Daylight Saving & Kids’ Sleep: How to Keep Bedrooms Dark
Kids going to bed while it’s still light? Discover how blockout curtains and blinds can help darken children’s bedrooms during New Zealand daylight saving.
Quick Answer When daylight saving brings lighter evenings, reducing the amount of outside light entering your child’s bedroom can help make the room feel more like nighttime. Well-fitted blockout curtains or blinds can provide strong light control, while layering curtains and blinds may help further reduce light around the window in particularly bright bedrooms. Trying to convince a child it is bedtime can be hard enough. Trying to do it while sunshine is still streaming through their bedroom window can be even harder. As New Zealand moves into daylight saving, longer evenings can make bedroom light control more important — especially for younger children who are heading to bed well before sunset. |
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In this guide
- When Does Daylight Saving Start in New Zealand in 2026?
- Why Can Light Evenings Make Kids’ Bedtimes More Difficult?
- How Can You Help Kids Adjust to Daylight Saving?
- How Can You Make a Child’s Bedroom Darker?
- Blockout Curtains or Blinds: Which Is Better for a Child’s Bedroom?
- Which Curtain Studio Options Suit Kids’ Bedrooms?
- Blind Cord Safety in Kids’ Bedrooms
- Frequently Asked Questions
When Does Daylight Saving Start in New Zealand in 2026?
Daylight saving starts in New Zealand at 2am on Sunday 27 September 2026, when clocks move forward by one hour. Daylight saving then runs until 3am on Sunday 4 April 2027, when clocks move back one hour.
For families, the clock change can mean children are suddenly heading to bed while there is noticeably more daylight outside. As spring progresses towards summer, evenings become lighter still.
That can be especially noticeable in children’s bedrooms that receive strong afternoon or evening sun.
While the clocks might say bedtime, a bright bedroom can still look and feel very much like daytime. That makes spring a useful time to look at how effectively your curtains or blinds control outside light.
Why Can Light Evenings Make Kids’ Bedtimes More Difficult?
A bright bedroom can make bedtime feel less distinct from the daytime, particularly when children are going to bed before the sun has set.
For many New Zealand families, that becomes more noticeable once daylight saving begins. The combination of a one-hour clock change and increasingly long spring and summer evenings means a child’s usual bedtime can fall during full daylight.
The window is often the biggest source of that unwanted evening light.
Light may come directly through the curtain or blind fabric, but it can also enter around the edges of the window treatment. Even if you already have blockout curtains, gaps at the sides, top or bottom can leave the room brighter than expected.
That is why choosing the right fabric is only one part of creating a darker children’s bedroom. The size, style and fit of the window furnishing matter too.
How Can You Help Kids Adjust to Daylight Saving?
Keeping bedtime familiar and reducing bright evening light can help make the daylight saving transition feel less abrupt.
When the clocks move forward, children may suddenly be heading to bed while it is still bright outside. Keeping the usual bedtime routine in place can help maintain a sense of consistency, while changing the bedroom environment can make it feel more suited to winding down.
Closing blockout curtains or blinds before bedtime can reduce outdoor light and help make the bedroom feel noticeably different from the bright evening outside. In rooms that receive strong afternoon or evening sun, this can be especially useful during spring and summer.
How Can You Make a Child’s Bedroom Darker?
Good bedroom light control depends on both the blockout fabric and how well the window furnishing covers the window.
Blockout curtains and blinds are designed to stop light travelling through the fabric itself. However, even a strong blockout fabric does not automatically create a completely dark room.
Light can still enter:
- around the sides of curtains
- above the curtain track or rod
- underneath curtains
- around the edges of a roller or Roman blind.
Curtain size and placement can therefore make a noticeable difference.
Curtain Studio recommends allowing around 20cm on each side of the window where space permits and installing the track at least 10cm above the window, so the curtains comfortably cover the glass and frame. Our Curtain Studio measuring guide explains how to measure for a good fit.
There is a summer bonus, too. Keeping blockout curtains or blinds closed on windows that catch the afternoon sun can help reduce heat build-up, so the bedroom is more comfortable by bedtime.
Already have curtains you like? Curtain Studio’s Attachable Blockout Lining is designed to sit behind compatible curtains, helping block out light while adding an extra layer of insulation.
Blockout Curtains or Blinds: Which Is Better for a Child’s Bedroom?
Both blockout curtains and blinds can work well in kids’ bedrooms, but the right choice depends on the window and the amount of light you want to control.
Option | Best for | What to consider |
Blockout curtains | Broad window coverage and a soft bedroom look | Allow enough width and length to reduce light around the edges |
Blockout roller blinds | A neat, streamlined finish | Small gaps can remain down the sides depending on installation |
Roman blockout blinds | Strong light control with a softer fabric finish | Correct sizing is important |
Blind + curtain combination | Very bright rooms or windows with strong evening sun | Provides additional coverage but requires more space |
Attachable blockout lining | Improving suitable existing curtains | Check compatibility with your existing curtains |
Blockout curtains can be a particularly useful option when you want generous coverage around the window.
Roller blinds are more compact and can suit bedrooms where a streamlined look is preferred.
Roman blinds combine the fabric appearance of curtains with the compact shape of a blind.
Which Curtain Studio Options Suit Kids’ Bedrooms?
Curtain Studio offers both readymade and custom blockout options, making it possible to choose a solution based on your window size, bedroom style and required level of light control.
Lincoln Readymade Blockout Curtain
The Lincoln Readymade Blockout Pencil Pleat Curtain is a straightforward option for bedrooms where you want generous curtain coverage.
Lincoln uses Curtain Studio’s FusionWeave technology for 100% blockout through the fabric. The curtains are also machine washable, which is handy in a child’s bedroom.
Because Lincoln is readymade, it can be a convenient option when your window suits one of the available sizes.
Aspen Readymade Roman Blockout Blind
The Aspen Readymade Roman Blockout Blind offers a more compact alternative.
Aspen also uses FusionWeave technology for 100% blockout through the fabric. It is available in several standard widths and gives the softer look of fabric without full-length curtains.
Attachable Blockout Lining
If you already have curtains that work with the room, the Attachable Blockout Lining may be a simpler update.
The lining helps block out light and adds an extra layer of insulation.
Curtain Studio also has a wider readymade range, including curtains, blinds and linings, if you want to compare several options.
Whichever product you choose, remember that “100% blockout” refers to light passing through the fabric. The overall darkness of a bedroom will also depend on how the window furnishing is measured, positioned and installed.
Custom Blockout Curtains and Blinds
If your child’s window is an unusual size, or you want the best possible coverage, Curtain Studio’s custom, made-to-measure blockout curtains and blinds are made to your window’s measurements, which can help reduce gaps around the edges.
With a wide range of fabrics, colours, linings, curtain styles and blind options to choose from, finding the right solution can sometimes feel overwhelming. Curtain Studio’s experienced design consultants are there to help you compare the options and choose a look that suits your child’s room, your window and the level of light control you want.
For even greater light control, Curtain Studio also offers the Midnight Anytime Room Darkening System with custom roller blinds from the Studio and Designers Collection. Designed to eliminate common light gaps by sealing around the edges of the blind, the system uses a cassette, side channels and aluminium bottom rail to dramatically reduce external light. This makes it particularly well suited to bedrooms, nurseries and home theatres where a darker room is the goal. The system also provides added privacy and UV protection, and when paired with automation it creates a cordless solution that can be a practical choice for homes with children and pets. Speak to our team about the Midnight Anytime Room Darkening System and whether it could be the right fit for your child’s bedroom or nursery.
You can browse our blockout curtain fabrics or explore our blockout blinds online to get a feel for the options available.
If you would like some guidance, get in touch with your local Curtain Studio store or book a free in-home consultation and one of our design consultants can help you find the right solution for your space.
Blind Cord Safety in Kids’ Bedrooms
If you choose a blind for a child’s bedroom, make sure any cords or chains are kept safely out of reach.
Looped cords and chains on some roller and Roman blinds can pose a strangulation risk for young children. Always install the cord or chain tensioner or safety cleat supplied with your blind, keep cords and chains secured out of reach, and position cots, beds and furniture away from the window so children cannot climb up to them. The Curtain Studio team can talk you through the child-safety features available for your chosen blind.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I darken my child’s bedroom during daylight saving?
Start by identifying where the evening light is entering. Blockout curtains or blinds can reduce light through the window, while wider curtains and careful installation can help reduce light entering around the edges.
Are blockout curtains good for kids’ bedrooms?
Yes. Blockout curtains can be a practical choice for kids’ bedrooms because they provide strong light control and privacy. They can be particularly useful during New Zealand’s lighter spring and summer evenings, as well as for bedrooms used for daytime naps.
Do blockout curtains make a room completely dark?
Not always. Blockout fabric is designed to stop light passing through the fabric, but daylight may still enter around the sides, top or bottom of the curtain. Curtain width, length, track placement and window design can all affect the overall result.
Are blockout curtains or blinds better for a child’s bedroom?
Both can work well. Curtains offer broader coverage around the window, while blockout blinds provide a compact finish. A particularly bright bedroom may benefit from using both, as layering can provide additional light control around the window.
Can I add blockout lining to curtains I already own?
In some cases, yes. Curtain Studio offers an Attachable Blockout Lining designed for compatible curtains. It helps block out light and adds an extra layer of insulation, making it an option if you want to keep your existing decorative curtains.
When does daylight saving end in New Zealand?
Daylight saving ends at 3am on Sunday 4 April 2027, when clocks move back one hour.
Find the Right Blockout Solution for Your Child’s Bedroom
Whether you need a quick readymade fix before the clocks change or a made-to-measure solution for a tricky window, Curtain Studio can help. Explore our blockout curtains and blinds online, visit a Curtain Studio store to see the fabrics in person, or book a consultation with a window furnishing specialist.
