Cannot sit in my lounge for five minutes without someone looking in front window :(

[Danicali]

I moved house around six months ago, and the place is nice, only it's on a residential road but with high pedestrIan traffic. But I swear, I cannot sit in my lounge five minutes without someone peering in. It boggles the mind. Why are people so nosey? And what gets me is that even if they realise that you see them, they keep looking as they walk past. I don't know, but if it were me walking, I wouldn't make habit to look inside someone's front window, and if I did, and I could see that the person was looking at me, I would quickly look away. But that's just me. I guess some people have no manners. Feel like putting up a giant cut out of a hand flipping people off. That would give them something to look at. I'll probably get net curtains now cos I'm that fed up with it.

I'd get some plain voile panels, or wooden Venetian blinds - they'd give you lots of privacy. I'd hate that too!

Privacy mirrored film. You can see out, but they can't see in. Sounds perfect for you.

At night, if a light is on indoors, then yes the noseys can see in, but just draw the curtains.

activewindowfilms.co.uk/58-mirror-silver-privacy-one-way-pro-window-tinting-tint-film-solar-control-sticky-back-51-76-100-152cm.html

Privacy film/half frosted glass or shutters.

I always look in windows if they are 'very visible' or the lifts are in and it's dark

Get a net curtain or blinds for goodness sake! Easy problem to solve!!

You need shutters or privacy film is a good cheap option. You can always just do it on the bottom half of the windows.

We put that blurred glass in our windows at the front with clear panels above. Stops all the looky loos peering in

We had this issue, till I started waving madly at them

We had this issue in our old house. We lived with horrendous net curtains for five years then moved.

I have it too, and don't specially want to put up net curtains as they wouldn't really suit. And mostly I don't mind, as the windows are a little reflective and people don't always see it - sometimes I see them using them as a mirror!! But in other lights, you can see in, and while I don't mind people generally glancing as they walk past, I am surprised sometimes that they don't get embarrassed when they know I can see them. I have something a bit unusual in the front room (from a hobby), and sometimes they call someone they're with over to look and point, even when they see that I"m there! That surprises me. I'd have expected that they'd be a bit furtive about trying to glance in and look away quickly if I catch their eye or they see me move. But some of them don't - it's like they assume if the curtains are open, it's a free for all exhibit like a museum!

We have this issue and applied privacy film. It's very effective.
It's also highly entertaining when passers-by stop and use it to check their appearance.

I've got Venetian blinds in our front room and I keep them open but pointed downwards so people can't see in. It is annoying but we have lots of light coming through, 3 windows/opportunities to look in.

It’s just irresistible. Sorry.

I always look, I look at people who sit at the windows in restaurants too. I can't help it. I keep my blinds half closed to stop people looking in.

Privacy blinds - you can get day/night ones, so during daylight you can see out but no one can see in, and then you put down the second blind at night.

We have this it drives me mad - most people when they clock us in our living room do quickly look away not all though, we have wooden Venetians but unless we have them fully shut they can still see in, I’ve taken to enthusiastically waving, that seems to work very well

Ugh what if you’re sucking your thimb

We live somewhere like this - have plain voile panels on the lower half of the sash in out front bay. Keeps it light but gives privacy without being too net curtainy. .

There are houses in the road that don’t have anything and, although I try not to look, the eye is drawn - especially if there is movement.

They're probably looking at their own reflection!

I think a lot of people are looking at their own reflection! You can get nice voile curtains now that are less like the net ones if you're not keen on that.

I think it was these blinds that I bought, they still let a good amount of daylight in and I can still see out, but you can't see in during the day. Obviously it's different at night when the lights are on inside. www.dunelm.com/product/white-daylight-roller-blind-1000149538

It's almost like a reflex, it's practically impossible not too, sorry I live in an area where a lot of houses are like this...I do look away as soon as I catch myself doing it and certainly would if someone was looking back at me!

I feel you. I hated it. In the end, we used a plastic film that looks like etched glass and comes in a variety of designs. Ours is a Victorian style and no one would know it's not real glass until they got up very close.

You can get it in a sticky-back finish, but ours just goes on with water and bit of washing up liquid (clings through static). It's been up about 7 years now and looks as good as new.

It's this sort of stuff, lots of styles/colours to choose from:
www.amazon.co.uk/Lifetree-Decorative-Frosted-Privacy-Adhesive/dp/B019W17UZ0/ref=sr_1_6?crid=22NPUGAC9PVFR&keywords=decorative+window+film&sprefix=decorative+window+film%2Caps%2C73&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1650048041&sr=8-6

My neighbours wave to me when im just sitting there minding my own business watching the TV or reading, it makes me really mad! We have a driveway so it’s not like literally on the street they just squint to see me, anyway I understand how annoyed you must be.

[quote PegsandBags]Privacy mirrored film. You can see out, but they can't see in. Sounds perfect for you.

At night, if a light is on indoors, then yes the noseys can see in, but just draw the curtains.

activewindowfilms.co.uk/58-mirror-silver-privacy-one-way-pro-window-tinting-tint-film-solar-control-sticky-back-51-76-100-152cm.html[/quote]
Easy do this

If they can get so close that they can admire themselves in privacy film then no, it’s net curtains or at least venecian blinds.