Net curtains? Or no?

[wastingaway]

I have scraggy nets in my front windows. They need to be replaced.

Or should I do without?

What do you think of windows with nothing to shield them from prying eyes when the curtains are open?

i have nothing.....would never,ever have nets!!

sorry!

Don't apologise, I want opinions!

Depends on how much people see in - we live on 2nd floor, and houses opposite are not too close, so we don't have nets. I think if I felt more overlooked I would - but rather than nets, would have thin/patterned muslin or something sheer.

Ok I'm being sad now (am off work because ill); have googled and found these options:

goodhousekeeping forum similar discussion
laura ashley

I think this one is a bit full on... blimey!
Tord Boontji Until Dawn (was also on eBay at nearer £50, still ouch...)

Thanks NumptyMum.

I love that paper one, but the terrible condensation we have is one of the reasons I was considering doing without. It's a bit expensive to get turned to mush!

wasting I have some rather gorgeous slightly transparent roller blinds...so we get the privacy when we need it without the nets thing and the light comes through so it does the same job as nets.

do without

never nets. v dated and ugly.

The other thing I've seen described is to have a light-blocking roller blind against the window (ie for night-times) and then on the window surround (ie further into your room) hang sheer curtains/voiles. Might be a different way of going about it?

I find that condensation does a pretty good job of maintaining privacy, at least for the time of day we most need it .

All this negativity about nets... that can only mean they are about due to make a big comeback

Some people use venitian blinds - personally don't like them much but they do allow full/partial/no sheilding of the view

I would do without - we don't have any.

You might find it helps the condensation, I always remember my Grandma's windows staying damp behind her nets!

Personally i would do without if at all possible.

I lived in a terrace before and took down the nets that were there to wash them, and never put them back up.

Older people (parents, etc) would tut but i was happier without them and never did anything embarrassing (i hope!) anyway

And the windows looked so much better and brighter.

If i was walking past and saw no nets i would think 'sensible people' and i wouldn't stare in their windows!

don't see the problem with having net curtains. i have plain white ones. though i have stuff worth nicking

a family on our road has sequin embellishednet curtains and it's south facing and glistens in the sun...I'm actually wishing mine had sequins too..that has to be wrong...I mean I agree nets aren't very cool anyway, but with sequins they are cool, no?

Well, I'm not going to get blinds, or anything too expensive. The landlord is supposed to be replacing the front windows at some point this year.

I think I'll chuck the ones in the bedroom no question. Nothing to see until the main curtains are shut anyway!

Downstairs is the main issue I suppose

I don't do anything too way out during daylight hours...

Not a fan of nets, we have no need of them in this house, anyway, only one neighbour who could nosy in where our house is.
When we lived on the main road we had venetian blinds.

Voile could work?

Samsonara, I would love some sequins in my front room, not sure DH would agree.

We have this blind in white in our front room. It's only slightly less sheer than a net and I much prefer the look.

Lizzylou, me too
I love that papercut decorative feature Numptymum but it would get dusty and hard to clean I imagine.
re the privacy thing, just remembered a friend used glass frosting for the lower half of the window, when they converted one of their front rooms (house is double fronted) into a bedroomand it looks fine, I'm not sure if they used spray or the film you stick on but I think the cost effective option would be voile or even some hand made half window covering that you could clip on with a wire and clips like the sort you can get from Ikea.

i have the Tord Boontje curtain in my downstairs toilet it is beautiful but the paper all starts to curl up and it is very easily ripped no matter how strong they say it is i couldnt have nets i dont have other curtains at all. I love my White wooden Ikea venetians

Window film is pretty inexpensive and comes in some cool and funky designs.

Try here.

We have the ikea light filtering blind Dreams inBinary mentioned. It's transparent at night but plenty of privacy during the day.

We don't have nets. We do, however, have a John Lewis Voile Panel

Or Vile Panel, as dh calls it

I have venetian blinds. Fabulous for seeing out and no one seeing in.

and you can pull them all the way up during the day for maximum light