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Night Shift Worker Stirs Drama By Installing Blackout Curtains In Bedroom Against Wife’s Wishes

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Your sleep schedule can be flipped upside down by a nigh-time shift. But, getting those 8 hours is still key to maintain your health and mental wellbeing.

One solution, is blackout curtains.

Your room is a calm sanctuary, and curtains are the best way to have that “night-time in the middle of the afternoon” effect.

Redditor WindowBlackOut encountered this very issue with his wife. So he turned to the “Am I The A**hole” (AITA) subReddit for moral judgment.

He asked:

“AITA for installing blackout curtains in our bedroom even though my wife didn’t want me to?”

The Original Poster (OP) explained:

“I (33m) am a recent newlywed to my wife (30f.) We have been together for about 4 years but have only been married for 7 months. We’ve bought and moved into a house that is about 25 years old.”

“I am currently stuck on the night shift. I HATE it. I HATE being up all night and then sleeping during the day. I can’t wait to be off of it; but at my job it’s all based on seniority.”

“With some luck I may be able to go to day shift next year, but more than likely I’m looking at 2023 until I’m able to move; possibly 2024 but that’s the worst case scenario.”

OP’s wife enjoyed turning their house into a home.

“My wife loves decorating. She’s made our home look great, but it’s been in increments due to budgetary constraints. In the master bedroom-our bedroom-we’ve hung up blinds on the windows but we’ve been waiting to put up window treatments.”

“I have trouble sleeping during the day because it tends to be too bright. I told my wife that I wanted to hang up some blackout curtains in our bedroom to help me sleep during the day but for some reason she was really against this.”

“She said that this would make the room too ‘gloomy, and depressing’ and that she had a different window treatment in mind. I told her that I was having trouble sleeping during the day and she suggested that we get a cheap twin bed and mattress and put it in the basement where it’s dark and quiet for me to sleep on my work days.”

“I balked at this and said that I shouldn’t be relegated to the basement just because I work overnights; that I want to sleep in my own bed and in my own bedroom.”

“The other day was my day off but I had worked the night before and I woke up before I was ready.”

“Annoyed I stomped off to our local Home Depot and bought and installed some blackout curtains in our bedroom while my wife was at work.”

“My wife is not happy with me, but I think she needs to just get over it and accept that I need blackout curtains in our bedroom for now, and that she can change it out when I switch shifts eventually. AITA?”

Redditors gave their opinions on the situation by declaring:

  • NTA – Not The A**hole
  • YTA – You’re The A**hole
  • NAH – No A**holes Here
  • ESH – Everyone Sucks Here

Redditors agreed OP was not the a**hole.

“NTA – you need to be able to sleep and your wife needs to understaffed this. Your health takes precedence over whatever look she is going for in the bedroom.” ~ RedditDK2

“The curtains can always come down after night shifts are gone.” ~ ScorchieSong

“You can also idk open the curtains when someone isn’t sleeping in the room.” ~ CakeisaDie

“Double curtains are also a thing. Not a common thing, but a thing.”

“My bedroom growing up had sheers, then blackout curtains, and then a second pair of more decorative curtains on the outside of them. If I wanted a window open, I opened the two curtains and the sheer set. If I wanted light, I could open both curtains and leave the sheer closed. Muted light, open the blackouts and leave everything else closed. It worked out fabulously.” ~ shawslate

“We found great ones at Bed Bath & Beyond. They look great in our room and as a night shifter myself keeps the room wonderfully dark. For during non-sleep hours the drapes can definitely be opened so the room isn’t too dark. That being said we keep them closed and as a result of room is always the coolest in the summer (even without running ac) and the most efficiently warmed room in the winter.”

“Ability to sleep should trump aesthetics. NTA” ~ weepingangel37

Many shared their styling tips.

“It doesn’t even have to be black! We have blackout curtains in our bedroom (East facing window) and the liner is gold coloured black out fabric.” ~ m4dswine

“NTA. This is what I do. I’ve been working evenings or overnights for the better part of 15 years. I do a blackout layer then a pretty layer for me to look at. OP your wife isn’t being fair. This isn’t a decor preference from you it’s absolutely necessary for you to do your job and make money, she can decorate the rest of the house. If she doesn’t like it maybe she should sleep on your schedule for a while.” ~ stary_sunset

“I didn’t realize this was a thing. Live in a sunny city and my apartment heats up a lot. Got some heavy blackout real ones and sheer patterned cream ones to put in front that look amazing against the dark teal backdrop.” ~ twotrees1

“I’m confused why this is an issue because they have blackout curtains now that are very attractive/look normal. Mine are gauzy and beautiful and breezy and easy to open at least partially if I want normal light. Like, you don’t have to get the blackout curtains that do look depressing and heavy…” ~ Iownamovingcastle

“I bought some pretty colored ones on Amazon, attractive curtain rods and antique tie backs. You’d never know they were blackout curtains. And I have them drawn back when not in use. OPs spouse just needs to get a little creative.” ~ MissFritillary

“Everyone should have blackout curtains – they are the best. I am always baffled by pictures of bedrooms with only gausy white curtains or those crazy houses where all walls are glass. Are they all made by morning people? Who wants their bedroom to be bright all time?”

“The wife is just not challenging herself properly. I have blackout curtains that look fabulous. It’s all about balancing a lighter color on the walls with a darker curtain color and putting accent curtains around the main set. She needs to do some research, suit up and come up with a plan that would shame HGTV.” ~ Music_withRocks_In

Sleep is a priorit.