Help is indeed at hand however, in the form of blackout curtains and blinds. The blackout lining option that you can choose with most made-to-measure curtain and blind companies can be a godsend for rooms that are east-facing, for example, because they completely block out the sunlight to give you the good nights sleep you deserve.As an added bonus, all types of blackout lining have thermal retention properties, meaning that they keep the heat in during winter. Blackout lining will typically cost a little bit more than standard cotton lining would, but the added benefits – both short term with regards to the light, and long term when you inevitably start saving money on your energy bills – are going to be well worth the investment.

Blackout lining is made using a poly/cotton mix (blackout lining made from 100% natural materials doesn’t yet exist). The fabric is then coated in an acrylic layer to increase its light-blocking properties. Manufacturers of blackout lining normally offer a range of colours, but curtain makers, like the Natural Curtain Company, mostly offer white and off-white colours.