The West Elm Worn Velvet Blackout Curtain meets
the Nicetown Contemporary Lined 100% Blackout Curtains (2-Pack)
The premium pick three reviews agree on, a velvet panel that hangs wrinkle-free out of the box. We tested it head-to-head against the Nicetown Contemporary Lined 100% Blackout Curtains (2-Pack) across 5 key dimensions.
West Elm Worn Velvet Blackout Curtain
“The premium pick three reviews agree on, a velvet panel that hangs wrinkle-free out of the box”
Nicetown Contemporary Lined 100% Blackout Curtains (2-Pack)
“The only panel that passed CNN's flashlight test, true blackout for about $19 a panel”
Head-to-Head Breakdown
Strengths & Weaknesses
West Elm Worn Velvet Blackout Curtain
- The only curtain of 35 that Wirecutter could hang wrinkle-free straight out of the box
- Named a top pick by Wirecutter, Forbes and Apartment Therapy, the strongest cross-review consensus in the category
- Dense velvet with a sewn-in liner muffles noise and drafts, in ten jewel-tone colors
- Wirecutter found it lets just some light in, so it is not a true 100 percent blackout
- At about $159 a single panel it is the most expensive pick here
- It is the heaviest curtain, which makes it harder to hang and operate
Nicetown Contemporary Lined 100% Blackout Curtains (2-Pack)
- CNN Underscored's only tested panel to pass the flashlight test, with no light shining through
- Two-layer triple-weave build is thermal insulated and quiets noise
- About $19.50 a panel in a two-pack, a fraction of the premium picks
- Grommet polyester looks plainer than the velvet and natural-fiber panels
- Sold in fixed widths and lengths, so you must measure carefully for the right fit
- The lined fabric can feel stiff until it hangs and settles
The Verdict
Our Bottom Line
The West Elm Worn Velvet is the one curtain three independent reviews agree on, appearing as a top pick at Wirecutter, Forbes and Apartment Therapy. What sets it apart is craft. Wirecutter's Dorie Chevlen tested 35 curtains and found it was the only model that could be hung straight out of the box with no wrinkles, a problem that plagues almost every other panel. The dense velvet carries a sewn-in blackout liner, so it muffles noise and drafts better than the thin polyester panels, and it comes in ten jewel-tone colors that read as decor rather than a basic window covering. Forbes named it Best Premium and Apartment Therapy chose it for living rooms, praising the same luxurious drape.
West Elm Worn Velvet Blackout Curtain
The West Elm Worn Velvet is the one curtain three independent reviews agree on, appearing as a top pick at Wirecutter, Forbes and Apartment Therapy. What sets it apart is craft. Wirecutter's Dorie Chevlen tested 35 curtains and found it was the only model that could be hung straight out of the box with no wrinkles, a problem that plagues almost every other panel. The dense velvet carries a sewn-in blackout liner, so it muffles noise and drafts better than the thin polyester panels, and it comes in ten jewel-tone colors that read as decor rather than a basic window covering. Forbes named it Best Premium and Apartment Therapy chose it for living rooms, praising the same luxurious drape.
- Buyers furnishing a bedroom or living room who want a curtain that looks luxurious
- Anyone who does not want to steam or iron a new curtain
- People who value noise and draft control from a heavy panel
Nicetown Contemporary Lined 100% Blackout Curtains (2-Pack)
The Nicetown Contemporary Lined panel does the one thing this category exists for better than anything else, and it costs about $19.50 a panel in a two-pack. CNN Underscored's editor tested five grommet blackout curtains over a sliding glass door and this was the only one to pass the flashlight test, with no trace of light shining through and no gaps at the sides. The two-layer triple-weave build is thermal insulated, and Bob Vila also picked it for nurseries and large windows. It looks classier than the price suggests, and it is the easiest recommendation for anyone who simply needs the room dark.
- Parents darkening a nursery who need genuine 100 percent blackout
- Shift workers who sleep during the day
- Anyone who wants true blackout for the least money