Best Blackout Curtains for Nurseries: What Parents Should Look For

TL;DR: The best blackout curtains for nurseries combine strong light blocking, generous window coverage, safe installation, easy maintenance, and a design that can grow with your child. Custom blackout curtains can be especially effective because they're made for the exact window dimensions, helping minimize the light gaps common with standard ready-made curtains. Whatever curtains you choose, keep the crib away from curtains, cords, and other window-covering hazards.

Choosing the best blackout curtains for a nursery isn't just another decorating decision.

Babies nap during the day. Summer sunrises can happen very early. Streetlights can illuminate bedrooms throughout the night. And as children grow, they become increasingly aware of what's happening around them.

Creating a dark, comfortable nursery can help reduce unnecessary light and create a more consistent environment for naps and nighttime sleep.

But with thousands of blackout curtains available, which ones are actually best for a baby's room?

Here's what parents should look for.

Why Use Blackout Curtains in a Nursery?

The main reason is simple: light control.

Light is an important environmental signal for the body's internal clock. Guidance on children's sleep environments commonly recommends keeping bedrooms dark during sleep and reducing bright light around bedtime.

For babies and young children, blackout curtains can be particularly useful because sleep doesn't only happen at night.

They can help reduce:

  • Daytime sunlight during naps
  • Early morning sunlight
  • Late summer sunsets
  • Streetlights
  • Car headlights
  • Light from neighboring homes

Blackout curtains won't make a baby sleep through the night, and they shouldn't be treated as a sleep solution on their own.

What they can do is create a darker environment that's more suitable for sleep.

What Are the Best Blackout Curtains for a Nursery?

There's no single curtain that's perfect for every nursery.

Instead, look for several important characteristics.

1. Excellent Light Blocking

This should be your first priority.

There's an important difference between blackout curtains and room-darkening curtains.

Room-darkening curtains reduce daylight.

True blackout curtains are designed to block substantially more light from passing through the fabric.

This matters particularly for daytime naps, when direct sunlight can make a nursery surprisingly bright.

2. Proper Window Coverage

The blackout fabric itself is only half of the equation.

Light can still enter:

  • Above the curtain
  • Around both sides
  • Underneath the curtain
  • Between two curtain panels
  • For a darker nursery, curtains should extend beyond the actual dimensions of the window.

This is one reason custom blackout curtains can be particularly useful for nurseries.

Instead of choosing the closest standard size, custom curtains can be manufactured for the dimensions and installation of a specific window.

For example, Evernights specializes in made-to-measure blackout curtains, allowing parents to customize the width, height, fullness, color, and installation style. More precise window coverage can help minimize the light gaps that often remain with standard ready-made curtains.

3. Safe Installation

Safety should always come before aesthetics or blackout performance.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping an infant's sleep area free from hazards such as dangling cords, electrical wires, and window-covering cords because of strangulation risks.

When installing nursery curtains:

  • Keep the crib away from the window and curtains.
  • Keep all cords completely inaccessible to children.
  • Secure curtain rods and hardware properly.
  • Avoid loose fabric within reach of the crib.
  • Follow the manufacturer's installation instructions.

Cordless window coverings are particularly important in spaces used by young children.

4. Floor-Length Coverage

Long curtains generally provide better window coverage than curtains that stop directly below the window.

They can also create the elegant, full-length look commonly found in professionally designed nurseries.

However, placement matters.

As your baby becomes mobile, make sure curtains and other window treatments remain safely out of reach from the crib and other furniture the child can climb.

5. A Color That Works With the Nursery

One of the biggest misconceptions about blackout curtains is that they need to be black.

They don't.

The blackout performance comes primarily from the construction of the curtain rather than simply choosing a dark exterior color.

That means parents can choose curtains that complement the nursery.

Popular nursery curtain colors include:

  • Soft pink
  • Cream
  • Beige
  • White
  • Sage green
  • Light blue
  • Warm gray
  • Taupe

This allows blackout curtains to become part of the nursery design rather than looking purely functional.

6. A Design That Can Grow With Your Child

Babies don't stay babies for very long.

A nursery eventually becomes a toddler room and then a child's bedroom.

Choosing high-quality curtains in a versatile color or pattern means you may not need to replace the window treatments every time the room changes.

Neutral and muted colors tend to transition particularly well.

7. Easy-to-Maintain Fabric

Anything installed in a child's room should be practical.

Before purchasing blackout curtains, check the manufacturer's care instructions.

Some curtains can be machine washed, while others require gentler cleaning methods.

If you're investing in custom curtains, choosing a durable fabric that can withstand years of use is especially important.

Custom vs Ready-Made Blackout Curtains for Nurseries

Both can work.

The biggest differences are price, convenience, fit, and customization.

Ready-Made Blackout Curtains

Advantages:

  • Lower initial cost
  • Available immediately
  • Easy to replace
  • Good option for standard windows

Disadvantages:

  • Limited sizes
  • May leave larger light gaps
  • Limited customization
  • Can be difficult to fit unusually large windows

Custom Blackout Curtains

Advantages:

  • Made for your window dimensions
  • Better control over window coverage
  • Custom colors and fabrics
  • Choice of fullness and hanging style
  • More tailored appearance

Disadvantages:

  • More expensive
  • Require accurate measurements
  • Usually take longer to manufacture
  • If maximum darkness is the priority, the ability to customize the dimensions can be a significant advantage.

Blackout Curtains vs Blackout Blinds for a Nursery

Parents frequently compare blackout curtains with blackout blinds.

Both can be effective.

Blackout blinds provide a clean, compact appearance and can fit closely inside a window opening.

Blackout curtains provide broader coverage around the window while adding softness, texture, and color to the nursery.

Some parents use both.

A blackout blind controls light close to the window while curtains provide an additional layer around it.

If combining window treatments in a nursery, always make sure the entire installation complies with child-safety recommendations, particularly regarding accessible cords.

Do Blackout Curtains Help Babies Nap During the Day?

They can help create better conditions for daytime sleep.

A baby's bedroom may be extremely bright at 1 PM, particularly if the window receives direct sunlight.

Closing blackout curtains can make the room substantially darker and reduce visual stimulation.

That doesn't mean blackout curtains will automatically make naps longer.

Babies wake for many reasons, and sleep patterns vary significantly with age and development.

Think of blackout curtains as part of the sleep environment rather than a sleep treatment.

Do Blackout Curtains Help With Early Morning Wake-Ups?

They may help when sunlight is contributing to the waking.

Imagine sunrise begins illuminating the nursery at 5:30 AM.

Reducing that light removes one environmental cue encouraging wakefulness.

However, babies may wake early for many other reasons, so blackout curtains can't guarantee later wake times.

Can Blackout Curtains Help Keep a Nursery Cooler?

Window coverings can help control solar heat gain through windows.

The U.S. Department of Energy recommends appropriate window coverings as one strategy for managing heat gain and loss through windows.

Closing curtains before direct sunlight reaches the room can therefore help limit some solar heat entering the space.

However, blackout curtains are not a substitute for maintaining a safe and comfortable nursery temperature.

The AAP specifically advises parents to avoid overheating babies and to maintain a comfortable sleeping environment.

What Should Parents Avoid?

When shopping for nursery blackout curtains, avoid choosing solely based on appearance.

Watch for:

Curtains That Are Too Narrow

If the curtain barely covers the window, sunlight can enter around both sides.

Curtains That Are Too Short

Insufficient coverage can allow more light into the room.

Accessible Cords

Window-covering cords can create a serious strangulation hazard for young children.

Placing the Crib Against the Curtains

Keep the baby's sleep area away from windows, hanging fabrics, cords, and other potential hazards.

Assuming "Blackout" Guarantees a Completely Black Room

Even excellent blackout fabric can't stop sunlight that travels around the curtain.

Installation and coverage matter.

Best Blackout Curtains for a Pink Nursery

For a traditional or modern girl's nursery, soft pink blackout curtains can add warmth without overwhelming the room.

Consider pairing pink curtains with:

  • Warm white walls
  • Natural wood
  • Cream furniture
  • Soft floral accents
  • Brass details
  • A muted dusty pink tends to be easier to design around than an extremely bright pink.

Best Blackout Curtains for a Neutral Nursery

Neutral nurseries work particularly well with:

  • Cream
  • Warm beige
  • Taupe
  • Light gray
  • Off-white

These colors are versatile enough to remain in the room as the child gets older.

Best Blackout Curtains for a Green Nursery

Sage and muted green curtains have become popular choices for modern nurseries.

Green pairs naturally with:

  • Warm wood
  • Beige
  • White
  • Cream
  • Botanical décor

It's also a relatively timeless color that can transition easily from nursery to children's bedroom.

Why Custom Blackout Curtains Can Make Sense for a Nursery

Parents often spend considerable time choosing the crib, mattress, paint, rug, and furniture.

Window treatments deserve similar attention because they'll likely remain in the room for years.

Custom blackout curtains allow the dimensions to be designed around the actual window rather than selecting whichever standard size comes closest.

Evernights is one example of a brand specializing in this approach, offering made-to-measure blackout curtains with a wide selection of colors and styles.

For parents who care about both a dark nursery and the overall interior design, customization can provide a balance between function and appearance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best blackout curtains for a nursery?

Look for curtains with strong blackout performance, generous window coverage, safe installation, durable fabric, and dimensions appropriate for your specific window.

Should babies sleep with blackout curtains?

Blackout curtains can be used to reduce unwanted light in a nursery, but they're not required for healthy infant sleep. They should always be installed so curtains, cords, and window hardware remain safely away from the baby's sleep area.

What color blackout curtains are best for a nursery?

There's no single best color. Cream, beige, pink, sage green, blue, gray, and other soft colors can all work. Choose based on your nursery design rather than assuming blackout curtains must be dark-colored.

Are custom blackout curtains worth it for a nursery?

They can be, particularly when maximizing window coverage and minimizing light gaps are priorities. They're also useful for unusually sized windows or parents who want a specific color, fullness, or installation style.

Do blackout curtains guarantee that a baby will sleep longer?

No.

Blackout curtains improve light control. They do not guarantee longer naps or uninterrupted nighttime sleep.

Final Thoughts

The best blackout curtains for nurseries aren't necessarily the darkest-looking or most expensive curtains.

They're the ones that combine effective blackout material with proper window coverage, safe installation, durability, and a design that works with your nursery.

For maximum light control, custom sizing has a clear advantage because the curtains can be designed around the actual dimensions of the window.

Brands such as Evernights offer made-to-measure blackout curtains for parents who want this level of customization while still having the freedom to choose colors and styles that complement the nursery.

Most importantly, remember that blackout curtains are simply one part of the nursery environment. They don't make a baby sleep through the night, and they don't replace established infant safe-sleep practices.

Whatever window treatment you choose, follow current safe-sleep guidance and keep curtains, cords, and other potential hazards safely away from your baby's sleep space.

References

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