What do people have instead of net curtains?

[schroeder]

Our house gives straight onto the street,so we would like some privacy. Currently Have old plain net,but would love something a bit smarter. Any ideas?

I got wooden blinds made, but find they do cut out a fair bit of like, so they're hoicked up all of the time. I would quite happily have nothing up at the window.

i have got ordinary curtains. these can be closed if we are doing secret or sinister things during the day.

they are always closed at night

Nothing but we do have a hedge

plain white voile, hung on a rail half way up window. Allows light in above, but is high enought that people can't see in from street. Friends have said it looks smart, but it is a fairly narrow/small window.

I got a cafe pole type thing in chrome, it fixes by extending into the recess.

we have voiles - there's no way in hell I'd have nothing there

a) My (large) bay window is 1 metre away from the pavement

b) I live RIGHT next door to the school, I have no desire at all for all the yummy mummies to be peering through into my hell hole messy house in the morings and afternoons every single school day - never mind the teachers/TA's who walk past every day as well - the latter might know I'm scatty - they really don't need to see how I live

c) I don't want anyone eyeing up my computer and TV and anything else they may fancy trying to break in to knick

d) the house across the road is rented, we've had all sorts of odd people living there - I don't want sleazy blokes peering through the window at me in my dressing gown

We have the same problem as our house is straight on the street. The previous owner always kept the blinds down which made the living room v v dark. SO we have put up some "one way window film"/ mirror film. This means anyone walking past sees a reflection of themselves during daytime. In the evening we put the blinds down as then everyone can see in.
This works a treat .....and our neighbours are now buying it.

Forgot to say we bought the mirror film on the net.

White shutters are the smartest choice in a period property, or white wooden venetian blinds a close second.
Flat, plain voile nets are also nice.

i have nets cost me loadsof dosh ,used to have blinds but ds2 pulled all the latts and broke em

tell me more about the mirror film please PFS, can you see out of it? Does it go on easily?

I need to buy window coverings for nearly every window in my house. I'm sure it is keeping my mum awake at night that I don't have nets up at every window - she seems to think there is a creepy perv enjoying watching me in my PJs and dressing gown.

SIlver lining - we bought the mirror film on the net.
It cuts out LESS than 1% of the light and we can fit 4 windows (4 panes) in less than 20 minutes. DH fitted ours with no problem at all. It's like heavy cling film and you cut it to size and then just stick it on with water. Oh it's so much easier than it sounds.

Its great fun watching people walk past looking at their reflections in the window as its just like a mirror.
Its less fun when we forget to put the blinds down in the evening and people can see straight inside!

Hope this helps
PFS xx

Shutters. Mine open vertically in the center, so can 'fold' each half back to the side.

They also can 'split' horizonatally into upper/lower sections, so can leave lower sections closed (for privacy), and fold upper sections back to side to let the light stream in.

Ah if people can see in it defeats the object for me, wanted something view blocking (to outside passers by).

HI SIlver lining - the window film does stop people seeing in -during the day time. My sister tested it by flashing someone walking by and there was not a flicker of interest from the man who walked totally unaware!
The only thing that is cut out is a small amount of light. (less than 1% and since the alternative is keeping the blinds down that is a small price to pay)

PFS

I'd probably just ask how many fingers I've got up.....LOL at your sister!

We are not overlooked, so don't bother with anything, as I like to let the light in. Our sitting room overlooks the garden and has pretty wooden windows, so don't have blinds or curtains. Have wooden blinds in the bedrooms.

white blinds

they're slightly trasparent, let the light in but stop people staring in the windows.

dirty windows

I've got silver vertical blinds at every window in the house. They were up when we moved in and I quite like them but they are a complete sod to clean.

If you still want to see out then mirror film as PinkFluffy has, it means that in the day anyone looking can't see in but when you turn a light on at night it means they can. (it is to with it being lighter outside in the day then at night you reverse that)

If you are not bothered about being able to see out then you can get frosted film. We got ours from www.abodewindowfilms.co.uk and it is this

It basically has a sticky back to it but you soak the window first in water with washing up liquid which means it can be moved around. You cut it whilst on the window (it is easy, I did it on my own) simples.

We have venetian blinds but they make the room totally dark

condensation , at least until we wipe it off...

I think Ikea do some nice Voile, but if you want to go posh/contemporary, Timorous Beasties do lace...
Thistle
Devil Damask!