DH hates open curtains, what else could work?

[stroan]

We live in a new build with a lawn to the from then a pavement about 3 metres from the house.

In our living room, we've put up a few white voiles plus thick curtains. I feel that he voiles offer enough privacy while still letting light in. But DH will not sit in the room without shutting the curtains - its driving me mad, he completely refuses to open the curtains in the morning and then closes them the minute he comes in.

We need a solution that offers a little more privacy, but still lets me see the outside world and lets light in.

We've had a quote for day night blinds, but they are pricey and I haven't seen any in real life.

I'd consider white wooden Venetian blinds even though I don't like how they look, but DH says he'd probably close them too.

Is there any magical solution out there that I haven't found? I'm not convinced about shutters as I feel they might be too imposing.

[AndImAnElf]

Translucent film on the windows to make them like bathroom windows?

[ScrapThatThen]

Are day night blinds the same as Zebra blinds?

[wobblywonderwoman]

In my last house we hadn't great privacy from the outside as lived opposite a shop so I used the wooden blinds and didn't close fully but at a slight tilt so you couldn't see in.

[OuchBollocks]

I was going to suggest shutters. There are shutters in our house that pre date us living here. Let in loads of light, brilliant for privacy (our living room is about 1m from the footpath too) super easy to clean, I think they look nice. I know some of MN think they're a bit naff but I love mine.

[Scribblegirl]

We're ground floor, main road and we have the film - it's actually surprisingly good for very little money.

[GavelRavel]

shutters here too. We have the split ones so you can close the bottom half, or tilt them up which lets in light, but you can't see in. Then you can have the tip halves fully open.

[youokayhun]

I can't help, like your DH, I never open the curtains and if somebody does I'm horrified! I just like them shut

[ArriettyClock1]

LTB?

[HarrietSchulenberg]

A new husband would be my solution but I guess that's a bit drastic. What's his problem with voiles? Has he stood outside and tried to see in? My linen-like voiles foil nosey-parkers and my window is a metre from the street.
Other solution would be get rid the voiles and plant a large hedge at the front.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

I am your DH in this scenario. I'm happy with window film but it's a bit weird in living rooms. I like blinds and they can be tilted as a PP said to let in light but not show the room.

I think closed curtains are cosy and private. I think I may have been a mole in another life!

[Autumnchill]

What about bottom up blinds? We're going to get them for the bedroom balcony door so we can have light into the room but not have people seeing in

[RedBugMug]

bottom up pleated blinds.
or, my favourite, wooden blinds. let in lots of light but you can tilt the slats so that you can't be seen from outside.

[stroan]

Mixed bag of responses! Maybe I should give him an ultimatum - me or the curtains?

I would hate film. I like to see out. Not that there's much going on. I love closing the curtains and making it all cosy at night, but I also like to see some daylight every now and then!

I've asked him to go outside and see how much he can see in with the voiles. He accepts you can't see much, especially the way our furniture is arranged but can't seem to help himself - it's automatic, walk in, turn on TV, close curtains.

He's similarly reluctant to open the bedroom curtains which is causing damp issues (huge French doors and thermal lined curtains). We have no reason to believe the neighbours are interested in spying on us. In fact, the house directly opposite has their blinds permanently shut anyway.

[Palomb]

A new husband would be my solution too 😂

What about one of those old fashioned half curtains?

[SummerSazz]

The film my friends have I see-through from the inside but looks like a mirror on the outside

Or upward tilted wooden blinds

[Palomb]

Pinterest has just tole me they are called 'cafe curtains'

[SummerSazz]

<a class="break-all" href="//www.amazon.co.uk/d/Mirrors/Silver-Reflective-Window-Solar-Control-Privacy-metres/B002QETDXI?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">//www.amazon.co.uk/d/Mirrors/Silver-Reflective-Window-Solar-Control-Privacy-metres/B002QETDXI?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[SummerSazz]

The amazon stuff looks a bit crap but you get the idea and I expect there are better ones ou there

[Lesley1980]

you can get privacy blinds. Although probably similar to voil.

Is your street particularly busy that he thinks everyone is looking in?

[stroan]

Not busy at all, it's a tiny estate, and we're almost at the end of the street so not many passing walkers.

In 15 months on mat leave, I didn't see a single person walking past and looking in.

[Scribblegirl]

I can't believe no-ones made the joke that it's curtains for your relationship

[downwardfacingdog]

It seems like he has a weird thing for closed curtains so not sure any of the other options will help. I couldn't put up with the closed curtains though! Sorry, not helpful.

[Valentine2]

I think your best bet is the film some suggested here. It looks transparent, you can see everything, no one can see you. But I don't know how it works when you have to switch on the lights inside and it's darker outside. But I guess you wouldn't probably want the curtains to be open in that case anyway?

[Chippednailvarnishing]

Forget curtains, what about therapy?

[WingsClipped]

I have this issue as well. We have Venetian blinds which I like open. It's not particularly interesting or beautiful outside but I love the light. I leave the ones upstairs fully up. As soon as DH is around he closes the blinds and it drives me nuts that he would rather sit in the dark or switch on the lights and waste electricity rather than enjoying he limited daylight that we get. Sorry not much help but totally understand what a pain it is.