I've seen some light blocking shades online and at retail, but things are pricier than I was originally expecting. Does anyone have a favorite place that makes good blackout shades for a reasonable price?

FYI, here are the dimensions in case they're helpful:

1. Curtain for a sliding window door (5'11" W x 6'6" H) should start about 6" above the window and reach the floor for a total of 5'11" W x 7' H

2. Either curtains or shades (preferably shades) for a 5’11” W x 3’11” H window. This would also start about 6" above the window and reach 2" below, for a total size of 5'11" W x 4'7" H.

3. 2 sets of shades 5’10.5“ W x 3’5” H each. It would be great to have these motorized, but that gets expensive quickly!

http://www2.jcpenney.com/jcp/ProductsHOM.aspx?ItemID=13fa224&ItemTyp=G&GrpTyp=SIZ&ShowMenu=T&ShopBy=0&SearchString=roc-lon&RefPage=SearchDepartment.aspx&CmCatId=SearchResults&Search1Prod=True

I've got a room full of these and they work great.

I used a combination of window blinds from Home Depot, curtain from Target and blackout fabric safety pinned to the Target curtains.

Check out Stevesblinds.com. They've got great prices and service and are currently offering an additional 20% off of Levelor and Bali. I did a quick custom quote on a levelor cordless cellular light blocking blind (59" wide by 42" high) and with the 20% off it looks like it would be about $160 which is a very good price for light blocking and cordless. We just bought 5 cordless blinds from this place and are quite happy.

The 7' length is easy. It's a stock size for most draperies, so you'll find it in almost every retail place. The shades look like a custom size to me, but the other poster has you covered there. If you're really, really interested in motorized shades...and yes, they get real expensive in a real hurry...Draper a great company. There are dozens of other options though. Motorized shades can be tricky to install...don't know if you're planning on a DIY install or not.

Frank

I got these from blinds.com and am very satisfied:
http://www.blinds.com/control/product/productID,8355

Got mine from Walmart... Red velvet and man not only do they look great, and block out light, they also have improved the sound in my room :)

They are only like 30 bucks per panel. I HIGHLY recommend them.

Motorized shades can be tricky to install...don't know if you're planning on a DIY install or not.

Frank

Why is that? I'm in the process of upgrading my family room to a proper home theater, and there's a large picture window behind the seating position, whose glare wreaks havoc on the view. Currently, a set of curtains and blinds are there, but they don't do a great job. Because of accessibility issues, I'd like to replace the blinds with a motorized blackout shade so that it need only be down and blocking all the light in the room when the TV is on. Before I spend a few hundred dollars on one of these systems, I want to make sure I know the pitfalls.

Why is that? I'm in the process of upgrading my family room to a proper home theater, and there's a large picture window behind the seating position, whose glare wreaks havoc on the view. Currently, a set of curtains and blinds are there, but they don't do a great job. Because of accessibility issues, I'd like to replace the blinds with a motorized blackout shade so that it need only be down and blocking all the light in the room when the TV is on. Before I spend a few hundred dollars on one of these systems, I want to make sure I know the pitfalls.

Well, I guess it really depends on exactly what you're looking install...the larger shade systems (Draper stuff comes to mind) comes with side rails that the shades travel up and down in...getting these absoutely plumb, then getting the shades to travel evenly in them was always kind of a PITA. As I've researched a little more I see that there are some smaller systems that might not be such a horror show.

Frank

The walmart black velvet ones are very nice for the price.

I told my wife the price of motorized shades and she gave me "the look", so I think I'll just replace the curtains we have with some nice light blocking ones instead.

I'm no fan of Walmart, so does anybody have any opinions on the Eclipse (http://www.target.com/Eclipse-Theo-Therma-Back-Drapery-Panel/dp/B0017I0M34/sr=1-16/qid=1213712735******sr_1_16/601-3657360-0641743?ie=UTF8&rh=k%3Aroom%5Fdarkening%5Fcurtains&page=1) line from Target?

I told my wife the price of motorized shades and she gave me "the look", so I think I'll just replace the curtains we have with some nice light blocking ones instead.

I'm no fan of Walmart, so does anybody have any opinions on the Eclipse (http://www.target.com/Eclipse-Theo-Therma-Back-Drapery-Panel/dp/B0017I0M34/sr=1-16/qid=1213712735******sr_1_16/601-3657360-0641743?ie=UTF8&rh=k%3Aroom%5Fdarkening%5Fcurtains&page=1) line from Target?

I purchased Eclipse from Walmart a couple of weeks ago and they are great, especially for the price (12.00 per panel I think). They have also carry an upgraded version of Eclipse for 19.00 I think. The difference is that the upgraded are a bit more light blocking something like 99.98% compared to the standards ones that were 98%...

I have a double frame window in my theater that lets tons of light in. Using these curtains in combination with my wood standard blinds, I can get the room super dark.