Blockout vs Thermal Curtains: What’s the Best Choice for Your Bedroom?

Why the right bedroom curtains matter

Quality sleep starts with a calm, dark and comfortable bedroom – and your curtains play a big role in that. In New Zealand homes, especially in busy or built‑up areas, many people are torn between blockout curtains for darkness and thermal curtains for warmth.

The good news is you don’t always have to choose just one. Below, we break down the difference between blockout and thermal curtains, when each works best, and how to get the right solution for your space.

1. What are blockout curtains?

Blockout curtains are designed to significantly reduce light entering your room when they’re closed. They usually feature a specialised blockout lining or a triple‑weave fabric that stops light passing through.

Benefits of blockout curtains in NZ bedrooms:

• Improve sleep by darkening the room, especially useful for shift workers and young children.

• Help reduce early morning light in east‑facing bedrooms.

• Provide extra privacy at night, especially in street‑facing rooms.

In many Auckland homes, custom blockout curtains are paired with a sheer layer so you can have privacy and softness during the day, and a darker room at night.

2. What are thermal curtains?

Thermal curtains focus on insulation and temperature control. They are typically lined with a thermal backing that helps reduce heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer, improving comfort and energy efficiency.

Benefits of thermal curtains:

• Help keep bedrooms warmer on cold winter nights.

• Reduce draughts around older timber joinery.

• Support more stable temperatures year‑round when combined with good fitting and coverage.

In cooler parts of New Zealand – or in older, less insulated homes – custom thermal curtains can make bedrooms feel noticeably cosier.

3. Key differences: Blockout vs thermal

While there’s some overlap, blockout and thermal curtains are designed with different priorities:

• Primary function

  • Blockout: maximise darkness.

  • Thermal: improve insulation and temperature control.

• Lining and fabric

  • Blockout: uses a blockout lining or fabric that stops light passing through.

  • Thermal: uses a thermal or insulating lining designed to reduce heat transfer.

• Best suited to

  • Blockout: light‑sensitive sleepers, shift workers, nurseries and media rooms.

  • Thermal: older homes, cooler climates, and any bedroom that feels draughty or hard to heat.

Custom‑made curtains allow you to combine both benefits in a single solution – for example, a curtain with blockout lining that also improves insulation when properly fitted.

4. Which is better for your bedroom?

The right choice depends on what matters most in your bedroom:

Choose mainly blockout if:

• You or your children are very sensitive to light.

• You have streetlights, neighbours or traffic outside your windows.

• You use your bedroom as a media or TV space as well.

Choose mainly thermal if:

• Your bedroom is always cold or draughty in winter.

• You’re trying to reduce energy costs by keeping heat in.

• You live in an older home with single glazing.

In reality, many New Zealand bedrooms benefit from blockout and thermal performance in one curtain, using the right combination of fabric, lining and hardware. A tailored solution achieves better results than off‑the‑shelf options.

5. Can you get both blockout and thermal in one curtain?

Yes. With made‑to‑measure curtains, you’re not restricted to a single feature. A blockout lining can also help with insulation when it’s part of a well‑fitted curtain that fully covers the window area.

Your consultant can help you choose:

• The right face fabric (for drape and style).

• The best lining (blockout, thermal, or a combination).

• Track placement and width (to minimise light gaps and improve coverage).

This is where working with a specialist curtain maker is particularly helpful, because you can see and feel the difference between linings in the showroom.

FAQs – Blockout vs thermal curtains

Q: Are thermal curtains also blockout?
Sometimes, but not always. Some thermal linings are also blockout, while others focus more on insulation than light reduction, which is why it’s important to see samples in person.

Q: Do I need both blockout and thermal curtains?
You may not need separate curtains, but most New Zealand bedrooms do benefit from custom curtains that provide both light control and better insulation. The right lining can often do both jobs.

Q: Can I add a new lining to existing curtains?
In some cases, yes – but it depends on the existing fabric, heading and condition. A consultation will confirm whether it’s better to re‑line or replace your curtains.

If you’re unsure whether blockout or thermal curtains are best for your bedroom, we can help you compare options in person and design a curtain solution that suits your home, budget and style.

Book a free in‑home consultation or visit our Mairangi Bay showroom to explore blockout and thermal curtain options for your bedrooms.