If you’re the human equivalent of a vampire, work night shifts or just hate the sun, blackout curtains are the way to go. The thing is, if you’re on a budget, buying them off the rack might cost you more than an arm and a leg. So, how do you get the effect, or black out curtains on a budget?
Find your own fabric
Image credit: spotlightstores.com
Get your own blackout curtains (even with eyelets or curtain rod holes) at places like Spotlight and have your measurements at hand. Generally, ready-made blackout fabric meant to be curtains tend to be cheaper than if you have someone source and install it for you. Get your desired length and width, and cut them to size in your own time. Grab some simple curtain rods from IKEA and you’re set! Just make sure to cut straight.
Couple blinds with thick curtains
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Another method would be to pair blinds with thick curtains to get the blackout effect. You needn’t look for the expensive venetian blinds – regular off-the-shelf ones will do. Source for a thick, dark coloured fabric to have as your curtain, and you can switch between partial light or a complete blackout.
DIY it
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Assuming you already have a curtain in place but want something a little darker for the brighter days, you can grab paper accordion blinds (or fold some stiff paper in a style of an accordion) and spray black paint on one side.
Couple blackout fabric and sew
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Thankfully, there are things called blackout liners that function as blackout fabric on their own. However if you want to combine it with your existing curtains, a little needle and thread work is required.
