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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not care that people can see into my house?

73 replies

PuffinNose · 09/09/2017 09:50

Right, first off, before anyone accusses me of stealth boasting to my neighbours, my house is distincly average so I am absolutely not showing off or wanting people to see how lovely everything is. It's very obvious we don't have anything worth nicking and we live in a "nice" area with a low crime rate for burgulries etc and security is reasonably good eg no easy access to back gardens etc.
That being said...
My house is on a relatively quiet street (although it's on a main route for the school run) and has a small front concrete yard. Currently without a wall. 😶 It has a huge bay window which allows passer bys to see into my living/dining room and in the right light, into my kitchen and back yard. It's quite a wide street so the house opposite can't see in.
I have curtains but no nets or blinds etc. I don't like them, the cat will destroy them and they block all the light.
I don't have nets/blinds on any of windows.
People do look in, whether consciously or not. I don't actually care.
Husbands family are horrified by this, to the degree that they keep offering to buy us nets. His gran is of the opinion that everything in the house is a womans work and thinks I'm not looking after my family by not having nets!
Husband doesn't care although if forced to chose would probably prefer them (but then wouldn't wash them etc).
Obviously gran is rediculous but am I, for not caring?

OP posts:
PetraDelphiki · 09/09/2017 12:23

We put frosted effect film on the windows - lots of light through but no visibility. I think that you can get one way mirror film too...

ForagingForFaerieGold · 09/09/2017 12:38

Hate hate HATE vertical blinds. Got rid of them immediately after I moved in and put up some (rather nice imo) linen look voile. I can see out just fine and my lounge is as bright as it was with nothing there. Old fashioned "nets" I wouldn't have though.
I like my privacy personally but if you don't care then surely that's your prerogative? Your house, your decor. I wouldn't take kindly to being told to change my decor because someone else disagreed with it. How are you being unreasonable?

Laiste · 09/09/2017 12:39

Dead plain white good quality voile hung with a double or treble gather is ok i think. We have floor to ceiling ones which go wall to wall across one end of our living room as it is 99% glass (big windows and doors onto patio). It's a big room and it has the sun on it nearly all day. If we couldn't pull them across the glare from the sun through the glass would blind us all bloody day. Wouldn't want to pull proper curtains across and sit in the gloom on a nice day.

Traditional 'nets' with whirls and patterns and flowers and fuzzy bits - nooooo Grin.

While we're here - i HATE those officey/doc surgery blind things which dangle and rattle. And i see venetian (sp?) blinds as pure dust traps. Even the 'posh' dark wood effect ones. (sorry neighbor).

Helena333 · 09/09/2017 12:46

I would still be interested to see the privacy film that allows you to see out but no-one can see in.

Does it exist? Confused

Dahlietta · 09/09/2017 12:53

Replace the glass in your windows with one-way mirrors. Problem solved.

PixieBigShoes · 09/09/2017 13:00

If my son wasn't allowed to watch a football match at night, he would go up to his room and watch it on a neighbour's Tele unless they had nets! Other than that I don't see any problem!

withlotsoflove · 09/09/2017 13:06

Cotton lace at the window is lovely.
As are some nets actually!
It isn't compulsory to have dirty old fashioned ones.
Some vintage ones look gorgeous in a shabby chic home anyway.
Your MIL shouldn't be choosing what happens at your windows though!Grin

Bluntness100 · 09/09/2017 13:13

Tons of one way film for windows. Here is just one example, but there is loads of different types.

activewindowfilms.co.uk/58-mirror-silver-privacy-one-way-pro-window-tinting-tint-film-solar-control-sticky-back-51-76-100-152cm.html?iPage=3

BusterTheBulldog · 09/09/2017 13:16

I'm with you op, I love the light coming in! I don't mind people looking in our house as I happily gawp into other people's.

PoisonousSmurf · 09/09/2017 13:21

So you don't mind that anyone can look it? In the pitch black out there anyone could be watching...

To not care that people can see into my house?
PoisonousSmurf · 09/09/2017 13:22

I live on a road with no street lights and a public footpath nearby. I love my nets and curtains.

PoisonousSmurf · 09/09/2017 13:23

Helena333, the only place I've seen privacy glass is at the local hostel for recently released prisoners!

PoisonousSmurf · 09/09/2017 13:24

Another reason why I like my nets and curtains!

Anecdoche · 09/09/2017 13:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Helena333 · 09/09/2017 13:50

@Poisonoussmurf

Helena333, the only place I've seen privacy glass is at the local hostel for recently released prisoners!

Grin

I know right! I think it looks awful! I mean it may be OK for commercial buildings, but on the windows in your home??? Confused

ChelleDawg2020 · 09/09/2017 13:55

Your house, the choice of furnishings is up to you.

People naturally look into houses as they walk down the street, it's human nature. But if you don't care about them seeing you then there is no problem.

Purplemeddler · 09/09/2017 18:51

When I rule the world, net curtains will be banned (along with garden bonfires). I think they are horrible and really lower the tone. I am aware that makes me a snob, but so be it.

Seeing me naked might cost them a bit in therapy, but then they've only themselves to blame for being nosy

Yes :)

fourquenelles · 09/09/2017 19:22

So you don't mind that anyone can look it? In the pitch black out there anyone could be watching...

I mentioned this on another thread but I think this version of the clown is a cutie and I want to squish him.

To not care that people can see into my house?
elevenclips · 09/09/2017 19:28

Op have you never seen a horror movie Shock yabu not to have curtains or something resembling them

ChristmasFluff · 09/09/2017 20:04

I'm another one who doesn't care - I hate nets. So what if people look in? I can look out too, without curtain-twitching. The only time to have nets or other horrible view-and-light-impeding stuff (which is basically what people are suggesting) is of you have a manky outlook - I had nets when we were looking out on some skanky garages. And bathrooms of course.

Ttbb · 09/09/2017 20:05

Nets are very lower class in Britain (so i am told, not British myself so I miss out on changes sometimes so not sure whether that is still true). They are also a bit of a pain. We had large windows with lace netting in the house where I grew up. They were constantly snagging, in need of washing etc. If you think you ought to disobeying about it you can get shutters (although these father a fair bit of dust too) or roman blinds made from a sheer fabric. I don't see the problem though. I've had windows that can easily be looked into without anything to obscure the view. It wasn't a problem.

HeebieJeebies456 · 09/09/2017 21:35

I bought some one way privacy film for my living room windows.

Now i can see out without anyone seeing in Smile

Smeaton · 09/09/2017 22:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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