Soft furnishings retailer Julian Charles has seen sales of blackout curtains boom as Brits try to block out the early morning sun to get a more restful sleep.

Just days after the summer solstice, the nationwide retailer has noted a growing demand for hotel-style blackout curtains.

Light-sleepers use them to avoid being woken up at dawn and they are also popular among shift workers and for children’s bedrooms.

Sales have risen across the UK, but the regions where customers are most sensitive to the light are in the South East of England and coastal towns in the North West.

And contrary to the myth that blackout curtains need to be black, Julian Charles’s best-selling colours in its Luna range include pink, silver grey, duck egg and teal. This summer it has added a navy blue option.

The Luna curtains have a lining that cuts out light and reduces noise and are coated with a treatment which also helps to regulate heat and helps keep rooms cool in summer.

Julian Charles Rachel Foley head of product buying and brand said: “We all love summer, but not everyone wants to be woken up in the early hours by the sun peeping through the curtains.

“A good night’s sleep is important for our health and blackout curtains can really help. Hotels have known about this for years, but there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy the benefits at home too.”

Prices are from £18 to £50 depending on style and size and some have 70 per cent off.

Top themes in Julian Charles’ summer collection, available in store and online, includes a coastal collection such as seaside-inspired St Ives bedding, floral prints including the Bee Garden and Viola, bold geometric prints in the Una range, and the store’s first floral velvet print, Aria.

Other themes include boutique glitz such as the 1920s-inspried Gatsby range and art deco-inspired Venetia Jacquards. Popular items include 4.5 and 7.0 tog summer duvets, cotton-rich sheets and “feel like down” pillows.

Tips for fitting blackout curtains:

• Choose between eyelet (for pole only) or pencil pleat (pole or track)
• Find the right width by measuring the pole or track (not the window frame) and allow for overlap
• Find the right length and measure from the top of track to below sill or floor length.

For more details on measuring curtains see: https://www.juliancharles.co.uk/buying-guides-measuring-up-curtains
 
Further information:  Andrea Ross, +44 (0)7961 776339 / Nick Agarwal, +44 (0)7568 101045