Blackout Shades in Las Vegas That Seal the Light Gaps
Real blackout means no sunrise glow around the edges, no streetlight strip down the side and no glare on the screen. At Smart Blinds + Shades, we design and install blackout and room-darkening shades that truly darken the room, starting with the LightGuard 360™ sealed blackout system. We serve bedrooms, nurseries and theater rooms across Summerlin, Henderson, MacDonald Highlands and the Las Vegas Valley, with blackout fabrics from Hunter Douglas, Alta and Made-in-USA brands.
LightGuard 360™: Sealed Blackout from Every Edge
Blackout fabric stops light from coming through the shade, but on its own it can't stop light from slipping around it. LightGuard 360™ closes those gaps. The roller shade sits inside an integrated top housing, and the fabric edges run in side channels down to a bottom channel, so the shade is sealed on all four sides. The result is the most complete darkness a roller shade can deliver. It can be inside or outside mounted, and it's available motorized.
Why Blackout Shades Still Leak Light, and How LightGuard 360™ Solves It
A standard inside-mount roller shade needs a small clearance on each side so it can roll freely, and light pours through those gaps in bright strips. Mounting the shade outside the frame helps, but it doesn't fully fix the problem. Light still spills around the sides and over the top, and most homeowners don't love the look of a roller shade hanging on the wall. That's what makes LightGuard 360™ so innovative. Its side channels capture the fabric edges, so the light gaps are sealed and the shade still looks clean and tailored.
Every Window Is Different: Setting Honest Expectations
Window type and size matter. On narrow windows and corner windows like these, we chose a shade brand that keeps light gaps to a minimum. We did not use cassettes here, because the cassette's end caps would have made the side gaps wider. We used fabric-wrapped valances instead. Even so, on windows like these, there's no way to avoid light gaps completely. We'll walk you through exactly what to expect at your consultation, before anything is ordered, so you're never surprised on install day.
Prefer Not to Use LightGuard 360™? Add Stationary Side Panels.
Another great option is stationary drapery panels on each side of the roller shades. They soften the room, frame the window and conceal the light gaps at the sides of the shade. The panels are quick ship, in about 15 days.
Choose your width
Each width has a return for a tailored look.
Choose your pleat
Choose your color
Lengths: 84", 90", 96", 105", 108" and 120". Custom lengths are available on request.
To order: Call or text 702-900-3117, or email [email protected], with your window width and height, ceiling height, the panel length, whether you want a liner, and your color.
Bedrooms, Nurseries and Shift Workers
Las Vegas mornings are bright early, and plenty of people here sleep during the day. Nurses, casino and hospitality professionals, pilots and first responders all need a bedroom that stays dark at noon. Nurseries need calm, dark naps, and blackout shades help everyone sleep longer in summer. We pair blackout fabrics with LightGuard 360™ or stationary side panels to control the edges, then add cordless or motorized operation, so there are no cords in children's rooms. This MacDonald Highlands bedroom goes dark from floor to ceiling.
Media and Theater Rooms
Even a little stray light washes out a projector or a big OLED screen. In media and theater rooms, we use sealed blackout systems so the picture stays rich and the room feels like a true cinema, even on a summer afternoon. Shades can be motorized and grouped with your lighting scene, so one button dims the lights and lowers every shade. We plan around speakers, soffits and screens so the hardware disappears into the room.
Motorized Blackout Shades
Motorized blackout shades lower at the touch of a button, by voice or on a schedule. Set them to close at sunset and open gently at your wake-up time, or lower every shade in a large room at once. We install motorized systems from Hunter Douglas, Alta and Made-in-USA brands that work with Alexa, Google Home and Apple Home, with hardwired or rechargeable battery motors. Every installation is backed by our 90-day installation guarantee, plus the manufacturer's factory warranty.
Layering Blackout Shades with Drapery
A blackout shade does the work, and drapery adds the finish. Layering full-width custom drapery over a room-darkening shade adds softness, color and sound absorption, and it frames the window when the shade is up. Dual shades pair a light-filtering shade for the day with a room-darkening shade for the night. In this Red Rock Country Club home, motorized room-darkening shades sit behind custom drapery for a quiet, hotel-like suite.
Blackout Shades FAQ
What is the difference between room-darkening and blackout shades?
Room-darkening fabric blocks most light, and blackout fabric blocks light through the fabric itself. The bigger difference is usually the edges. Light gets in around the sides of any roller shade unless the edges are sealed, which is why we recommend LightGuard 360™ side channels when a room needs to be truly dark.
Why do blackout shades still let light in around the edges?
A standard inside-mount roller shade needs a small gap on each side to roll freely, and light leaks through it. Outside mounting helps, but light still gets around the sides, and most people don't want roller shades mounted on the wall. LightGuard 360™ solves this with side channels, a bottom channel and a top housing that seal the edges.
Why do some windows still get light gaps?
Window type and size matter. Narrow windows, corner windows and some window frames leave little room to seal the edges. We choose products that minimize the gaps, such as using fabric-wrapped valances instead of cassettes, which can make side gaps wider. On some windows a small gap can't be avoided, and we'll tell you before anything is ordered.
How else can I reduce light gaps around roller shades?
Add stationary drapery side panels on each side of the shade. They conceal the side light gaps, soften the room and frame the window. They come in single width (18.5") or double width (37"), in a three-finger pinch pleat or Euro pleat, in lengths from 84" to 120", and they're quick ship in about 15 days.
What is LightGuard 360?
LightGuard 360™ is a sealed blackout roller shade system. An integrated top housing, side channels and a bottom channel close the light gaps around the shade for the most complete blackout. It can be inside or outside mounted, and it can be motorized.
Can blackout shades be motorized?
Yes. Motorized blackout shades run by remote, app, voice or schedule and work with Alexa, Google Home and Apple Home. Hardwired and rechargeable battery motors are available.
See it in action
Servicing the Las Vegas Valley and Henderson. We bring the showroom to you!
Hours: 9 to 5, Monday through Saturday. Call or text 702-900-3117 or email [email protected].