your wall

The last well-nigh common dilemma is that your curtains might exist hanging too far away from your windows.

When your curtains are hanging far away from the windows, there is ample space for light to seep through around the edges. Curtains that are dangling nearly flush to the wall effectually the windows are much better at preventing light from coming through.

"How tin can you fix this?" you might ask.

The only way you tin can fix this dilemma, as yous can imagine, is by hanging the mantle rod closer the wall. If your brackets can be adjusted to bring your curtain rod closer to the wall, and then, past all means, brand this aligning. Unfortunately, even so, many brackets don't have this blazon of adjustability. If this is the case, the post-obit three methods might be your all-time bet to completely block out natural light…

Iii methods for blocking out the light around the edges of your defunction

If your curtains happen to be the right size and your pall rod is installed in the right spot, yet, you even so have sunlight leaking around the edges, these iii methods can fix the problem right abroad.

Fortunately, the post-obit methods are all relatively affordable and don't take also much time to implement too.

Method i: Applying magnetic record to your defunction

putting magnetic tape on fabric

Materials:

  • Magnetic tape (I used two rolls)
  • Superglue (optional)

Ane of the best methods for blocking the light around your defunction is the "magnetic tape" method. This approach is one of the easiest to implement, all the same it is past far i of the about constructive ways to block unwanted light.

This approach involved lining the sides and the superlative of your curtains with magnetic tape so lining the sides and top of the window with the corresponding other pieces of magnetic tape. In plough, the edges of your curtain will "stick" to the perimeter of the window and will forbid any light from coming into your room.

First, you tin outset by sticking your magnetic tape to your curtains. Unravel a bit of magnetic tape and stick it to the bottom outer corner on the inside edge of one of your curtains. Slowly unravel your magnetic tape along the side of your curtain as you printing the record confronting the textile as y'all get to make sure that it adheres well. Once yous get to the very top of your curtains, snip the tape with a pair of scissors and printing the remaining terminate of the tape into the fabric. Follow the aforementioned process along the top of your curtain an inch or more below the curtain rings.

putting magnetic tape on edge of fabric

Follow the same process for your other pall.

Quick tip!: Using super glue

Magnetic record doesn't attach every bit well to some types of defunction. Depending on the blazon of fabric your curtains are made of, yous might find that your magnetic tape peels off pretty easily.

To handle this dilemma, you tin can superglue your magnetic tape to the edges of your curtains and then that your magnetic record is certain to take strong adhesion to the fabric. To motility forward this way, y'all can follow the aforementioned process outlined higher up, simply just line the adhesive side of the magnetic tape with superglue about six inches at a time earlier you press each segment of the magnetic tape into the curtain. Gluing and pressing the tape into the curtain flake past bit ensures that the glue doesn't dry out as yous carefully lay the magnetic tape onto the edge of the curtain. Be sure to firmly press each glued segment of the tape to the curtain every few inches as you utilize the glue to make sure that the tape really adheres to the curtain. Keep this process all the way until the peak so do the same for the tops of the curtains and the side of the other curtain.

The terminal stride of the process is to attach more magnetic tape to the wall just over an inch away from the window trim.

Determine at which points on the wall effectually your window trim the edges of your curtain autumn. It is recommended that you lot mark these points on the wall with a pencil since these points along the curtain are where the magnetic strip will need to be stuck to.

Next, yous may stick the magnetic tape along these marked off parts of the wall, inch by inch like you practical the magnetic record to the curtains.

Once the magnetic tape is in place on your wall, the edges of your curtains should naturally magnetize effectually the perimeter of your window, thus preventing any light from leaking around the edges of your window.

edges of curtain sticking to wall

In that location you accept it: a 100% blacked-out window.

Method 2: Installing a wrap around curtain rod

curtain and curtain rod

Materials:

  • Wrap around mantle rod (and respective wall screws)

Using a wrap around drapery rod or render rod is one of the most natural-looking means to block off light from around the edges of your curtains. Meliorate still, no glues or sewing is needed. You simply need to install a render rod properly.

A return rod looks no different than any other curtain rod at first glance. The departure is that a return rod is 1 continuous rod that curves around at the ends to create a wide U shape. This allows yous to draw your curtains into your wall, closing off the sides of your window.

curtain rod with bent ends

The downside of this approach is that although you lot can effectively block off the sides of your windows, this type of mantle rod doesn't shut off the top of your defunction in addition. However, by installing your drapery rod loftier plenty from the pinnacle of your window, you can cake nigh, if not all calorie-free from the superlative of your curtains.

To install a render rod, start, make sure that you accept removed your existing drape rod. Simply pull out the screws, remove the brackets and the rod.

Next measure exactly where you would want to mount your new curtain rod. In social club to prevent every bit much light equally possible from leaking over the tiptop of your curtains, you lot will want to plan to mountain your return rod as high above the window trim equally y'all tin. Every bit long equally your curtain rod is placed loftier enough, you can block out virtually all sunlight.

However, when getting a experience for how high you want your pall rod to be, make sure that the bottoms of your curtains aren't hanging too high off the ground. Otherwise, yous might end upward with the new problem of having light exposure from the bottom of your curtains.

curtain rod from the ground up

In one case y'all have found the right spot for your mantle rod, be certain to marker the points where you lot demand your wall brackets to be. At these marks, you can drill the airplane pilot holes, and then position the brackets over these airplane pilot holes before drilling in the screws for the brackets. When positioning the brackets make sure that the respective rod volition be perfectly level. Once everything is lined upwardly, drill in your curtain brackets.

One time your rod is in identify, you tin then wrap your curtains all the way across your window and along the sides of your window trim too.

hanging curtains

Voila! You have now completely blacked out your windows.

Method iii: Attaching lite blocking window blinds

spare window blinds

Materials:

  • Spare window blinds
  • Superglue or 3M Command Strips

Blocking out sunlight around the edges of your curtains this style involves using private blinds that would typically hang in forepart of your window, as light-blocking barriers between the curtain and your window trim.

If yous don't have any spare window blinds hanging around, you tin always social club a set of replacement blinds for pretty cheap.

First, take i of your blinds and line it up flush along the outer border of the side of your window trim and then that the blind is protruding out from the wall. If your blinds are too tall for your window, mark the spots on the blind where the window ends and and so cutting the blind at those markings so that the blind fits the length of the window. Do the same for another blind to fit the other side of the window trim and then some other for the top of the window trim.

blind pressed up against trim

From hither you lot demand to adhere the first window blind to the side of the window trim.

To do so, yous tin superglue the bullheaded to the edge of the window trim. Of grade, this method is more of a permanent solution since peeling the blind off once it has been glued on can harm the paint of the trim. Alternatively, y'all may use 3M Command strips (essentially record that doesn't peel paint off the wall) which you can remove without worrying about damaging your window frame.

To use superglue, just employ the super gum to the edge of the blind nearly six inches at a time. After applying the glue in these segments, press the edge of the blind upwardly against the side of the window trim. Press the blind into the trim firmly to make sure that it really sticks. Gluing your blind to your window trim chip past chip this manner will ensure that the mucilage won't dry since you will be applying it to the trim right away. In improver, adhering the bullheaded to the trim advisedly in sections will help you lot make sure that you don't gum in the blind crooked or out of place.

To use 3M command strips, but attach one side of the control strip to the very top corner of the blind and the other side to the very pinnacle edge of the window trim. Follow the same steps for the very bottom of the blind. Using 3M Command strips this way is smashing because you lot can easily remove them without peeling off paint if you want to take off the blind. The only downside is that 3M Command strips aren't as strongly adhesive as super glue.

Whether you lot employ superglue or command strips for the first window blind, follow the same process for the other side of your window and and then to the top of your window as well.

curtain pulled over blind

Once finished, these blind barriers should protrude far enough out of the wall to prevent light from leaking out around the edges of your curtains.

Last thoughts

In determining which of these three methods you should utilise for your low-cal-blocking needs, at that place are a few points to consider.

Keep in heed that some of these methods may work better than others depending on what type of defunction you have, how they are positioned and what type of windows you have. It is up to you to make up one's mind what method might work best for your window.

Regardless of which method you lot choose to motility frontward with, plan carefully.

For a consummate listing of the all-time methods for blacking out your entire room, you can cheque out this guide here!