No Drill Portable Blackout Curtain Panel

Some rooms need to be dark, but they cannot have a curtain rail. A rented apartment may not allow drilling. A shift worker may need daytime sleep in a room with an awkward window. A hotel room may leak light around its curtains. In each case, a standard blackout curtain is not the answer.

The No Drill Portable Blackout Curtain Panel is designed for exactly those situations. It fixes to the frame with hook and loop tape, blocks light with a silver coated backing and can be cut to fit any shape. It folds into a carry bag for travel. That flexibility is what makes it such a clever curtain for renters, travelers and shift workers.

What makes the portable blackout panel stand out

The no drill fixing is the first advantage. Adhesive hook and loop strips hold the panel to the window frame, so there is no rail, no bracket and no drilling. It comes down again without leaving a mark.

The silver coating is the second. It sits behind the black oxford cloth face, and it is what actually stops the light rather than just dimming it.

The cut to fit design is the third. The panel can be trimmed with household scissors, so an arched, porthole or odd shaped window no longer needs a special order.

Portability is the fourth. The panel folds into a drawstring carry bag small enough to travel with, which makes it useful in hotel rooms and on long trips.

The three sizes are the fifth. At 57.1 inches wide and 39.4, 78.7 or 118.1 inches long, the panel covers small windows through to tall ones, and trimming handles the rest.

Where it looks best, room by room

• Rented bedrooms. Darkness without drilling.
• Nurseries. Blackout for daytime naps.
• Shift workers' bedrooms. Real darkness during the day.
• Hotel rooms. A travel panel for light leaks.
• Arched or odd shaped windows. Cut to fit.

In a rented bedroom, the panel darkens the window without breaking any rules, and it comes down cleanly when you move out.

For a shift worker, it turns a bright afternoon bedroom into a dark space for sleep.

Choosing the size and placement

The panel comes 57.1 inches wide in three lengths: 39.4, 78.7 and 118.1 inches. Choose a size that covers the whole window with a little overlap, since you can trim any excess.

Measure the window frame, not just the glass. Light leaks around the edges are what spoil a blackout, so the panel should reach onto the frame on every side.

Cutting is best done after fitting. Put the panel up first, then measure and cut, rather than cutting it before it is in place. That way the shape follows the real window.

A few tips help:

• Clean and dry the frame before fixing the strips.
• Press the strips firmly and give them time to set.
• Cut slowly with sharp household scissors.
• Keep the carry bag for storage and travel.

Setup takes a few minutes. Fix the adhesive strips to the frame, press the panel onto them and smooth it flat. Nothing is powered and nothing is drilled.

Care is different from a fabric curtain. Wipe the panel clean with a soft, damp cloth and let it dry flat. Do not machine wash or tumble dry it, since heat lifts the silver coating. Fold it along the same lines each time to keep creases from setting.

The hook and loop fixing also means the panel can come down during the day and go back up at night. For a room you use in the daytime, that keeps the window open to light until you need darkness.

For travel, a small roll of extra adhesive strips can be handy, so the panel can be moved between rooms or windows. The supplied strips are the ones that come in the box.

For a nursery, the panel is a quick fix while you decide on permanent curtains. It darkens the room at once and can stay behind a decorative curtain later.

Silver backing faces the window, and the black face points into the room. That arrangement keeps the look neat from inside.

If the panel will stay up for a long time, check the strips every so often, especially in hot weather, and press them back down if an edge begins to lift.

Pairing it with other pieces

A portable blackout panel pairs well with a decorative curtain in front, which hides the panel during the day and adds style. In a nursery, a soft sheer on a tension rod completes the look without drilling.

Browse the curtains and drapes collection for decorative panels, or see the self adhesive blackout panel in the same collection for a machine washable alternative.

Is the portable blackout panel right for your space?

This panel is a strong fit if you:

• Rent and cannot drill for a curtain rail.
• Work shifts and need daytime darkness.
• Travel and want a blackout fix for hotels.
• Have an arched or odd shaped window.
• Want a panel you can put up and take down easily.

It may not suit a room where you want a decorative curtain on its own, or a household that wants a machine washable fabric. A standard blackout curtain will suit those needs better.

For darkness anywhere, without tools or permission, though, this portable panel is a clever solution. Free shipping applies to every US order, and most arrive in 6 to 9 business days.