Blackout Shades
Blackout shades for rooms that need real darkness
Room-darkening fabric, an honest conversation about light gaps, and the mounting detail that decides whether a bedroom actually goes dark.
Most disappointing blackout installations are not a fabric problem. They are a mounting problem. Light escapes around the edges, not through the material. We look at depth, brackets and the wall around the opening first, then choose the fabric.
For nurseries, shift workers and media rooms we usually recommend an outside mount or side channels, and we say plainly when a window cannot be made completely dark.
Every project is measured on site, ordered to your exact openings, installed by our own team, and tested with you before we leave.
Where it works best
- Primary bedrooms
- Nurseries and children's rooms
- Media and screening rooms
- Street-facing apartments
- Rooms used for daytime sleep
Blackout Shades
Considering blackout shades for your home?
Tell us which rooms you are working on and we will bring blackout shades samples to your home, measure the openings and recommend the version that suits the light, privacy and budget you have in mind.
Options
Choose the version that fits the room.
Blackout roller shades
The cleanest option, with an optional cassette and side channels for the tightest seal.
Blackout cellular shades
Honeycomb construction that darkens the room and adds insulation at the glass.
Blackout roman shades
Lined fabric folds for bedrooms that should still feel soft and tailored.
Motorized blackout shades
Close the room from bed or on a schedule, the most requested motorized application we install.
Side channels & light-blocking details
Aluminium channels, closed cassettes and generous outside mounts to control edge light.
Benefits
Why homeowners choose it.
- Better sleep
- Consistent darkness for early risers, shift workers and children.
- Screen and media rooms
- Kill reflections on TVs and projectors during the day.
- Thermal comfort
- Lined and cellular fabrics reduce heat gain and cold radiating off the glass.
- Privacy after dark
- Full opacity means no silhouettes when the lights are on inside.
Made to measure
Customization.
- Inside mount, outside mount or channel system
- Cassette headrail to close the top gap
- Manual or motorized operation
- Paired with a daytime solar or light filtering shade
The Real Problem
Blackout failures are almost always at the edges
The fabric itself blocks nearly all light. What lets a room stay bright is the gap between the shade and the wall, at the sides, the top and the sill.
Before recommending a fabric, we look at the mounting depth, the wall around the frame and how much light the room actually gets, then decide whether an inside mount is enough or whether an outside mount, cassette and side channels are needed.
Mounting
Inside mount vs outside mount vs channel system
Inside mount
Cleanest look, fits inside the recess, but leaves the small side and sill gaps typical of any shade.
Outside mount + cassette
Fabric overlaps the frame and a closed headrail seals the top, the usual choice for nurseries and bedrooms.
Side channels
Aluminium tracks that hold the fabric edges in place, closing the last gap for near-total darkness.
Where Blackout Matters Most
Room by room
Nurseries
Consistent daytime naps depend on real darkness, not just dim light.
Primary bedrooms
Side channels and cassette mounts suit early risers and shift workers.
Media rooms
Kills daytime reflections on screens and projectors.
Street-facing apartments
Full opacity removes silhouettes once the lights are on inside.
Beyond Darkness
UV and heat, not just light
Blackout fabrics also block most of the UV that fades rugs, art and upholstery near a window, which matters even in rooms that aren't used for sleeping.
Lined and cellular blackout options add a measure of thermal comfort too, taking some of the chill off glass in winter and heat gain in summer.
Timeline
What to expect after you order
01
Confirm mount
We finalize inside/outside mount and channels based on the measurement visit.
02
Fabrication
The shade is made to the exact opening, not a stock size.
03
Install
Brackets, cassette and channels (where used) are fitted together.
04
Darkness check
We test the room with the lights off before calling the job done.
Related
Often specified alongside.
Service areas
Blackout Shades near you.
We measure and install throughout Northern New Jersey and selected New York areas.
Frequently asked questions
Blackout Shades: your questions answered.
Will a blackout shade make the room completely dark?
The fabric blocks the light; the edges decide the result. With an outside mount, a cassette and side channels a room can get very close to complete darkness. We tell you honestly what a specific window can achieve before you order.
Are blackout shades available motorized?
Yes, blackout fabrics are one of the most common motorized applications, especially in bedrooms. See our motorized shades page for the control options.
Can I keep some daylight during the day?
A dual roller pairs a solar or light filtering shade with a blackout shade on the same window, so you can choose the level of light at any time.
Can a blackout shade also let some light in during the day?
Yes, pairing it with a solar or light filtering shade on a dual roller lets you choose the level of light at any time, rather than being fully open or fully dark.
Are blackout fabrics only available as roller shades?
No. Blackout linings are also available in cellular and roman shades, chosen when the room wants softer folds or added insulation alongside darkness.
Do side channels affect how the shade looks?
They add a slim track down each side of the frame. Most households find the trade-off worthwhile in a nursery or bedroom; we show you the finished look before you commit.
Is there a fabric that blocks 100% of light?
Fabric alone gets very close, but a small amount of edge light is normal on any shade unless side channels and a cassette are used together.
Free in-home consultation · Free professional installation
Get an honest read on what darkness your window can achieve
We'll assess the mounting depth and light in the room, then recommend the fabric and mount that actually solve it.
Talk to Leo directly
(201) 846-6181
info@modu-shade.com
Bergen County, Northern New Jersey, Hudson County, Manhattan and selected NYC areas