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Original poster

To wonder why you’d put a curtain outside your front door?! [pic]

70 replies

Salamander44 · 09/09/2022 21:18

I walked past this front door the other day - are outdoor curtains now a thing? Why would someone have one? I’m oddly intrigued by it!

To wonder why you’d put a curtain outside your front door?! [pic]
OP posts:
CocoDodo · 09/09/2022 23:28

I highly suspect it's to keep the heat out. If it's really hot I sometimes cover my bathroom windows with random thick cloth. I drape them outside the windows so that the heat doesn't get in. I wonder what the neighbours think 😂 maybe they shared a picture on the internet too.

Fluffyfluffflufffluff · 09/09/2022 23:01

The Wizard lives there.

ReeseWitherfork · 09/09/2022 22:56

JaneorEleven · 09/09/2022 21:54

I live on the west coast USA, and I have these on my pergola in the backyard. It blocks the sun, and makes a large space have a more cozy feel.

I don’t think we have large spaces anywhere here in the UK.

eddiemairswife · 09/09/2022 22:27

My grandmother had one during the Summer to prevent the sun blistering the paint.

Walkingthedog46 · 09/09/2022 22:20

If it is a painted door, it is sometimes done to stop the paint blistering.

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 09/09/2022 22:19

How odd!

Houseplantmad · 09/09/2022 22:18

My MIL had one. It was to stop the door fading in the sun.

ozymandiusking · 09/09/2022 22:17

Perhaps the door sticks when the sun heats it up, amd the curtain keeps it off.

Tabitha005 · 09/09/2022 22:14

Quite a few houses in Tuscany I've stayed in have had curtains outside the doors for shade whilst still allowing air to flow through.

antwacky · 09/09/2022 22:01

I recall a neighbour doing this. They had a heavy dark green canvas curtain just for the summertime. It was to protect their high gloss painted front door from the sun as well as making the hallway cooler and keeping flies out. Their end of the street used to really bake in the summertime.

ChestnutGrove · 09/09/2022 22:00

It would prevent parcel deliveries being seen from the road and stolen

Original poster
Salamander44 · 09/09/2022 21:56

If it’s for heat/flies I’m just surprised they didn’t put it up inside the door. Seems a bit extreme as a measure to prevent the door paint fading, but then my front door is shabby AF so perhaps they take more pride in theirs!

OP posts:
Pixiedust1234 · 09/09/2022 21:55

BorgQueen · 09/09/2022 21:49

I’ve had a curtain up at my back door all summer, on a sprung pole in the doorway with the door open, keeps the sun out and the flies.
I’m so sick of having to have my living room curtains closed when it’s sunny that I’ve bought, in effect, a huge outdoor roller blind on adjustable arms, it’s brilliant.

Any chance of a photo for these outside rollers? We have to have our front curtains permanently closed and I hate it.

JaneorEleven · 09/09/2022 21:54

I live on the west coast USA, and I have these on my pergola in the backyard. It blocks the sun, and makes a large space have a more cozy feel.

To wonder why you’d put a curtain outside your front door?! [pic]
Cavend · 09/09/2022 21:52

Could it be like a fly curtain?

BorgQueen · 09/09/2022 21:49

I’ve had a curtain up at my back door all summer, on a sprung pole in the doorway with the door open, keeps the sun out and the flies.
I’m so sick of having to have my living room curtains closed when it’s sunny that I’ve bought, in effect, a huge outdoor roller blind on adjustable arms, it’s brilliant.

bellabasset · 09/09/2022 21:43

@Iseeall I can remember them when I was growing up after WW2 and it was to stop paint fading.

fairgame84 · 09/09/2022 21:34

MIL has this setup but she lives in Africa. It's because she leaves the door open when it's hot and the curtain gives shade, privacy and stops flies getting in.

Maybe it's people from a hot country that have recently moved and not got acquainted with our crap weather yet.

TokidokiBarbie · 09/09/2022 21:32

Might be to keep the dog in.

Original poster
Salamander44 · 09/09/2022 21:30

I’ll be watching with interest to see if it stays up during autumn/winter clearly need to get out more

OP posts:
WibbleBibble · 09/09/2022 21:30

Surely if it was for flies it would be sitting tighter to the doorframe rather than sitting on the inside of the outter wall of the porch?

It does seem to make sense that it's to let the breeze in but block out the sun, but I wouldnt feel comfortable with my front door open even though we live in a 'safe' small town

ReeseWitherfork · 09/09/2022 21:29

Wait…. If it’s for hot weather why have they only just put it up?!

DuringDinnerMints · 09/09/2022 21:27

There's a house with one near us, it's been up for two years so not just for summer.

Original poster
Salamander44 · 09/09/2022 21:27

@notprincehamlet I hope so 😁

OP posts:
purplethings · 09/09/2022 21:27

Because the door opens inwards you can have the door open whilst totally sealing the opening to keep out flies and mosquitos.