Living in Spain means one thing to most people – more sun! But with more sun combined with larger windows and more daylight hours there are times you may want to shut that sun out! The answer is blackout curtains or blinds.

There are several options when it comes to blackout solutions – one is simply to line your curtains with blackout fabric. Obviously this costs more than using standard lining but it means you can choose whatever fabric you want and simply line them with whichever blackout fabric you select.  The second, and more economical, method is to use blackout fabric as your actual curtain. Gone are the days when blackout fabric was simply plastic backed, today, blackout fabric is available in a wide range of colours with a soft texture creating a stylish yet functional image. In addition to plain colours, some companies are now beginning to produce printed blackout fabric such as the great prints by Henri Robert and the Versace inspired collection from Melli Mello.

Blackout fabrics can also be made into blinds and either used on their own or combined with curtains for a layered look. Roller or Roman blinds mean that they can be lowered only part of the way to exclude bright light in just one part of your window without darkening the entire room. Again, coloured blackouts mean they can easily be co-ordinated with your curtains.