Whats the big deal about having your curtains open/shut?

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

Ideally I would have beautiful easy to clean shutters like my sister and BIL have hmmm.

catkins

balletshoes wrote: »

I detest net curtains - unless you live with your window right next to the pavement I see no need for them.

I don't like net curtains but I don't want people to be able to see in. The front gardens on my estate are open plan and only about 10 feet long and you can see into peoples living rooms easily. I would feel like I was living in a goldfish bowl. I live on a fairly busy road with quite a lot of passersby and don't want them being able to look in.

Also if people can see in clearly then anyone with the intention of breaking in can see exactly what you have that may be worth stealing.

I can live with my dislike of net curtains. I personally can't understand how people can live with every passerby being able to see in. I don't purposely look into anyone's house but when I am walking my dog and he is sniffing around I will be looking around and see lots of houses with no nets.

lostinrates

jackyann wrote: »

I can't see any comments from anyone who was brought up in a very hot, bright environment.
I am of the generation that was brought up to shut curtains for bereavement; and many neighbours use the open curtain as a signal that a frail elderly person living alone has got up that morning. So I see why someone would worry about curtains being closed in the day.

I have, however, visited many houses where people (especially those from Africa) would keep their curtains closed all day so as not to fade the furniture. I found the rooms unpleasant, with closed curtains and the electric light on; however, these were nice people who liked their home! So I examined why I found it so unpleasant and realised that it was both my association of closed curtains with death and illness; and that in the UK we mostly want as much natural light as we can get!
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I was brought up in a variety of hot places but where I was shutters or deep verandas or louvre grilled wooden window fixed shutters were used rather than curtains for sun protection. The sun rots material of curtains too quickly.

pukkamum

My nan would never let me shut the front room curtains as she said the neighbours would think someone had died, she didn't care that the sun massively impeded my viewing of Monkey Magic!

purple.sarah

Ironically I keep the curtains closed because I don't want nosy neighbours to see in but they're probably speculating about why the curtains are closed! Our bedroom curtains are closed most of the time because we're overlooked by the houses behind us and I want to feel I can relax in my own bedroom. Sometimes I keep our kitchen blinds down because it faces the street and I don't really want the neighbours to see my dirty dishes! I think the stigma is because some people (morning people) throw open their curtains first thing so if you don't some people falsely assume you are lazy.

George Osborne's attempt to polarise people is pathetic. People work different shifts. Yes I might be sleeping in the morning while others are off to work...because I work evenings and weekends in a supermarket. If someone is speculating about why their neighbour's curtains are closed then they are the one with too much time on their hands!

pupsicola

We have shutters downstairs in the lounge. Allows for privacy but still lets lots of natural light into the rooms.

catkins

Mrs_Bones wrote: »

Most house though are three dimensional. Just because the front curtains are closed doesn't mean they all are and there is no light in the house.

I frequently draw the front curtains if I'm working on the pc because of the sun on the screen plus being close to the road I find it a distraction. Doesn't mean my room is dark or that I need the lights on unless it's a dark day in winter. The windows at the opposite end of the room let plenty of light in and in the summer the patio doors are open for the dogs to run in and out as they please while I'm busy.

I really don't see why what other people do with their curtains should concern anyone else. I have no set time for opening and closing curtains, they hardly register on my radar in terms of importance, I just adjust them to my personal taste as I feel the need.

I have a through room with a large window at the front and patio doors at the back. I do find if the curtains are closed on the front windows the front part of the room which is my living room is gloomy. I don't have any curtains on the patio door as the back of my house is not overlooked.

One of the houses near me that never has the front curtains open has a slight gap in the front of the curtains and you can see they always have their light on even on the sunniest of days which I think is strange.

elsien wrote: »

That's one of the things that always strikes me about the Grand Designs programmes where they're building houses that are more glass than anything else.
Even if they're not overlooked, in the depths of winter when it's piddling it down, grey and overcast, or with howling gales outside, I'd want to light the fire of an evening, close the curtains/blinds, shut the world out, and cocoon myself in my own little world. But they never seem to have anything - no curtains, blinds, nothing. Or am I missing something.
(And on a slightly off topic note, how do they reach the cobwebs on the double or triple height ceilings?)

I never seem to like the houses on Grand Designs any more. They are always huge and pretentious with, as you say, enormous glass windows and never any curtains or blinds. People can see in and it makes the rooms look cold. I always think as well "I don't envy them having to clean all that glass". I also agree with the comment about the high ceilings

dandelionclock30

I would prefer to be netless and just have the bare windows as I think more light then comes into the room.But I cant because of other people worrying about people looking in.
Well so what if they do look in, there's nothing exciting to see, some furniture that doesn't match, a sideboard,T.V and 3 piece suit, rock and roll!. Also when the lights go on the curtains have to be shut again immediately in case someone can see in.So what!, the earth wont collide into the sun if someone catches a glimpse of my room.

Lunar_Eclipse

catkins wrote: »

I don't like net curtains but I don't want people to be able to see in.

Blinds, shutters or plain floaty muslin curtains do the trick too, for anyone who dislikes net curtains.

I know nets are cheap, but Ikea sell white sheer muslin curtains for something like £15/pair, which look much more modern and less fussy than net curtains.

RevolvingDoor

[QUOTE=purple.sarah;60457417
George Osborne's attempt to polarise people is pathetic. People work different shifts. Yes I might be sleeping in the morning while others are off to work...because I work evenings and weekends in a supermarket. If someone is speculating about why their neighbour's curtains are closed then they are the one with too much time on their hands![/QUOTE]

Exactly.

My husband works shifts so we sometimes have the curtains or blinds shut during the day. My kitchen looks straight out into the street so sometimes I feel like people are looking in thinking "Ooh, is she going for another sandwich" so I sometimes shut the blinds when I'm in there during the day.