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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To miss net curtains

117 replies

Poptart4 · 03/04/2021 13:39

Most people I know think net curtains are old fashioned and something only your granny would have but I really think they are better than blinds. They let all the light in but provide privacy as no one can see through them. Blinds, when open, provide no privacy and everyone walking past your house can see straight in.

When I walk around my neighbourhood I've noticed 90% of the houses have their blinds closed all of the time. I'm sure this is because they're uncomfortable with the lack of privacy and dont want randomers staring in at them.

I couldn't live like this. I have to have my blinds open during the day, but would really prefer net curtains.

AIBU to hope curtains make a comeback?

OP posts:

Alsohuman · 03/04/2021 14:16

We’ve got voiles in all our downstairs windows. They’re OK but they’re only there because the bloke’s paranoid about privacy, I’d have them gone in a heartbeat. I can’t believe how much lighter the place is when I take them down to wash them.

ginghamtablecloths · 03/04/2021 14:24

I've got net curtains in my front windows which have a subtle pattern from John Lewis. IMHO they're not naff or old fashioned. I don't care what other people think of them.

NeverDropYourMoonCup · 03/04/2021 14:24

@BonnieDundee

voiles (not voices) are slightly different to nets. Nets are lacy, voiles are more smooth and actually look quite nice. I don't have them as when I moved into this house it already had a very expensive looking roman blind and I don't have the heart to take it down. But I have no privacy at all

Only if you buy lace or patterned ones.

JovialNickname · 03/04/2021 14:28

I have voted YABU because why on earth are you waiting for there to be a comeback before you buy them? Just get some! No they're not the height of fashion but they're not an avocado bath suite either the voile ones are really pretty too. Buy them and enjoy!

StCharlotte · 03/04/2021 14:35

Just tried again with proper hooks in the outer wooden frame and command hooks in the "corners". Popped off straightaway.

More to the point the cat was disgusted!.

NeverDropYourMoonCup · 03/04/2021 14:41

@StCharlotte

Just tried again with proper hooks in the outer wooden frame and command hooks in the "corners". Popped off straightaway.

More to the point the cat was disgusted!.

If you've got uPVC windows, you can get hooks that screw into them without causing any more damage (other than the small hole they screw into).

The cat should remember how to get behind the things quickly enough. Although mine is quite happy getting himself behind the blinds downstairs but absolutely stumped by the nets in the bedroom.

But, then again, he is an idiot who needed the back door covered with film to stop him running headfirst into it, despite being perfectly capable of getting behind the floor length voile (that was £20 cheaper when buying it from the Amazon seller who called it a net).

DontBeRidiculous · 03/04/2021 14:44

Your daughter will always find something to be embarrassed about, as a teen. Tell her she can tell her bratty friends (if they actually do taunt her for living in a house with net curtains) that it's all your fault. You're the mother, so you get to decide how the house is decorated. She doesn't have to have them in her own room, of course.

stillcrazyafterall · 03/04/2021 14:47

I don't actually like nets much but always have them for privacy, but only at the front of the house. Took them down recently and swore everyone was looking in

Mind you I am old enough to be someone's granny...

icebearforpresident · 03/04/2021 14:48

I’ve just moved house and the previous owners let all the net curtains. I can see the benefit of them but I really hate them. Infact before I opened this thread I was just staring at my kitchen window thinking I would take them down. At the front of my house is the spare room and the kitchen, it makes no difference to me if people can see in.

StCharlotte · 03/04/2021 14:50

NeverDropYourMoonCup

Thank you I will seek those hooks out.

Actually she has no problem getting behind the main curtains when they're closed. Reminds me of Morecambe & Wise when she pokes her head through

ILoveMyMonkey · 03/04/2021 14:53

We’ve got a magic blind - it looks white from outside but from inside we can see through it - total privacy but nice and bright and can still see out. We did have nets but the cat kept getting her claws stuck in them and they were wrecked.

Time40 · 03/04/2021 14:55

I can't work out how to attach them to the bastard plastic frames

Would those expanding/contracting rods fit in? I've got them on my windows for the muslin curtains.

Eyevorbig0ne · 03/04/2021 14:55

I never like nets but they were affordable. We've got lovely wooden blinds which can be tilted for light and privacy.
The parents queue right outside my open fronted house to drop and collect school kids so I tilt them low.
Considering a sharp high hedge for privacy actually.

Canigooutyet · 03/04/2021 14:56

You can get clips for upvc windows that clip onto the frame. You can buy them with blinds or on their own. I know Amazon sell them - search for screw less blinds.

And zebra blinds if you haven’t seen them are amazing.

Be careful about the privacy film. I have some thats mirrored on the outside. Great during the day but fuck me once your light goes on might as well have nothing up.

I live in flats and have the film on my kitchen window. Amazing how many people walk along the balcony and have a look at their reflection 😂

Englishrosegarden · 03/04/2021 14:57

@StCharlotte

Just tried again with proper hooks in the outer wooden frame and command hooks in the "corners". Popped off straightaway.

More to the point the cat was disgusted!.

I have nets and they are all on telescopic tension rods, no need for hooks or anything else, no drilling etc

www.amazon.co.uk/s?ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_8_14&crid=12EZGFZVZNS5Z&sprefix=telescopic+cur%2Caps%2C152&k=telescopic+curtain+rails+for+net+curtains&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

MeadowHay · 03/04/2021 14:58

I love nets. We moved into a house a couple of years ago which we renovated and we put nets in. Agree they're getting less and less common but I prefer them.

Tittyfilarious · 03/04/2021 14:59

I have net curtains I love them, I'm the only person in our street with them and I don't care

Mablefly · 03/04/2021 14:59

We had plain nets for years when I was in my 20s and living in 'trendy' flats in Brighton. I loved them as they let in enough light while feeling cozy at the same time.

We now have wooden shutters which are very practical and fantastic for privacy but sometimes I get nostalgic for my floaty nets!

ItsSnowJokes · 03/04/2021 15:01

Get mirror film, I have it on my front kitchen window that is right on the road. Let's light in but no one can see in at all. All they get is a reflection of themselves.

Dilbertian · 03/04/2021 15:02

@Poptart4

I had suggested it but my teen dd insisted she wouldn't be able to show her face in school if we did. According to dd, only poor people have net curtains because they cant afford blinds

and she would be teased by the other kids.

I know this is bullshit but I also remember what it's like.to be an awkward teen and dont want to be the reason shes teased in school. Especially has the blinds dont bother me that much. I'd just prefer nets.

My teen dd's bedroom is at the front of the house and she wanted more privacy, so we got her nets. She is perfectly Gallo with them and none of her friends has ever commented negatively on them. Perhaps she just had nice friends.

Dilbertian · 03/04/2021 15:03

Gallo? Bloody autoprat. She perfectly happy with them.

Tocktickclick · 03/04/2021 15:07

I had no idea that my net curtains were so outdated
I need something because I have a big window at the front.
It never occurred to me that they are something to be embarrassed about.
Humans are odd creatures really. Always worked up about something 😂
Teenagers in particular, of course.

Flumpywoo · 03/04/2021 15:09

We just had the white privacy blinds fitted on some of our windows but have nets on the rest. They are more the voile panels I think than the old fashioned flowery nets, but I need privacy and couldn't stand people being able to see right through of a day time. The privacy blind is really good and from the outside looks like you have a proper white blind down, you can't see in at all. But get modern nets/voile panels if you want to (they are cheaper) and take no notice of your daughter lol. Go for it! x

Everythingiswonderful · 03/04/2021 15:12

I have voiles.
I don’t care if they look old fashioned. Neighbours have their blinds or curtains closed day and night for privacy which looks worse than my voiles.

1Morewineplease · 03/04/2021 15:12

I'm pleased to see that nets/voiles could well be making a comeback.
Some years ago I persuaded my elderly mum to ditch her nets as I was concerned that she might be targeted by burglars. This was partly because police had suggested this when an elderly relative got conned on her doorstep.

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