The Many Uses Of Blackout Curtains

By Author: John Hoffman
Total Articles: 5
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Blackout curtains are used extensively in the theatrical profession since it is necessary to keep extraneous light from entering the stage in many instances, although, of course, there could be scenes where extra light coming in from the side of the stage is wanted, to show that it is daytime for instance. If the scene changes to a night-time, then blackout curtains can be drawn accordingly.

However, blackout curtains are not only used for blocking light from entering the stage but can also be used to cut down on unwanted noise from the back or sides of the stage. For instance, it may be necessary to move a piece of furniture or something into position at the side of the stage to prepare for the next scene, and it might be possible for the audience to hear the sound of footsteps as stagehands move it about. Heavy blackout curtains made from something such as black wool serge or heavy velvet will help to reduce that sound so that it doesn’t interfere with the present scene.

Blackout curtains have very many other uses than just in theatres. More people today are finding it hard to sleep, maybe as a result of the ...
... pressure that seems to engulf everyone these days. Everybody seems to be rushing about – getting to work in the morning rush hour, working all day and even doing some overtime, getting home again in the evening commute, getting the kids dinner, doing the washing up, and only then getting a couple of hours in front of the TV before going to bed and then getting up and doing it all over again the next day. And the day after. And the day after that. Then it is the weekend and there’s the big shop to do and the kids want to do this and that – it seems never-ending.

The result of all this is that some people don’t seem to be able to sleep very well, especially in the summer when it gets light at 4.00 am, so many people have taken to using blackout curtains to ensure that there is no light entering the bedroom. If you live on a high street or many other roads, there is always light from lamp posts, and some shops keep their lights on all night in order to deter burglars and/or display their wares. Blackout curtains simply help to ensure a good night’s sleep.

Many other places use blackout curtains in order to control light. For example, conference centres and offices may benefit greatly from the ability to control the amount of light entering. Many offices are fitted with floor to ceiling windows and while these can be visually pleasing, they let in so much natural light that things like presentation screens, whiteboards, and video screens may be hard to see. Blackout curtains can be used to block out this light which then makes for presentations which the audience can focus on and get the best benefit from.

Of course, blackout curtains don’t necessarily have to be black. They can be any colour that you wish just as long as they have a suitable lining which blocks the light from entering. They can be patterned, or if you are using them in a business situation you could have them made with your logo on them. They can also be hung from a motorised track system which has several benefits. This is especially true if you are using them on very large windows, or floor to ceiling windows, since the bigger the curtains, the heavier they will be.

Blackout curtains can also be used for security purposes. A motorised curtain track system can be operated remotely from a tablet or smartphone and you can have the curtains closed in the evenings or at weekends which will give the impression that the premises are occupied even when they are not. Furthermore, you can have a motorised system installed which opens and closes the curtains at set times every day: it can do this several times a day if need be.

You can also have motorised curtain systems which respond to weather conditions. For example, you may have an area that suffers from excessive heat when the sun shines on it brightly, so you can have a system that responds whenever a set threshold is reached.

Cameo Curtains is the leading UK manufacturer of theatre curtains, including blackout curtains, and can install motorised tracking systems for you as well.