Streetlight roughly four metres from my bedroom window, bright orange, on all night. My current curtains leak a halo around the edges. I rent, so anything I drill has to come out later, and I have about 60 to spend. I sleep on my side and have never got on with masks, but I have only ever tried a cheap flat one. Which is the better bet?
Blind, and specifically a blackout blind mounted on the wall above the frame rather than inside the recess, with the curtains left in place over the top. The leak you have is almost entirely edge leak, and mounting outside the recess is what kills it — an inside-mount blind of any quality still glows around three sides.
Renting is not really an obstacle. Four small screws into the wall above the window, filled on the way out, is well within normal wear as long as you are not drilling tile.
If drilling really is off the table, the removable blackout panels that stick on with velcro or suction work better than they sound. Ugly during the day, genuinely dark at night.
I had not considered mounting outside the recess. That is exactly where my halo comes from.
Depending where you live, whoever owns the lamp may fit a shield on request if it shines directly into a bedroom window. Costs nothing to ask and it is a permanent fix that stays with the window rather than with you.
Take the mask more seriously before dismissing it though. A cheap flat mask is not representative — the moulded contoured ones with eye cups do not press on your eyes and survive side sleeping much better. About 20, and it travels, which the blind does not. Within your budget I would honestly buy both.
Fair. The travel argument is a good one and I would not argue with buying both at that price.
@stealth_park_stu · 12mo ago
One more consideration: if you ever want to wake naturally with light in summer, total blackout removes that option and you will need an alarm year round. Not a reason to skip it with a streetlight that close, just something people are surprised by in June.
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