Neighbour Garden Room privacy

[goldfishbowl2025]

Hi Mumsnet,
I’m not sure whether this belongs here, but our neighbour’s new garden room sits a lower than our house and he can look up and see into my directly my bedroom. At night when their lights are on, it really feels like I’m in a goldfish bowl—I can see into their office and it makes me wonder if they can see into my room too.

I don’t want to draw my curtains all the time, but it’s starting to affect my sense of home and privacy. Has anyone been through something similar? How did you handle it? did you speak to them, did you ask for a blind, or find another solution? I’ve text but they don’t see how it’s affecting my privacy and to be honest it’s having a massive effect on me as my bedroom is my haven- I like to move around not thinking I’m being watched. He said he doesn’t work late down there but I feel like 3/4 nights last week he worked late and then gone 11pm I saw the lights go off (when they go off I can see the light reduce in my room).

help!!!

Either privacy film or voiles.

But it’s his house lights, so it wouldn’t?

Such a rude response. If you don't have anything helpful to contribute, why just bash her/him? Chill oh my god.

I think net curtains or privacy film or venetian blinds for added privacy. The loud calls after 9pm and unfair imo. Pretty weird as well to be honest. I think just having a quiet word with him may help. Maybe he doesn't realise they're so loud.

Ask the council to check it as you have concerns. He should have considered his neighbours when he was planning on all and spending a load of £ on it and if it makes his neighbours uncomfortable or unhappy then any decent person would do something about it! If they aren’t decent then the council will make them 😁

Because you don't want people looking in!

Blackout blinds fit the window frame more snugly so will help for the light at night

@goldfishbowl2025 I once knew someone make a point about lights that were poorly angled and causing a nuisance. They used a mirror to bounce the light back into the neighbours house. In your case a mirror bouncing the light back into the garden office might at least make them adjust the angle.

Then why didn’t you object that it might have a view straight in your windows? It’s amazing the amount of people who never complain about a new project being built next to them until after it is done. This is what the planning process is for, so that when someone starts building something you can check with the authority if it is permitted and if it will overlook or reduce your privacy, then put an objection in if your privacy is going to be impacted.

You can't ask a neighbour to put a blind up. You need to close your curtains and get blackout linings for them or put a blackout blind, or both.

Because you're the one with the problem. If hes built this room, planning permission was agreed. I bet he has no interest in your room but if you feel uncomfortable and there's something you can do to address that you should. Don't make your problem his problem

Hello I cna work work my doors open then I’ll close my doors. Clearly I’m in my house he’s in his garden room til gone 11pm I’m not! I’m done by 4ish. I often move into my front room to do calls they can be long and I prefer the sofa to my desk. Plus they are usually confidential.

This is a thought!!

Some in the office some down the side of the house. Just got my little one to sleep finally and will wonder down to the bottom of my garden, he’s actually higher up at the bottom of our gardens we have steps down to our garden so I won’t be as high as him at the bottom because he’s higher in his garden room!

Another advantage of voiles is they keep flies out.

I quite like a voile.
The ones in BH are like the ones in Downing st and not voile-y. Bomb blast nets. Longer than the window length, so that they’ll take the impact within them. They’re v thick and strong. Sorry for derail, OP.

Mine are longer than the window above it and to the side! They’re very thick custom made John Lewis blackout curtains!

Go and sit in the equivalent position in the garden and see what you can see in his bedroom. I bet it's nothing.

Our gardens slope upwards and even in a raised position well further back than an extension could reach I can only see my neighbours if they are stood at the window. I can't see inside with the angle and reflection of the glass.

You get blinds that roll up from the bottom. You can then block the view to the required level and still have natural daylight / moonlight shine in the top like you’re used to having.

Because it’s you who has the problem? You can’t insist they put up a blind, so you have to do something at your end, or lump it!

Does he have all the correct planning permission for the room?

Get yourself a blackout blind. I have one in my bedroom and it's helped a lot with my insomnia, especially at this time of year.

If it were me I wouldn’t want anyone looking into my room. I would happily use the window film, black out blinds, shutters, anything to preserve my privacy.

this thread has helped me make peace with it! I will think about all the options suggested on here. Just to clarify I might work with my doors open but I’m not on as many calls. I often move to my front room to make calls simply cos they can be long and I like to get cosy on my sofa to do them!

Dunelm sell black out lining you can attach to your current curtains to make them blackout.. I now get to sleep till 7 am with them.. one I attached them I cut out the old lining, so it wasn’t too heavy on the rail..