Curtains 101: What to Know About Panels, Sheers, Valances, Rods, and More

If you want your room to be dark — as in "Dracula could take an afternoon snooze here" dark — you'll need blackout curtains. Popular among parents who just need the baby to nap already, this style of curtain typically has a light-blocking liner that dramatically darkens a room. A good blackout curtain, such as this Sun Zero Evelina 95-Inch Backtab Curtain ($21), will also muffle sound and may even help your room stay cooler or warmer (depending on the season) by insulating it against heat or cold.