NICETOWN Thermal Insulated Blackout Curtains Review

We purchased NICETOWN Thermal Insulated Blackout Curtains so our writer could put them to the test. Keep reading for our full product review.

NICETOWN’s Thermal Insulated Blackout Curtains take on the task of blocking light in 20 different colors. Blackout curtains keep light, and often heat, out so if you are bothered by bright lights during the day or are trying to insulate your home for better energy efficiency, they can be useful for you. But some curtains look like painter’s tarps and smell even worse, so it’s a matter of finding a pair that look great but also provide the darkness you need for better sleep. Keep reading for our take on these curtains that providing you many options at an attractive price. 

Effectiveness: Color matters

We love white curtains. They give uniformity to the outside of a house and look fresh and clean from the inside. So, we ordered these blackout curtains in white, pure white, not the silver-white or greyish white options. Doing that meant we had to sacrifice getting 100 percent blackout. In fact, white curtains only yield 50 percent blackout. The manufacturer clearly stresses this point by putting it in bold red letters. We were okay with that and ordered them anyway, so it doesn’t affect our review.

All the other colors use a triple weave fabric that bolsters thermal insulation. So going with the white, we lose some of the insulation properties. We were aware before we got them and didn’t mind since we mainly wanted white curtains that could block out a significant portion of light, but not all of it, and provide privacy.

These curtains delivered on our expectations. We hung them in the bedroom of two teenage girls. They already sleep well, so we didn’t necessarily need the full power of blackout curtains, and they like some light in their room. What we did want was white curtains that weren’t sheer but still let in light, and that can be hard to find. 

NICETOWN’s other colors use the triple-weave blackout fabric sandwiched between two pieces of colored fabric. Pure white curtains cannot use that fabric because it would alter the color of the curtains, likely turning them more like a gray color. 

The white curtains provided a lovely glow and moderate temperature control. At the time of testing, we still had some fairly long summer nights and early sunrises. Blocking some of the extra light was appreciated, even if it wasn’t 100 percent. And they provide far more privacy than non-blackout, white curtains. You can only see silhouettes if you are up close to the window but no detail and with no clarity.

Fabric Quality: Luxurious but wrinkly

These 100 percent polyester curtains have a good weight and drape, especially for curtains at this price. They hang straight to the floor and flow seamlessly when pulling them open. A smooth, creamy texture makes them feel far more luxurious than their price suggests. Unlike some other blackout curtains that we have tested, they don’t look or feel like a painter’s tarp.  

The only complaint we have about the fabric is how hard it is to iron. Right out of the package, they were pretty wrinkled. They’re not supposed to be machine dried, but after trying to iron them for 30 minutes with no obvious improvement, we opted for tossing them in the dryer with a wet cloth on low heat. And, they were still wrinkled. 

We returned to the iron and turned up the heat on the iron way past the polyester setting. We were worried about melting the fabric, so we placed a clean, thin dishtowel over the curtains and ironed through that. It took a considerable amount of steam and some muscle power to get the wrinkles out, but they did eventually relax after 45 minutes of ironing. 

Design: Slide with Ease

These curtains come in two widths and four lengths. We ordered the 42-inch by 84-inch curtains for a window that’s 57 inches wide. It was enough curtain for a nice drape and curve to each fold. The seams and overall construction felt and looked like they were of good quality. 

One of our favorite design features is the grommets. After testing another pair of curtains that had a rod pocket, grommets win hands down. It was easy sliding the curtains onto the rod and eliminated a battle of trying to open the curtains. In other models we tested, rod pockets can make it difficult to open the curtains.

Cleaning: Machine washable but get ready to iron

These curtains are machine washable but should only be hung to dry. We appreciate that they're easy to clean, but, get ready to iron. It's difficult to get wrinkles out of this polyester without an iron temperature that could potentially melt the fabric. Steam, persistence, and careful ironing seems to be the right mix. 

Price: Beautiful curtain without a high price

For an exceptionally reasonable price, the NICETOWN curtains are excellent quality. We would buy these again for every room in our house, unfortunately, they don't come in widths that fit large windows.

Competition: Skip the drop cloth curtains

AmazonBasics Black Out Curtains: These inexpensive curtains do one thing that the NICETOWN curtains couldn't (in white) and that is block out all light. However, they're stiff, more difficult to iron than the NICETOWN set, and the rod pocket makes it difficult to draw open and close. They also have an odor that takes some time to dissipate. 

Deconovo Black Out Curtains: These curtains rival the NICETOWN in appearance and quality. They do not offer pure white like NICETOWN. Instead, the only white option is grayish white. They block out light extremely well, keep heat out and in, and have a beautiful drape and curve to the fabric.