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Comment by rippercushions | Hacker News Reader

This is why virtually all Nordic households have blackout curtains.

That depends a lot. I live in Oslo now, and have lived in Trondheim and Finnmark near Kirkenes before.

Never used blackout curtains in Oslo or Trondheim, absolutely needed them in Finnmark. I wouldn't say that blackout curtains are the norm in the Nordic countries, especially not Denmark.

But if you're in a place where there's midnight sun, I suggest getting some.

Blackout curtains are easily available in Denmark, and I have some, but I don't think that's common.

I lived in Norrbotten for 10 years. Blackout curtains help, but it's not the same thing.

In Spain every house comes with 'Persian blinds' (https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persiana) installed. They completely block the passage of light and are a perfectly adequate solution to this problem. It's a mystery to me why no other country in Europe seems to know or care. So much so that there's no English version of the above Wikipedia page.

Same in Portugal

I get how these blinds (or the shutters stavros talks about in a sibling comment) would initially be more popular in Southern countries, but one would think that places with 6 months of always-on daylight would catch up eventually.

In Germany every house, except maybe very old ones under historical preservation, has these too. Most often these are centimeter thick plasticky ones on the outside. They are thick and strong enough not only to block out all light but also protect the window glass from hail.

In English they are commonly called "venetian blinds". In northern Europe they are often installed between the panes in the triple glazing.

Different things: https://budgetblinds.com/puyallup/community-connection/blog/...

In Greece we have exterior shutters (as seen here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Window_shutter). They fit an outside frame, and modern ones don't let any light at all in (not even light bleed in the edges). The room is just always completely dark.

I'm similarly puzzled as to why many other countries don't seem to have these. I've never managed to sleep as well elsewhere.

My current apartment has them. They're far less effective than the worst-installed blackout curtains. When pulled down fully they block maybe.. half the light?

Blackout curtains themselves do a good job, but have a lot of side bleed. Blinds even out the problem by.. also adding side bleed between each of the sheets.

If you have "side bleed" between sheets we are not talking of the same thing. Really.

I never saw such in Finland growing up. Thick roll-up shade, sure, but the edges would leak light. I'd say most Finns at least learn to sleep with light in the room.

Which is a bit surprising cause they let plenty of light in. Roller shutters work much better for this purpose.

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