Blinds or window privacy film?

[Anneka17]

Hi all,

I have just had an extension done and have glass bifold doors, a large picture window and a kitchen window.

I am thinking of putting up some floor to ceiling curtains to add a cozy feel to the room for winters.

I'd also like to add either some blinds over the windows and bifolds or privacy screens to avoid nosey neighbours.

I wad wondering if anyone has either used blinds or privacy screen tinting and their thoughts on them? I've read that the privacy screens can be mirrored or lighter. Do the mirrored kinds darken the room?

Thanks for your help!

Do you mean a privacy screen or privacy film?
A privacy screen will darken a room even an opaque one as they do let less light through - to give privacy.
Both blinds and a privacy screen will work day and night. Thermal blinds will help regulate heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter.
Privacy film doesn’t block any appreciable amount of light, but you can squinty see through it in daylight and doesn’t work at all at night with interior lights on. It needs it to be brighter outside than inside to give the mirrored privacy look. It has a slight (as in at most a degree) amount of effect on heat gain in summer.

fwiw we have thermal curtains, plus thermal blinds and privacy film on double glazing which has its own thermal coating.

Thanks, how do you find the privacy film? Do you feel its worth getting in addition to the blinds? Would you happen to have any photos?

Thanks

The privacy film does its job, in respect that it stops people being able to see in as they are walking past, or being able to see into our bathroom from adjoining gardens. It only works during the day, without you having lights on inside.
we live with the front of the house being right on the pavement and a rear neighbour who likes to use cameras aimed at our bedroom window - so yes it’s stopped that ‘living in a fishbowl’ feeling. But it isn’t pretty, and it does take a lot of patience to apply it without wrinkles or bubbles. Although it is easy to do and easy to remove. But I’m not exactly fussy about what the neighbours see on the outside, I just don’t want them peering i through the windows to see what we do or don’t have or are doing!

will look at getting some photos tomorrow.
this is the one I bought. In reality the difference between the film applied and bare glass isn’t as dramatic as the amazon picture implies.