Before you buy a blackout panel

A dark cloth is not the same thing as a blackout lining. Read the material line. Nestora Home blackout panels say so in the name and in the cloth notes.

Width matters as much as drop. One panel rarely covers a double window. Plan on a pair, or on a panel plus a lining if you already own a sheer you like.

Rings and clips let you switch panels with the season. A magnetic tieback keeps you from putting another hole in the trim.

If the bedroom faces a street light, choose the charcoal or the soft grey blackout and hang it so the hem just meets the floor. A puddle looks romantic and lets in a stripe of light.