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Alternatives to nets/voiles

48 replies

CheckMate2021 · 06/03/2021 14:20

After some suggestions really.
Other than the usual voiles for windows or nets, what else would work? I don’t want blinds, because it would annoy me if I couldn’t open them (or only open slightly).

Both windows are at front of house, so would like something offering quite a bit of privacy.
Thank you

OP posts:
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bathorshower · 06/03/2021 14:25

We had a film stuck to a window which fronted straight onto the pavement. Fortunately it was the kitchen; I think it would feel a bit strange in the living room. However it let the light through while affording a good degree of privacy inside.

GenderApostate19 · 06/03/2021 14:28

The only other thing I can think of is window film?

I have to have nets up at my front windows, the bungalows opposite my house are built up so they look down into my living room plus my window is 10ft wide and over 5ft deep. I might look at shutters when we have a new window next year.

Cherrycynic · 06/03/2021 14:39

I'd go for Venetian blinds. You can have them run all the way up if you want a clear window and even when they are tiled horizontally they make it hard to look in without compromising light coming in too much.

Not sure what other options you have if you don't like nets (which I agree are awful). Stickers don't sound like something I'd entertain.

Cherrycynic · 06/03/2021 14:41

What room is it for?

My reply above assumes living space, I'd be less picky for a kitchen.

Changethetoner · 06/03/2021 14:44

We're currently using an old sheet.

Trisolaris · 06/03/2021 14:50

Shutters! They let in so much light and you can close the bottom ones or tilt them during the day for privacy and have the top ones open to let in loads of light. We are waiting for ours to be installed at the moment.

veeeeh · 06/03/2021 14:53

Look up Magic Blinds. You can see out but others cannot see in.

Cardboardeaux · 06/03/2021 14:53

Shutters. Or if your budget is too tight for that, window film. You can get it in different designs so it doesn't have to just be opaque

IstandwithJackieWeaver · 06/03/2021 14:55

There's a house I regularly walk past which has a living room window you can't help but look into - they have frosted window film to half way up.

Dontfuckingsaycheese · 06/03/2021 15:01

I have one-third film at the bottom on my lounge windows. it was vital to stop ddog's constant barking at cats, cars, passersby, specs of fluff, puffs of wind, blades of grass, menacing leaves. Works for us. I want to see out!! I would hate being constantly wrapped in voile or net. Or any type of blind. Windows are for nosy buggers like me seeing out!

seepingweeping · 06/03/2021 15:02

Window film.

I have shutters but window film is better.

toastytea · 06/03/2021 15:12

Anyone with shutters have any advice on how much to expect to pay/good companies to use?

Trisolaris · 06/03/2021 15:19

We are using Clement Browne and we also had Hillarys quote. Clement Browne were cheaper but we also wanted the real wood and I think Hillary’s might be cheaper if you choose MDF. I don’t know prices off the top of my head.

CheckMate2021 · 06/03/2021 15:20

@GenderApostate19 that’s the issue I have, the houses opposite are higher so get a better view in.

@Cherrycynic it’s for living room, definitely agree if was kitchen I wouldn’t be too fussed!

Thank you for all the replies, will have a look at window films and shutters.

@veeeeh that sounds Interesting, off to research magic blinds!

OP posts:
jaundicedoutlook · 06/03/2021 16:07

Another vote for window film - we had it on the lower half of Victorian sash windows at the front of our old house in London, years ago. It is, however, a bastard to get on neatly, if I remember correctly.

GenderApostate19 · 06/03/2021 17:06

I don’t know why some people think nets are ‘awful’ , they look a damn sight better than vertical blinds, every other house has them and they make it look like a prison!

Really good quality nets, like the ones in high end hotels, have a lovely weight and hang beautifully, the thing is to have adequate width, 3x your window at least.

IstandwithJackieWeaver · 06/03/2021 17:16

The ones in hotels are voiles rather than nets.

FlowEr262 · 06/03/2021 17:27

I’ve just installed voile blinds from dunelm. I like them as they are best of all worlds, let light in, you can see out but they look nicer than nets.

We have shutters in back bedrooms, daughter said she feels like she’s in prison Hmm

alanpartridgefromtheoasthouse · 06/03/2021 17:32

I think cane blinds look very pretty in the right room.

MaryIsA · 06/03/2021 17:41

We had voile roller blinds, they looked nice.

Had window film in a previous house that was right on the street, that looked quite smart.

1frenchfoodie · 06/03/2021 18:53

You can get some really nice window films www.minimoderns.com/product/whitby-window-film

Gladly · 06/03/2021 19:16

I rented a property with shutters previously and HATED them - as someone mentioned above, it felt like being in prison, and I really don't agree that they let in loads of light - I was always folding them right away to let the light in, and these were huge windows. They were north facing rooms which probably didn't help.

My understanding is they really aren't cheap, so I'd think carefully about them before you splash out - I'd have been really disappointed if I'd paid for them as found them really unpleasant to live with.

121hugsneeded · 06/03/2021 19:18

Oooh liked the idea of the magic blinds for our bathroom... until I read that at night the magic is reversed!!! Bath night might be a popular event with the neighbours!

Alternatives to nets/voiles
EdgeOfACoin · 06/03/2021 19:35

@GenderApostate19

I don’t know why some people think nets are ‘awful’ , they look a damn sight better than vertical blinds, every other house has them and they make it look like a prison! Really good quality nets, like the ones in high end hotels, have a lovely weight and hang beautifully, the thing is to have adequate width, 3x your window at least.
I actually have a theory about this.

My theory is that once upon a time, wealthy people lived in houses with windows set well back from a public footpath and privacy wasn't an issue. Poor people lived in houses with windows that faced onto the street and they needed privacy. They would put up net curtains, which meant that they could see out but the people outside couldn't see in. Consequently, net curtains became associated with the lower classes and were viewed by the middle class as declassė.

Over time, as house prices shifted and once-poor areas become sought-after, wealthier/middle-class people found themselves living in houses once reserved for the working class (old Victorian terraces and the like). They found themselves with the same issues of privacy as the old working class, but had inherited the snobbery about net curtains.

Since then, there seems to me to be an utterly desperate attempt to avoid net curtains. My friends have a variety of blinds, plantation shutters (which let in the light over the top, but are always closed so you can't actually see out), frosted stickers which let in the light but mean you can't see out... basically anything that will avoid the horror of net curtains.

We put up decent but plain nets in our bedroom (which faces directly onto the pavement). We can see out during the day and we close the curtains at night so people can't see in. Honestly, it's practical, not overly chintzy and makes a lot more sense than trying to faff around with other, inferior solutions.

Having said all that (climbing down from my soapbox), I hadn't heard of voile blinds. I might have a Google and see what they are like.

A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 06/03/2021 20:06

We got sheer linen curtains made to size from Etsy. Really like them, add a nice texture and let lots of light in