How to Make Your Room Darker

Creating a darker environment in the bedroom is essential for a restful night’s sleep. The effects of light on sleep can disrupt the production of melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle.

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Fortunately, a variety of strategies can be used to make your room darker for a healthy bedroom environment and improve sleep quality. In this article, we will outline how to make your room darker and the potential benefits of doing so.

Invest in Blackout Curtains

Investing in blackout curtains effectively helps optimize your bedroom for better sleep and reduces external light sources and creates a dark room environment that promotes better sleep. Blackout curtains are designed to block out light and are available in other ways through various window treatments, such as blackout shades, blackout film, blackout blinds, and just hanging blackout fabric. When properly installed, a blackout blind or curtains can provide total darkness in the bedroom, allowing for a peaceful sleep environment.

Additionally, blackout curtains are effective at getting the bedroom ready for summer and keeping the room cooler in warm months and retaining heat at night during cold months. To ensure maximum darkness, it is important to ensure the curtains cover the entire window, extend beyond the edges, and overlap the curtain tracks.

Double window treatments such as blackout curtains combined with blinds or shades or coverings combined with window film can also be used for a more effective light-blocking solution.

Use Window Film

Installing window film is an effective way to reduce light infiltration further and create a dark environment for better sleep. Window film is a type of window treatment that can be applied to the window frame or glass to provide an additional blackout layer. When combined with blackout curtains or blackout blinds, window film can help to achieve maximum darkness in the bedroom. Window film is available in different styles and can be customized to fit any window.

Additionally, a blackout shade roller or cellular shades can be installed outside the window frame to provide an extra blackout layer.

Using multiple layers of window treatments effectively blocks out light, can cool down a room and creates a dark room. Combining blackout curtains with blackout blinds or a blackout curtain with roller shades is a good option for those who want to combine style and function.

Window shades can be used to reduce light transmission further and ensure complete darkness. Consider using two or more layers of window treatments for maximum light-blocking capabilities. This will help create a dark and peaceful environment, promoting better sleep.

Utilize Light-Blocking Shades

Utilizing light-blocking shades in combination with other window treatments can help to create a dark and peaceful environment for better sleep. Investing in blackout curtains, using eye masks, and blocking light from the bedroom door are ways to make a bedroom darker.

“If you need to use a light at night, you can get a red light flashlight which will not interfere with melatonin production,” says Shawna Robins, best-selling author of Powerful Sleep – Rest Deeply, Repair Your Brain and Restore Your Life.

The difference between blackout curtains and shades is that blackout blinds are installed on the window itself and a blackout curtain is hung from a curtain rod.

Light-blocking shades can be a great way to block light and make a room pitch black. Installing a curtain rod and light-blocking shades outside the window recesses can benefit maximum light-blocking. Additionally, using light-blocking shades in combination with regular curtains can create a more functional and stylish window treatment.

Using room dividers and darker bedroom colors for sleep on the bedroom walls can also help to lessen and make a room darker. Room dividers can be used to block out any remaining light coming from adjoining rooms. Darker colors, such as navy blue or black, can be used to minimize light reflection.

Lastly, sleeping with your door closed can help out block out light from elsewhere in the home, whether it’s other occupants with lights on in the evening or morning sunlight eventually seeping into your home as dawn rises.

Creating a dark environment Verified Source Harvard Health Blog run by Harvard Medical School offering in-depth guides to better health and articles on medical breakthroughs. View source can be a great way to promote better sleep. Ensuring that all of the windows are properly treated and that any remaining light sources are blocked out can help make a bedroom darker and more conducive to sleep. Utilizing various light source-blocking shades and other creative solutions can help to create a dark, peaceful, and relaxing environment for better sleep.

Cover Electronic Devices

Conscientiously covering electronic devices by putting them in a box or drawer or turning them off altogether can help to reduce light infiltration in the bedroom further. Digital devices are ruining your sleep. Items such as phones, tablets, and laptops emit light that can disrupt the circadian rhythm and make achieving a pitch-black, dark bedroom difficult.

“Make sure you do not charge your phone or any electronics in your bedroom and put all electronic devices on the nightshade setting to minimize blue light exposure,” says Robins.

If you can, leave your phone outside of the bedroom and use an alarm clock to help you wake up in the morning. You may even wish to turn the alarm clock’s face away from your bed so you’re not distracted by thoughts of what time it is in the middle of the night.

Additionally, using blackout curtains or blinds can help to ensure maximum darkness in the bedroom and create a more conducive environment for quality sleep. Verified Source ScienceDirect One of the largest hubs for research studies and has published over 12 million different trusted resources. View source By taking these measures, you can create a dark bedroom that is light-free and conducive to better sleep.

Wear an Eye Mask

Wearing a sleep mask can help to eliminate light and improve sleep quality, as well as supplement blackout curtains or blinds for maximum darkness. An eye mask can provide total darkness and help to reduce light sources in the bedroom. This can help improve melatonin production, making it easier to fall asleep and promoting better sleep.

“Using an eye mask is a great way to sleep while you are traveling or in a hotel room,” says Robins.

Here are some tips for wearing an eye mask to maximize its effectiveness:

• Wear a thick eye mask that can absorb light completely.
• Choose a dark color for the eye mask to reduce the amount of natural light that can penetrate.
• Make sure the eye mask fits comfortably and snugly over the eyes.
• Avoid using night lights in the bedroom to prevent any light from penetrating the eye mask.
• Place the eye mask over the eyes before turning off the lights for maximum darkness.

Consider Wall Colors

Choosing darker wall colors can help minimize light reflection in the bedroom, thus contributing to a darker environment for better sleep. Darker shades absorb more light than lighter colors, creating a darker atmosphere. A darker color Verified Source National Library of Medicine (NIH) World’s largest medical library, making biomedical data and information more accessible. View source can also help develop a sense of tranquility, which can benefit restful sleep. 

When selecting a darker wall color, consulting with an interior designer or someone knowledgeable about color theory can be beneficial. They can help determine the best colors for a darker bedroom environment and suggest furniture and accessories to enhance the atmosphere. Additionally, experimenting with different light levels, non-blue light LED light bulbs, and shades of darker colors can help create the perfect environment.

A dark bedroom environment can be created with wall colors, carefully chosen furniture and other design elements. Keeping these tips in mind and consulting with professionals can help create a dark bedroom and the perfect atmosphere for restful sleep.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I darken my room cheaply?

To block light, cover your windows with blackout drapes and shades. Alternatively, you might attach blackout cloth or film to the window. Close any small light sources with painter’s tape and turn off all the gadgets in the space. Use a sleep mask as well to stop light and obtain complete darkness.

“I personally use Non-Bluelight LED light bulbs in my bedroom to help me sleep at night,” says Robins. “It gives a nice, warm glow similar to a sunset and doesn’t contain any blue light which blocks the production of melatonin. Plus, it is cheap and easy to install.”

How do you darken a room with shades?

Layer window coverings to darken a space. The simplest approach to make a space darker is to layer your window coverings. Use Blackout Shades, which are heavier and block out almost all light. Outside mount window coverings can be simple to use and long-lasting. Finally, invest in light-blocking strips.

How do I make my room 100% dark?

To block all light is next to impossible but you can get close. Start by covering your windows with blackout drapes and shades. Alternatively, you might attach blackout cloth or film to the window. Close any small light sources with painter’s tape and turn off all the gadgets in the space. Use a sleep mask as well to obtain complete darkness.

How can I darken my room without paint?

Whiteout film. Whiteout film is another way to dim a light space while adding seclusion and softening visible light without completely darkening the room. In addition, it lets some light during the day while giving privacy.

Conclusion

Darkening a room can be a simple and effective way to improve sleep quality and overall health.

Curtains, shades, window films, and eye masks can all help reduce light infiltration, while wall colors and dimmer lamps can also contribute to why people prefer a darker environment.

By investing in these tools and creating a dark sleep environment, it is possible to regulate melatonin production and improve sleep.