To keep curtains closed at night?

[Margo34]

Settle a disagreement for us!
DH grew up in household where curtains downstairs were closed of an evening until you went to bed, then they were opened. He says this was because keeping them closed advertised you had stuff to hide so it was a security reason.
Meanwhile I grew up in a household where downstairs curtains were closed of an evening and stayed so until you got up next morning, again for a security reason to keep others from peering in and seeing what you owned.
We both think our way is better as a deterrent to potential unsavoury night time folk and uninvited midnight visitors. We both think each others way is weird!
Who is right?

YABU - he is right, open curtains over night.
YANBU - I am right, keep them closed overnight.

If they’re open it’s more likely too look like you’ve gone on holiday surely?

Agree with @ATaleOfTwoCovids, the norm is to close them, anything else is because You’ve gone away.

That's what I said to DH but he wasn't having any of it! Looks like we're not home if lights out curtains open at night surely! He wasn't having any of it!

You're DH's way is weird, I've never heard that before!

Urgh *your
I'll blame the ungodly hour for that mistake

By opening the curtains you are advertising that you have gone to bed so presumably will zonk out and be oblivious to burgling. I knew a lady who did this and was burgled repeatedly. The police said apart from the intruders seeing what there was to steal they could also see what to avoid knocking over climbing through the windows.

He's mad

Your DH is nuts! Never heard of anyone doing this!

YANBU
As op have said open curtains at night would make it look as though no one was home. Surely ?!

This is a cultural thing as I am from countries where you simply never draw any curtains . People just look in. I find it so weird to read that in your country this is a 'thing'! But Fascinating too 🙊

Look, if you are found to get robbed they will rob you anyway curtain open or closed. They are not after your tv or heavy items like that. They are mostly after jewels and money .

But why don't you Just compromise and close the curtains only from one side, that way everyone's a winner/loser 😜

Apart from the security aspect, well made curtains keep in heat. Opening curtains before you go to bed, let’s heat escape.

So for 6 months of the year, it’s wasteful and environmentally unsound.

I dont think open/closed makes much of a difference. Make sure windows are shut & doors locked. Movement sensor lights also help.

If you buy something like a television dont leave the packaging out with the rubbish. It advertises that you have a new television and leaves a thief something to take it away in.

From everything I have read, your average house breaker is lazy & risk averse. They want a quick in/out and easy pickings.

We leave curtains open or closed but we have a big black dog with a strong sense of territory!

Literally never heard of anyone doing it your dh's way. He is nuts.

The only closed curtain thing I knew in the UK was as a child was when you drew them because someone had died, and then opened them after the funeral.

Now I'm in Australia, apart from the bedroom, I only draw curtains for insulation from cold or heat, as no-one can see in.

And I have a big barky dog.

In the summer, we never draw the curtains other than the room we sleep in.
In the winter, we draw the curtains at night to keep the heat in. We have a cat that jumps up at the window to look out at night so unless it's really cold we open them before going to bed.

Curtains closed!

You keep curtains open at night when the weather is too hot and closed to conserve the heat at all other times.
It must make your house really cold first thing in winter.

Your DH is v v odd.

Also
He says this was because keeping them closed advertised you had stuff to hide so it was a security reason.
Probably better to get security equipment (CCTV/Ring doorbell etc) set up?

I can imagine re-opening the bedroom curtains or blinds to ensure you wake at dawn, but re-opening downstairs curtains at night seems very odd.

I rarely close my curtains, downstairs or up (and I live on a busy street). But if I did, I'd keep them closed until the morning.

@Yeahnahmum

This is a cultural thing as I am from countries where you simply never draw any curtains . People just look in. I find it so weird to read that in your country this is a 'thing'! But Fascinating too 🙊

Look, if you are found to get robbed they will rob you anyway curtain open or closed. They are not after your tv or heavy items like that. They are mostly after jewels and money .

But why don't you Just compromise and close the curtains only from one side, that way everyone's a winner/loser 😜

Interesting to hear it could be a cultural thing.....but I don't think that's the difference in our case because we are both from the same culture and grew up in areas 30mins apart 😂

My Aunt always insisted that her downstairs curtains be opened again before she went to bed (during the early evening, if you wanted a light on you had to close the curtains!

A bit weird considering she was convinced someone would break in. She was obsessed with that. Despite me saying that really she had nothing to nick.

Pride of place was given to shit trinkets and animal figures she got from some shaman scam merchants. She had no tv, no internet.

As she had no net curtains, anyone could check out what she (didn't) have from the street! They could have helped themselves to extremely out of date food though in her fridge or pantry...

Curtains remain closed to keep the heat in/cold out and stop people looking in.
Also, if you’re curtains are open it will be assumed you are up so you might get an early visitor.

I'm pleased to hear it's not just me that finds my DH odd! Looking forward to doing the 'I told you so' dance 😁💃

I hate people looking in my house, so curtains are closed once internal lights are turned on