I bought some panels from the store today as my room upstairs lets in so much heat during the Summer. Previously I had a Tan colored curtain up for years that was 100% Polyester on the Face and the Lining. Link below:
The new one I just bought is a Black colored curtain that is just 100% Polyester on the lining. Link below:
https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/mainstays-100-blackout-curtain-panel-pair-linen/6000200796676
The first curtain blocked a lot of light from coming in, whereas the new one blocks much much less so.
That isn't an issue for me. I can deal with that, it's just the heat I care about. Does it matter that more light is being allowed in with this curtain? Or is it doing its job from a heat perspective?
If this is also a terrible curtain and I should make an upgrade I am down, just looking for a quick option as there's nothing around here locally and I would have to order online to get it.
Best Answer
Dark curtains will reflect far less heat back to the outside, and thus heat up in the sun and radiate that heat into the house.
So it's not just infra-red light (a.k.a. heat light) and visible light passing through the curtain that heats the room, it's also how much infra-red light is absorbed that matters, as it raises the temperature of the material.
Unless the curtain is made of a darkening AND heat reflective material (e.g. thick curtain, facing white towards the outside), it's going to be a lot hotter inside.