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Original poster

Closing curtains when going out for the day

64 replies

ZappyDays · 23/12/2025 13:47

Please can you help settle a debate with my DH.

It is 1:30pm and we are going out for the day, we won’t be back until after dark.

One of us decided it would be a good idea to close all the curtains in the house before we go out, even though it’s daytime, because it will be dark when we get back and save a job later. The other thinks it’s a bit odd to shut the curtains while it’s still daytime and we can just do it when we get back.

YANBU it’s a sensible thing to close them before you go out
YABU it’s strange, just close them when you get back later

OP posts:
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SpanielsGalore · 24/12/2025 10:13

Iwouldntsaythat · 23/12/2025 23:20

How do you know what type of music they like?

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They tell me of course. 🙄

Fuckoffeasypeelers · 24/12/2025 08:21

Ohpleeeease · 23/12/2025 13:54

I would close the curtains before going out, open curtains in a dark house tells everyone you’re out.

Closed curtains in the day time tells everyone you are out!
I cant think why people do it,so obvious
Curtains open and lights on
We have Tapo so I turn them on at dusk

Bryonyberries · 24/12/2025 08:10

I light my house to see daylight so I’m a curtain open person.

Westfacing · 24/12/2025 06:55

TinselTitts · 23/12/2025 16:51

I think you both need to pull yourselves together.

😂🎄

SillyNavyTiger · 23/12/2025 23:35

Iwouldntsaythat · 23/12/2025 21:58

You put the lights on for your dogs? Sorry, that’s just plain bonkers

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why? I do it too.

Light on during the day, house dark at night. Most people do!

Iwouldntsaythat · 23/12/2025 23:20

SpanielsGalore · 23/12/2025 22:34

Why is it? They don't like being left in the dark. I also leave music playing for them.

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How do you know what type of music they like?

SpanielsGalore · 23/12/2025 22:34

Iwouldntsaythat · 23/12/2025 21:58

You put the lights on for your dogs? Sorry, that’s just plain bonkers

Show quote history

Why is it? They don't like being left in the dark. I also leave music playing for them.

deeahgwitch · 23/12/2025 22:10

TinselTitts · 23/12/2025 16:51

I think you both need to pull yourselves together.

😂👏🏻

Iwouldntsaythat · 23/12/2025 21:58

SpanielsGalore · 23/12/2025 14:00

I have dogs. If I am going to be coming home after dark, I close the curtains and put the light on for them.
If I didn't have dogs, I'd just draw them when I got home.

ETA: I only close the downstairs ones. Not bedrooms.

Edited

You put the lights on for your dogs? Sorry, that’s just plain bonkers

SillyNavyTiger · 23/12/2025 21:55

ZappyDays · 23/12/2025 21:38

I must admit when we got home this evening I was glad to have one less job to do and it was very cosy! He wins.

If you have a farm and more chores than I can think about, I'd understand about the "one less job" , but a bog standard house and easy life?

I am bit puzzled by the hardship of having to deal with curtains.

Imagine living on the continent where they have curtains AND shutters 😂

curious79 · 23/12/2025 21:49

This is not die in any kind of ditch worthy

MarxistMags · 23/12/2025 21:46

I close bedroom curtains and pull the downstairs ones closer together. I'm keeping the heat in 🙄

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 23/12/2025 21:43

Just close one of each pair of curtains then everybody will be happy. 👍

Original poster
ZappyDays · 23/12/2025 21:38

I must admit when we got home this evening I was glad to have one less job to do and it was very cosy! He wins.

OP posts:
whatdoyourdoggoswant · 23/12/2025 20:08

Keeps a bit of extra heat in…. But I wouldn’t think to bother to be honest.

AgnesMcDoo · 23/12/2025 18:23

Either is fine.

I couldn’t be arsed arguing about it.

CautiousLurker2 · 23/12/2025 18:19

MiniCooperLover · 23/12/2025 13:55

My DH insists on doing this and it drives me nuts. You might as well just say 'LOOK THE HOUSE IS EMPTY' ....

That’s my reasoning too - it’s a neon light saying ‘Roll up, Roll up, we’re out! Burgle us and, because the curtains are closed, no one will be able to see!’

Fortunately my DH completely agrees.

Original poster
ZappyDays · 23/12/2025 18:03

Thanks everyone, the vote has mostly been in my favour. It just took me by surprise as we were getting ready to go out earlier, he was going around closing all the curtains and he took offence when I told him it was a strange thing to do. He then said it would save a job later (for context, we have about 10 windows in total and I never see closing the curtains as an arduous chore) and he said I was being a bit strange because the only reason I could come up with for not wanting them closed was that I didn’t like leaving the house in darkness. Not once did he mention he was doing it for security reasons, which I might have understood, although we live in a very quiet area.

OP posts:
15minutesaday · 23/12/2025 17:22

I'd close them when we got back but switch a table lamp on and maybe leave the TV on.

I've got vertical blinds now so just leave them open on an angle and have a table lamp on a timer (I hate walking into a dark house when I get home from work).

NotForTheMoneyandNotForTheApplause · 23/12/2025 17:22

ZappyDays · 23/12/2025 14:07

Neither of us were thinking of security reasons, it was purely done by one of us to save a job later and the other one didn’t see the point.

What kind of curtains do you have that closing them in anyway qualifies as a "job"?

Do you live in a 70 bedroom stately home with heavy tapestry type window coverings?

Somersetbaker · 23/12/2025 17:19

A retired policeman once suggested to me that if the curtains are open potential burglars can see that nice antique clock on the mantle piece, or the laptop on the coffee table, closed curtains are a partial deterrent as they don't want to go to the effort of breaking in and finding nothing to steal.

caramac04 · 23/12/2025 17:04

DinoLil · 23/12/2025 14:03

I have blinds and pull them halfway down. Then my Hue lights come on, either if I turn them on via my phone or they come on if they're re on a schedule.

You need to get automated and remote controlled OP!

I want automatic curtain closers via Alexa.
I will close early and put a light on especially at this time of year when I ‘might’ have Christmas gifts in the house.

Dollybantree · 23/12/2025 17:01

TinselTitts · 23/12/2025 16:51

I think you both need to pull yourselves together.

Brilliant!

Dollybantree · 23/12/2025 17:01

I’ve never closed my curtains/shutters during the day in my life. I do live in a very low crime area though.

To me curtains being shut during the day is a sure sign there’s no one home?

awrbc81 · 23/12/2025 16:59

Wouldn’t occur to me to do it before leaving but also wouldn’t care if DH wanted to close them all…