Can you leave your curtains one way or the other?

[Chelsea26]

Ok this is a minor problem, I know that but… I have just moved to a new house, it’s bigger than my old one and the curtains are driving me mad!

We have 5 bedrooms and a downstairs ‘front room’ as well as an open plan living area where we spend most of our time.

And for some reason I cannot leave the curtains/blinds closed in the daytime or open at night! I didn’t know this about myself as my old house was tiny so I’d kind of be in every room every day.

Now I get up in the morning and open the curtains in my room (fine - I’m in there) then open the other bedroom’s curtains, then go upstairs and open those blinds and then come downstairs and open the front room curtains to then reverse it in the evening…

Sometimes the kids are all here and they might do their own, but half the time they’re not and I just cannot leave them either open or closed even if no one is going to set foot in that room all day.

Why??

No idea.

I can.
If a room isn't being used, it might even potentially save a little heat if you keep the curtains closed.
Alternatively, if no-one is in the room, it doesn't really metter in terms of anyone being able to see in.

I only aopen / close curtains as I am in a room.

I am with you op

I open mine during the day so that the neighbours will know I'm not dead!
I'm getting on a bit though.

I never close curtains, ever. Not even in bedrooms at night. Light doesn't bother me so I can sleep in the summer, even when it's light. Solves the problem nicely....although I am currently in a 1st floor flat so no-one looks in directly.

I don’t understand the problem? I can’t leave curtains closed in the day either, so I open them, and generally crack open the windows too for some fresh air. Unless you’re in a palace it doesn’t take long. And drawing the curtains at dusk is such a nice bookend to the day.

I always try to open/close the curtains in most of the house. Most rooms have houseplants that need the light, even if I won't be in the room during the day. There are two exceptions, but they have no houseplants, and in one of them it's too much effort to get close enough to open/close the blinds.

I must have curtains or blinds closed at night, if I'm in a room. It creeps me out too much to imagine that someone could see me without my knowing it!

What time do you close them?

My dh goes around closing them at the first sign of dusk, I follow behind opening back up I'm like a pp, I'd never close them

I do the same - but I'm in a 2 bed flat so it doesn't take so long!

You would hate our house. We leave them closed in the summer if the sun is shining to keep the heat out while we are at work. Sometimes I open one and leave the other closed as one curtain blocks the window sill I want to use for my drink.

I have no issues with individual curtains closed or open to differing degrees and as I work night shifts regularly I also like the curtains closed in the day.

Basically we are a structure free zone in the curtain department and quite frankly anything goes. DP spends a lot of time going behind me and straightening them up, balancing the open/closed distance and trying to present a smart front to the world

I'm the same. 5 beds 5 receptions. I do it while I brush my teeth or get my eldest daughter to do it. I don't bother with the tie backs though unless we have guests.

Our downstairs front curtains are shut 24/7 because our windows are right on the pavement and I hate the idea of people being able to see in and stare at me.

Back curtains and bedroom curtains are opened in the morning and closed at night though

If I don’t use a room I don’t even think about it. I’d never even remember there were curtains in there.

I open the bedroom curtains as soon as I am getting up and open the windows wide. I close the window after aroun 1/2 hour.

Curtains downstairs - unless the sun is shining and glaring into my eyes or it is really cold (below freezing) they stay open all day and night. If people want to stare into the room, feel free.

Same with the blinds in the guest bedroom where I work, closed only if the sun is in my eyes.

I love light, nothing worse than living in a batcave for me unless I want to sleep.

This is interesting. I feel like I "have" to do this with the curtains at the front and front side of the house (Victorian semi with front door on side). So living room, dining room and front door curtain open in the morning and closed at dusk. Upstairs our bedroom and daughters room at the front/side - open/closed.

But ... Kitchen/diner at the back has no curtains or blinds. It seems unlikely we'd be doing anything private so I don't really care if the house to the side can see us sitting at the table in the evening or cooking/loading the dishwasher. Our bathrooms have privacy glass (no blinds). The kids tv room in the basement has a small window but it's low and not overlooked so no curtain. The bedrooms upstairs at the back are the spare room and study so the curtains stay open or closed if those rooms aren't being used that day. i just don't go in there.Teenage son has the attic room which has a blind but I never go in there so no idea what he does!

So I seem to have the attitude of I will show a respectable "front of house" to the street but as for the back I don't care, they shouldn't be looking!

@Wingedharpy

I open mine during the day so that the neighbours will know I'm not dead! I'm getting on a bit though.

My mum says this!

I have loads of house plants in all downstairs rooms....all blinds are fully opened Early every day tonmaximise the daylight getting into the rooms

I feel better that other people give curtains thought! I wish I could be like you ‘devil-may-care’ people who don’t though! I haven’t done upstairs today but it’s playing on my mind so I think I will succumb!

I only have curtains because windows can look strange without any but I never shut them

I always think of Rita, Sue and Bob too: “Won’t the neighbours think it’s strange, having the curtains shut in the middle of the day?”

Surely curtains get opened in the morning and closed at night? That’s their purpose isn’t it?

@Bettybantz

I always think of Rita, Sue and Bob too: “Won’t the neighbours think it’s strange, having the curtains shut in the middle of the day?”

Surely curtains get opened in the morning and closed at night? That’s their purpose isn’t it?

Depends on the window. I like my downstairs curtains as they look nice and add interest. When we had the room repainted we had to wait for our curtain poles being delivered and had 4 weeks with no curtains, it just looked wrong.

My guest bedroom and the office only have blinds because the sun causes problems with me and DH working there, otherwise the windows is "naked" and I prefer it actually.

I open and close curtains in my own bedroom and the living room plus the bathroom blind and conservatory blinds but thats it. I don't do other peoples bedrooms or the study. They can be left open or closed whatever time of day it is.

@Wingedharpy

I open mine during the day so that the neighbours will know I'm not dead! I'm getting on a bit though.

Fair enough.

I wish I could be like you ‘devil-may-care’ people who don’t though!

I have to confess it took me years to reach this state of "I don't care what the neighbours might think" -ness. My Mum would probably be horrified.

I’m still convinced my neighbours think I’m shagging if my curtains are closed in the middle of the day.

Do the curtain leavers not have neighbours?

I open during the day and close at night too isn’t that what they’re for 😀 I’m trying to train the kids to open their blinds after they get dressed so I’m not having to do the usual round of opening.
I feel as though not opening them makes it look like we’re neglectful (in general not just towards the house) and also I think if someone were looking to break in and they see the curtains drawn they might assume we’re out.