Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that people who keep their curtains closed all day must be ill, or hiding something?

553 replies

Bluedeblue · 16/06/2021 17:26

The first thing that I do, when I get up in the morning, is to open the curtains. Possibly a window as well, to let a breeze in. There are a few houses nearby, who never open any curtains. Bedroom and lounge curtains are always firmly closed, even on lovely summer days. The gardens are unkempt and scruffy, all the paintwork is peeling. But someone definitely living there, as in one case, a brand new car on the drive and I've seen pizza delivery to the other. Does anyone else find this really odd, and think that there must be something amiss with these people? It must be so dark inside. I find it almost a bit creepy.

OP posts:
Inmypjsagain · 16/06/2021 18:04

Our blinds are down atm in our flat because it’s so warm! We’re trying to keep the sun out.

When I lived at my parent’s house the drawing room and front bedroom windows/curtains were rarely open, as they’re not rooms that were used very often and it maintained privacy. Most of our living was done at the back and middle rooms of of the house, with doors, windows etc open. Maybe that’s the case with these houses!

Iquitit · 16/06/2021 18:04

Obviously I should be keeping my curtains open instead of ensuring the place is as dark and cool as possible to enable me to sleep properly during the day, so I'm you know awake for my nights.
Just in case I'm dubbed a weirdo or dodgy.
My grass is currently at around 1.5cms - is this within the realms of dodgy and weird too?

MargaretThursday · 16/06/2021 18:03

Our curtains are closed at the moment-keeps the house cooler.

MagicSummer · 16/06/2021 18:03

I never close the curtains in the sitting room except in the depths of winter. I never, ever close bedroom curtains as I can't bear to sleep in the dark. If people want to look it, let them, is my attitude.

I agree with you, OP, it is weird to keep them closed all the time.

osbertthesyrianhamster · 16/06/2021 18:02

Some people have very active imaginations.

TurdCrapley · 16/06/2021 18:02

To me, having them closed all day makes it feel like nighttime and it makes me tired and groggy. So I'd hate it but I can understand why people do and want privacy. DH closes them and I whip them open again😂

Scarby9 · 16/06/2021 18:00

In winter, my curtains often stay closed all day.
Up and out of the house by 7am within 15- 20 minutes of my alarm. Back home 6-7pm.
Dark when I leave; dark when I come home - no point opening the curtains!

Mynextname · 16/06/2021 17:59

Social anxiety. Depression. Wanting to feel closed off from the world when at home. Privacy.

Messy gardens due to being burnt out and poor.

The lack of understanding some people have amazes me.

LemonSherbetFancies · 16/06/2021 17:58

Our house gets really hot so we keep the curtains closed to try and cool it.

ArnoldJudasRimmer · 16/06/2021 17:57

It's to keep nosy neighbours wondering why the curtains are always closed and to stop them have a right good nosy through the window at other people's business...

bootle96 · 16/06/2021 17:57

Have you really never considered that anyone might work shifts OP? I'm working 4 12 hour night shifts this week, so I'm sleeping in the day time (and yes that means the curtains are closed.) The front of our house is directly south facing so gets very hot, it's much cooler with curtains closed in this weather so they probably won't be open when I've finished nights either. I find in weird you spend so much time staring into other peoples houses!

daseychain · 16/06/2021 17:56

Someone's got their judgy pants yanked right up today!

hanketypankety · 16/06/2021 17:56

I'm completely with the OP on this one! I often wonder why people keep their curtains closed and they are always the houses that are rented. Garden never mowed either. I know someone who rents out a house and part of the tenancy agreement is that garden is mowed and curtains are opened often

funinthesun19 · 16/06/2021 17:56

I have my curtains open but my blinds are shut a lot. Sometimes I do want to shut people out.

LoveFall · 16/06/2021 17:55

We live in a highrise apartment and have large windows facing south and southwest. If we kept our blinds open on a sunny day not only would we literally fry, the sun would fade everything.

I hate it, but we bought it in February, when on gloomy days the place was full of light.

DinosApple · 16/06/2021 17:55

Our curtains are closed when it's hot, and if we're in a hurry.

Basically we're a bit lazy and disorganized, but I hope our neighbours think we're up to something, that's much more exciting!😂

Thecurtainsofdestiny · 16/06/2021 17:54

You think that everyone who works nightshift is creepy??

TiltTopTable · 16/06/2021 17:53

In hot countries it's normal to have shutters or blinds closed during the day to keep the indoor temperature cooler and to prevent sun damage. I keep my shutters closed until the sun has moved off the front of the house at about midday.

shouldistop · 16/06/2021 17:53

On hot days I keep the curtains closed so the bedrooms aren't warm at night

MaloInAnAppleTree · 16/06/2021 17:52

Depends on the curtains. Mine are unlined white linen so I don’t feel the need to open them.

Iquitit · 16/06/2021 17:52

Or works nights.......

crimsonclover · 16/06/2021 17:52

It could be mental health. I was once a community worker and had to visit many people at home who were too anxious to leave. In many cases the blinds hadn’t been opened in years and even the suggestion of opening them could trigger a panic attack. If these neighbours also never leave the house it’s also likely.

mrsbyers · 16/06/2021 17:51

We keep our Venetian blinds closed in living room front window because a) the dog woofs and leaves dog snot if anyone dares to walk past and b) keeps the room much cooler - we have French doors to garden for light

LimitIsUp · 16/06/2021 17:50

My curtains are closed in one of the downstairs rooms which is south facing with large french doors and turns into an oven when the temperature is higher than 20 degrees. Keeping the curtains closed ameliorates the greenhouse effect to some extent

DeathByWalkies · 16/06/2021 17:50

I keep my front curtains shut as else DDog stands on the sofa and barks at everything that goes past, and strangers stare in (it's a busy street).

Swipe left for the next trending thread