Guide to Thermal and Blackout Linings

There are several linings on the market today with added thermal and blackout properties. These come in cream and white. To better guide us in choosing the right lining to buy, here are some tips:

Thermal Linings

These linings have the same benefit as cotton lining sateen and look similar but with a slightly suede feel with the addition of extra thermal properties.

These are a good choice in older houses with large windows or where windows are not double-glazed and draft needs to be excluded. In the winter, they keep the heat in, and in summer, keep the heat out. They drape well.

These thermal linings fall into two types:

Thermal lining, which looks very similar to the standard lining, has a thin synthetic, thermal coating. It comes in white and beige.

Milium lining, which is a cotton sateen with an aluminium coating on one side and appears silvery (place this silvery side against the wrong side of the curtain face fabric).

These linings are termed under such labeling as thermal coated sateen, thermal suede or just thermal lining. Some are washable but most should be dry cleaned and many are FR (treated with fire retardant).

Blackout Linings

Blackout linings include all the properties of thermal linings but they do have the disadvantage of being much thicker and are more expensive. They do not hang well. But they do black out a room very well. They act as a noise buffer and muffle sound, and are a good choice for children’s rooms or for light sleepers.

I think you may be disappointed if you put this blackout lining into a curtain, as they give curtain a stiff look and they do not hang well. It is a good lining for a Roman blind, holding the folds of the blind in neat, structured folds.

These linings are termed with such labeling as blackout velvet suede, suedex blackout lining fabric.