Curtains

KSParker2012

Our apartment gets extremely hot in the summer, and I am looking for curtains to help reduce the heat that gets in.  What is the best color to keep out some of the heat?  Thanks in advance!

TarHeels&Rebels

Get blackout/thermal liners and put them under/behind whatever curtains you want.  Mine are from BBB, but they sell them at lots of stores.

OSUellejay

While blackout liners and drapes do a good job of keeping a room dark, they won't do much for temperature control.  And the color is less important than the actual fabric.  The thicker the drape, the better at blocking the sun in the summer (keeping rooms cooler) and reducing drafts in the winter (keeping rooms warmer).  Velvet drapes are ideal but any thicker material would work best.

TarHeels&Rebels

OSUellejay:

While blackout liners and drapes do a good job of keeping a room dark, they won't do much for temperature control.  And the color is less important than the actual fabric.  The thicker the drape, the better at blocking the sun in the summer (keeping rooms cooler) and reducing drafts in the winter (keeping rooms warmer).  Velvet drapes are ideal but any thicker material would work best.

They do a great deal to keep my home cooler.  Would you care to see my before & after summertime electric bills?

Passanie

You can get plain ol' blackout curtains if you don't want to deal with a liner and drapes. We like the ones from JCPenney. They will keep out some of the heat, particularly if you've got a room that really has the sun beating down on it (but it's not like you'll stop needing air conditioning or anything).

Sunshine+Wine

Ditto PPs. The blackout/thermal curtains are great at blocking the sun, which in turn, keeps the room much cooler. JCP, BB&B, Target etc all carry them.

judy201

Stay away from the color black! By nature black attracts sun light and that's what you want to stay away from. Typically a white, light blue color curtain will be a little better regarding the sun light.