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Original poster

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

60 replies

Danicali · 15/04/2022 18:37

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.

Cannot sit in my lounge for five minutes without someone looking in front window :(
OP posts:
bellac11 · 15/04/2022 19:50

Its the reason I would never buy a house in a location like this but I would also say its very easy to get distracted when walking along and you see something in someones house that takes your eye or you're thinking 'thats nice' or 'thats horrible' or whatever and you cant help looking. Particularly when the lights are on

Get some sort of privacy thing, either voile, nets, screen or film

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 15/04/2022 19:51

You should have probably never bought a cheap flat in the red light district of Amsterdam...

Holly60 · 15/04/2022 19:57

Haha I’m definitely someone who can’t help but look when I pass a window. On the other hand I also live somewhere where people look into one of our windows. It doesn’t really bother me. If I catch someone’s eye I just smile and sometimes they look mortified and look away, sometimes they smile back. Neither reaction is a problem Grin

KatherineJaneway · 15/04/2022 19:58

I wouldn't mind Guy Fieri checking in on me

MasterGland · 15/04/2022 19:59

We have this, but it's usually because one of my cats is making a show of themselves in the window. They love the attention. They'd be horrified if I put nets up as they like to be admired. Hmm

Ponderingwindow · 15/04/2022 20:00

I used to have a similar house. People really can’t be expected to avert their gaze. It’s human instinct to turn your focus if motion catches in your peripheral vision.

That was back in my somewhat carefree days, I painted the windows like faux stained glass.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 15/04/2022 20:10

Get one of those life-size cut-outs of a policeman, like they have in supermarkets to scare shoplifters!

I know what you mean, OP. We once stayed at a holiday flat on a small road that was a common cut-through from the town and the owner had not only lined up walkaround-store-type tat all along the sill of the very large window, so it looked like a shop, but had also put up a poster giving all the details of the place for potential future hirers - not just 'holiday let, call 07000 000000' but a big long A4 sheet full of small type.

Makes you feel more sympathy for goldfish once you've experienced it yourself!

chisanunian · 15/04/2022 20:11

I hate to break it to you OP, but you have a film crew in your house. Grin

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 15/04/2022 20:20

That reminds me of a thread from ages ago about weird things you do that you wouldn't tell anybody in real life, where somebody admitted that she narrates her life to two cameramen (can't remember their names - might have been Alan and Ken) as she's doing the most mundane things, as if her life is one big fly-on-the-wall documentary and millions of people are glued to the screen in awe at her doing the washing up or changing a pillow case!!

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 15/04/2022 20:20

Two imaginary cameramen, just in case that wasn't clear!

RaspberryChouxBuns · 15/04/2022 20:33

I can't understand why people don't put something up in their windows to maintain their privacy. I know people can do what they want in their homes but to me it's too "goldfish bowl".

Whykea · 15/04/2022 20:36

I always look in windows, I feel disappointed when the owners have the cheek to be in there and I have to look away when I want to be checking out their decor, art work, furniture lay out!

Perpop · 15/04/2022 20:43

Look up rabbit goo window frosting, let’s the light in but you can’t see through!

RitaFires · 15/04/2022 21:17

I have wood venetians in a bay window, it's easy to control the level of light you get and it's quite hard to see through. I also have a pleated blind that lets light through but blocks people from looking in in the hallway window.

There's lots of options, it's just a matter of finding what suits you best.

StubbleTurnips · 15/04/2022 21:21

Another one who waves at people doing this. Apart from one very nosy woman waked backwards for a second look so I waved my tea cup at her and shouted ‘brew!’ - she scuttled off.

AnotherDelphinium · 15/04/2022 21:22

Yup, I had exactly this in a Victorian terrace and I had the stick-on frosting until I had double glazing put in, and got the bottom half frosted.

Now I’m somewhere else and it’s just as bad, so I’ve got something similar to these - www.blinds-2go.co.uk/day-and-night-blinds

PermanentlyTired03 · 15/04/2022 23:56

I had your problem, got shutters for bottom half of the windows ( they are sash windows). I think the brand were s:craft?

Kite22 · 16/04/2022 00:01

People really can’t be expected to avert their gaze. It’s human instinct to turn your focus if motion catches in your peripheral vision.

This ^
It really is normal behaviour to look around you as you walk.

Surely you were aware of the fact the window is by the pavement when you chose it though ?
You have all the options already suggested, and up to you to choose to either be an exhibitionist / own it / wave at them, or to use anyone of the options that prevent them looking in.

echt · 16/04/2022 00:04

My kitchen has windows on two sides, overlooking the drive and part of the street. Most passersby, though it's not a busy street, glance in when I'm cooking. Human nature. I have skinny Venetian blinds, but never use them because I like the light and the view.

ozymandiusking · 16/04/2022 00:16

Put some lovely house plants on the window sill.

dontblamemee · 16/04/2022 00:19

My road has windows right by the pavement. I love looking in other people front rooms 🤣 obvs awkward when someone looks back though

Lots of times I'm just looking at my hair in the reflection 🤪

LondonQueen · 16/04/2022 00:20

That's why you don't move somewhere people can walk past, it's bound to happen. Get some venetian blinds up asap.

AuntTwacky · 16/04/2022 00:20

Get some nets

watcherintherye · 16/04/2022 00:23

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

Is it a cycle?

Dancer47 · 16/04/2022 00:26

This happened to us during the lockdowns when weirdos dragging their children and dogs along flooded into our tiny village and came right up the windows staring in (the houses are very old)
I gave in and instead of buying cheap nylon net curtains or horrible plastic film, I got Laura Ashley cotton panels for the windows and I love them. They stopped being made in the UK in the 1980s on the traditional Nottingham looms. They are nothing like the nylon rubish or fake voile.
I usually like minimalist stuff but I just love them and my neighbours have all asked me where I got them.

theantiquescentreyork.co.uk/collections/antique-and-vintage-lace-curtain-panels